Charles Schwertner
Charles Jeffrey Schwertner (born May 29, 1970) is an American orthopedic surgeon and politician from Georgetown, Texas. He has served in the Texas State Senate since November 6, 2012, after having represented House District 20 in the Texas House of Representatives for a single term beginning in January 2011. He is a Republican.
Charles Schwertner | |
|---|---|
| President pro tempore of the Texas Senate | |
| Assumed office May 29, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Kelly Hancock |
| Member of the Texas Senate from the 5th district | |
| Assumed office January 8, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Steve Ogden |
| Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 20th district | |
| In office January 11, 2011 – January 8, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Dan Gattis |
| Succeeded by | Marsha Farney |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Charles Jeffrey Schwertner May 29, 1970 Tuscaloosa, Alabama, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Belinda |
| Education | University of Texas at Austin (BS) University of Texas Medical Branch (MD) |
| Signature | |
| Website | Campaign website |
As a member of the Texas Senate, Schwertner serves as chairman of the Senate Committee on Business and Commerce. He is currently a member of the Senate Committees on Education, Finance, State Affairs, and the HHS Transition Legislative Oversight Committee. Schwertner also chairs the Sunset Advisory Commission, a 12-member body of legislators and public members that periodically reviews function and operations of more than 130 state agencies.
Schwertner was named one of the "Worst Legislators" in Texas by Texas Monthly magazine in 2015 and 2017 calling him “mean-spirited and insecure” and citing an incident where he "silenced an abortion rights witness by slamming his gavel down so hard that it broke the glass tabletop of his desk."