Rep. Darby, Drew

Biography

State Representative Drew Darby currently represents ten counties in West Texas spanning the Concho Valley and Permian Basin, an area larger than seven states.

Drew was first elected in 2006 to serve the people of House District 72 in the Texas House of Representatives. Drew is a lifelong West Texan, San Angelo native, and a product of San Angelo public schools. Representative Darby graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Business Administration, majoring in Finance and minoring in Accounting. He earned a Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the University of Texas in 1971, and is a graduate of the Emerging Political Leaders Program at the Darden School of Business, University of Virginia.

Representative Darby currently serves as chairman of the House Committee on Redistricting and as a member of the House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence and the House Committee on Energy Resources. Additionally, Representative Darby serves as Vice-Chair of The Energy Council, and is the Texas House’s appointee to the Southern States Energy Board.

In previous legislative sessions, Drew has served as a member of the Legislative Budget Board, the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas Advisory Committee, as a subcommittee chairman for the House Committee on Appropriations, and as a member of the Royalty Policy Committee of the United States Department of the Interior.

A successful businessman, Drew is the owner of Surety Title with offices throughout West Texas, and is Of Counsel to the Energy and Real Estate practice group at the law firm of Jackson Walker, LLP.

Drew's leadership positions have been as a member of the San Angelo City Council, former chairman of the San Angelo Water Advisory Board, and chairman of the Lake Nasworthy Advisory Board.

Drew and his wife, Clarisa, have five children and eleven grandchildren. They are members of the First Presbyterian Church of San Angelo.

House District 72 is comprised of Coke, Coleman, Concho, Glasscock, Howard, Irion, Reagan, Runnels, Sterling, and Tom Green counties.

During Representative Darby's tenure, he has served on significant committees, which include:

88th Session (2023):
• Criminal Jurisprudence
• Energy Resources
• Redistricting (Chairman)

87th Session (2021):
• Energy Resources
• Licensing & Administrative Procedures
• Youth Health & Safety, Select

86th Session (2019):
• Mass Violence Prevention & Community Safety, Select (Chairman)
• Business & Industry (Vice Chair)
• Energy Resources

85th Session (2017):
• Energy Resources (Chairman)
• State & Federal Power & Responsibility, Select (Chairman)
• Redistricting
• Ways & Means

84th Session (2015):
• Energy Resources (Chairman)
• Federal Environmental Regulation, Select
• Ways & Means

83rd Session (2013):
• Appropriations:
o Subcommittee on Budget Transparency and Reform
o Subcommittee on Natural Resources, Business & Economic Development, and Regulatory (Chairman)
• Fiscal Impact of Texas Border Support Operations, Select
• Higher Education
• Redistricting (Chairman)
• Redistricting, Select (Chairman)
• State Water Implementation Fund for Texas, Advisory

82nd Session (2011):
• Appropriations:
o Subcommittee on Natural Resources, Business & Economic Development, and Regulatory (Chairman)
• Local and Consent Calendars
• State Sovereignty
• Transportation (Vice Chair)

81st Session (2009):
• Appropriations:
o Subcommittee on Business and Economic Development (Vice Chair)
o Subcommittee on Stimulus
• Federal Economic Stabilization Funding, Select
• Human Services
• Transportation Funding, Select
o Subcommittee on Funding (Chairman)

80th Session (2007):
• Appropriations:
o Subcommittee on Regulatory and Business & Industry (Chairman - Budget & Oversight)
• House Administration
• Property Tax Relief and Appraisal Reform, Select
• Use of Sales Tax on Sporting Goods, Joint Legislative Task Force

In 2008, Drew was bestowed the title of Honorary Alumnus for authoring and passing House Bill 3564 (80R) which allowed the realignment of Angelo State University with the Texas Tech University System, a first in the history of Texas Higher Education.

Representative Darby's other notable accomplishments include:

• Bob Bullock Award for Outstanding Public Service, 2022
• Outstanding Government Official, Texas Energy Summit, 2021
• Civil Justice Leadership Award, Texans for Lawsuit Reform, 2020
• Champion of Infrastructure Award, American Council of Engineering Companies of Texas, 2019
• Pillar of San Angelo, Boys and Girls Club of San Angelo, 2017
• Champion for Children, Equity Center, 2017
• Hearst Energy Award for Industry Advocacy, Midland Reporter-Telegram, 2017
• Lone Star Award for Leadership, Texas Oil & Gas Association, 2016
• Border Champion, Border Prosecution Unit, 2015
• Citizen of the Year, San Angelo Chamber of Commerce, 2012
• Friends of County Government by the Texas Association of Counties
• Champion for Free Enterprise Award by the Texas Association of Business
• Guardian of Small Business by the National Federation of Independent Business of Texas
• Outstanding Contribution to Law Enforcement by the Texas Police Chiefs Association
• Outstanding Rural Advocate by the Texas Midwest Community Network