Kyle Janek

American politician

Kyle Janek

Member of the Texas Senate
from the 17th district
In office
November 19, 2002 – June 2, 2008
Preceded by| J. E. "Buster" Brown
Succeeded by| Joan Huffman
Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from the 134th district
In office
January 10, 1995 – November 19, 2002
Preceded by| Sue Schechter
Succeeded by| Martha Wong
Personal details
Born|  (1958-01-10) January 10, 1958 (age 66)
Galveston, Texas, U.S.
Political party| Republican
Spouse| Shannon
Residence(s)| Houston, Harris County, Texas
Alma mater| Texas A&M University
Profession| Anesthesiologist

Kyle Janek (born January 10, 1958)[1] is an American physician and former Republican member of the Texas Senate, having represented District 17 from November 2002 until June 2, 2008. The district includes portions of Harris, Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, and Jefferson counties. Janek was not a candidate for renomination to the state Senate in the Republican primary held on March 4.[2]

Janek resigned the seat, and Governor Rick Perry called a special election to coincide with the regular November 4 general election to fill the two years remaining in the term. Republican Joan Huffman, a former felony court judge from Houston and Democrat Chris Bell, a former U.S. representative who was Perry's 2006 election opponent, led the field and went into a December 16 runoff. Huffman ultimately prevailed, 56-44 percent. She becomes the sixth woman serving in the state Senate.[3]

## Biography

[edit]

An anesthesiologist by training, Janek has served in the Texas Legislature as a Republican since 1994. He received an M.D. from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston in 1983 and has since practiced medicine. Janek is the son of former Galveston County Commissioner Eddie Janek Sr. He is the brother of Galveston politician Eddie Janek Jr., who has previously sought county office.

In 1992 Janek entered the Republican primary for Texas State Representative District 134 against two opponents, Mike Shelby and Tim Turner. Janek prevailed against Shelby, later a U.S. Attorney, in the runoff, but he lost the general election to Democrat Sue Schechter, even though the District was almost 60 percent Republican. In 1994, when Schechter chose not to seek re-election, Janek was elected. He served in the Texas House of Representatives until 2002, when he ran for the Texas Senate. Janek sought the seat being vacated by longtime District 17 Senator J. E. "Buster" Brown. Janek defeated attorney Gary M. Polland in the Republican primary, and then prevailed against Democratic candidate Ronnie Ellen Harrison in the general election. He was reelected again in 2006 over a Libertarian Party opponent.

Since being elected to the Senate, Janek has focused his legislative efforts on property tax reform, and the sponsorship of a state program to prevent steroid abuse among high school athletes.

On September 1, 2012, Janek began serving as the Executive Commissioner to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

## 2008 election

[edit]

Janek resigned his Senate seat in June 2008. Joan Huffman won the subsequent special election to replace Janek.

## Election history

[edit]

### Most recent election

[edit]

#### 2006

[edit]

Texas general election, 2006: Senate District 17[4] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Republican | Kyle Janek  | 88,483  | 77.82  | +16.40
| Libertarian | Phil Kurtz  | 25,212  | 22.81  | +22.81
Majority  | 63,271  | 55.65%  | +32.79
Turnout | 113,695  |  | −20.99
| Republican hold

### Previous elections

[edit]

#### 2002

[edit]

Texas general election, 2002: Senate District 17[5] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Republican | Kyle Janek  | 88,393  | 61.43  | −5.99
| Democratic | Ronnie Ellen Harrison  | 55,502  | 38.57  | +5.99
Majority  | 32,891  | 22.86  | −11.98
Turnout | 153,132  |  | −30.34
| Republican hold
Special election, 5 November 2002: Senate District 17 (Unexpired term)[6] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Democratic | Ronnie Ellen Harrison  | 47,164  | 32.58  | +3.18
| Republican | Kyle Janek  | 97,588  | 67.42  | −3.18
Majority  | 50,424  | 34.83  | −6.36
Turnout | 144,752  |  | +5.52
| Republican hold
Republican primary, 2002: Senate District 7[7] Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±

|
|
|

| Gary M. Polland  | 8,444  | 34.19  |
✓  | Kyle Janek  | 16,250  | 65.81  |
Turnout | 24,694  |  |

#### 2000

[edit]

House District 134[8] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Republican | Kyle Janek  | 20,764  | 58.89  | −1.41
| Democratic | Michael Skadden  | 14,494  | 41.11  | +1.41
Majority  | 6,270  | 17.78  | −2.82
Turnout | 35,258  |  | +57.17
| Republican hold

#### 1998

[edit]

House District 134[9] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Republican | Kyle Janek  | 13,527  | 60.30  | −39.70
| Democratic | Mike Laster  | 8,906  | 39.70  | +39.70
Majority  | 4,621  | 20.60  | −79.40
Turnout | 22,433  |  | +1.75
| Republican hold

#### 1996

[edit]

House District 134[10] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Republican | Kyle Janek  | 22,048  | 100.00  | +32.79
Majority  | 22,048  | 100.00  | +63.37
Turnout | 22,048  |  | −4.62
| Republican hold

#### 1994

[edit]

Texas general election, 1994: House District 134[11] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Democratic | Bruce Reeves | 7,070  | 30.58  | −19.56
| Republican | Kyle Janek  | 15,536  | 67.21  | +9.60
| Libertarian | Paul Elliott | 509  | 2.20  | −0.04
Majority  | 8,466  | 36.63  | +34.08
Turnout | 23,115  |  | −33.06
| Republican gain from Democratic
Republican primary, 1994: Texas House of Representatives, District 134|House District 134[12] Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±

|
|
|

| Kathleen Ballafant  | 1,352  | 24.44  |
✓  | Kyle Janek  | 4,180  | 75.56  |
Turnout | 5,532  |  | −14.18

#### 1992

[edit]

Texas general election, 1992: House District 134[13] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Democratic | Sue Schechter | 17,317  | 50.15  |
| Republican | Kyle Janek  | 16,439  | 47.61  |
| Libertarian | Clint Ponton | 774  | 2.24  |
Majority  | 878  | 2.54  |
Turnout | 34,530  |  |
| Democratic hold
Republican primary runoff, 1992: House District 134[14] Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±

|
|
|

✓  | Kyle Janek  | 1,756  | 51.18  |
| Mike Shelby | 1,675  | 48.82  |
Turnout | 3,431  |  |
Republican primary, 1992: House District 134[15] Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±

|
|
|

✓  | Kyle Janek  | 2,242  | 34.78  |
✓  | Mike Shelby | 2,172  | 33.70  |
| Tim Turner | 2,032  | 31.52  |
Turnout | 6,446  |  |

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) (2002-09-13). "State Senate Candidates for 2002 General Election". Archived from the original on 2008-02-13. Retrieved 2006-12-26.
2. ^ Gary Polland's TEXAS CONSERVATIVE REVIEW
3. ^ Houston Chronicle, December 17, 2008, p. 1
4. ^ "2006 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2006-12-24.
5. ^ "2002 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2006-12-24.
6. ^ "Special Election, State Senate District 17". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2006-12-24.
7. ^ "2002 Republican Party Primary Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2006-12-24.
8. ^ "2000 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2006-12-24.
9. ^ "1998 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2006-12-24.
10. ^ "1996 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2006-12-24.
11. ^ "1994 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2006-12-24.
12. ^ "1994 Republican Party Primary Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2006-12-24.
13. ^ "1992 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2006-12-24.
14. ^ "1992 Republican Party Primary Runoff Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2006-12-24.
15. ^ "1992 Republican Party Primary Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2006-12-24.

## External links

[edit]

* Senate of Texas - Senator Kyle Janek official TX Senate website
* Project Vote Smart - Senator Kyle Janek (TX) profile
* Follow the Money \- Kyle Janek
* 2006 2004 2002 2000 1998 campaign contributions

Texas House of Representatives

Preceded by

Sue Schechter

|  Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from District 134 (Houston)
1995–2002  | Succeeded by

Martha Wong

Texas Senate
Preceded by

J. E. "Buster" Brown

|  Texas State Senator
from District 17 (Houston)
2002-2008  | Succeeded by

Joan Huffman

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* United States