This is the fourth in a series of articles introducing you to the Freshmen Class members of the Republican Main Street Partnership.
Rep. Jake Ellzey represents TX-06, which spans from the Rangers Ballpark in Tarrant County to the booming suburbs of Ellis and Navarro counties. Ellzey won the seat in July, in a special election to replace Rep. Ron Wright, who passed away in February.
At the age of 7, Jake says he decided he wanted to become a fighter pilot. Fifteen years later, he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and spent the next 20 years in service as a US Naval pilot. He was deployed nine times during his military career with five combat tours (three in Afghanistan and two in Iraq). Following his tour as commanding officer of Strike Fighter Squadron 143, he served as the Air Boss on the USS Ronald Reagan. After his Navy career, he served Texas as a Commissioner of the Texas Veterans Commission, state representative of the 10th District of Texas, ran a small business, and worked as an airline pilot.
He and wife Shelby are raising their daughter McCall and son Jack on 10 acres in Ellis County.
Rep. Ellzey says he is committed to protecting private property rights, stopping high-speed rail, serving our veterans, lowering taxes, defending the 2nd amendment, and protecting the sanctity of life. He took time last week to answer a few questions:
Quote: Never quit.
What’s the question that you wish more people would ask themselves? If you don’t try to do what you have always wanted to do, when you look back on it would you wish you would have?
What does success in 2021 look like for you? Being elected to the Texas House and Congress in the same year.
What do you think is the best path to breaking gridlock in Congress? Recognizing that we’re all Americans and that we should be negotiating in good faith on reasonable policies.
At what point in your life did you realize you had the power of change or the power to do something meaningful? When I first ran for student council.
How do you want to be remembered? As a good husband and father who served his country well.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received? Never pass up an opportunity to shut the heck up.
Interesting fact that’s not on your resume? I failed a lot more than I succeeded, but failures are not on the resume.
What advice would you give yourself coming out of college? Travel.
What’s a book that you give as a gift or recommend most? Love Your Enemies by Arthur C. Brooks.
What gets you down? How do you bounce back? America treating each other as enemies. I try to do something nice for somebody.
Who or what is inspiring you right now? My little boy.
What’s your go-to song on a jukebox or for karaoke? It’s a Great Day to Be Alive by Travis Tritt.