Mike Schofield Bought A District, Now He’s Selling Out His Constituents

The founders of Texas government created a part-time state legislature, which meets for five months every two years, with the idea that members could only be pulled away from their communities for a limited time. Rep. Mike Schofield isn’t the kind of member they envisioned.

State Representative Mike Schofield represents District 132 in western Harris County, but that’s as far as his connections to Katy and Cypress go. Born and raised in New Jersey Schofield eventually made his way down to Texas, where he went to work for Gov. Rick Perry in Austin.

At some point Schofield decided it was his turn to be a politician, and went in search of a district. After races in three different districts over eight years, Schofield finally found a seat he could win.

At some point Schofield decided it was his turn to be a politician, so he went in search of a district. After losing races in two different districts, Schofield finally found a third seat he could win. He first ran in 2006 in HD 133 in Houston but ultimately lost the Republican primary to Rep. Jim Murphy. He then tried getting into office by running in HD 136, but dropped out of the race when the district was moved to another part of the state in redistricting. When he got word the longtime representative in House District 132 in Houston was retiring, he “moved” to Katy from his previous residence outside Austin. Schofield ran and ultimately won, despite being called “a political carpetbagger who looks at Katy as a mere garden to plant his political career” by a local community activist.

Since buying a seat in the Texas House, Mike Schofield has wasted no time selling out his new constituents. According to the Texas Ethics Commission, Schofield has received thousands of dollars from special interest groups.

Mike Schofield has proven no friend of Texas children in the Legislature. He voted against restoring cuts for services to disabled children, voted against kids aging out of the foster care system, and voted against expansion of Pre-K in Texas.

Mike Schofield finally fulfilled his dream of becoming a politician, but now that he’s in the Texas House, whose side is he on?