State Rep. Charles ‘Doc’ Anderson to retire early

AUSTIN, Texas ( FOX 44 ) — State Representative Charles “Doc” Anderson announced he has informed Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Secretary of State Jane Nelson and Speaker of the House Dade Phelan that he is retiring early from the District 56 Texas House seat he has held since 2005.

According to the Office of “Doc” Anderson, he is a veterinarian who was first elected in November 2004 and was subsequently reelected nine times. He announced in 2023 that he chose to not seek an eleventh term in the Texas House. Rep. Anderson notified Gov. Abbott on Thursday that, pursuant to Section 201.001 of the Texas Election Code, he was formally tendering his resignation to allow time for a special election.

Anderson urged the Governor to order a special election to fill the vacancy created by his early retirement and recommended he schedule that election for November 5, 2024 in order to align with the general election so as to minimize any additional taxpayer expense associated with holding a separate election. Anderson said he was motivated to retire from the legislature early in order to help bolster the legislative seniority of his replacement.

According to the Office, the incoming freshman class of Texas House members for the 89th Texas Legislature, starting in January of next year, will be one of the largest in recent history. It will include at least 30 new lawmakers.

Rep. Anderson also released the following statement:

“By stepping down now, whomever wins the special and general elections on November 5th will be sworn in soon after, and will be able to hit the ground running working for the people of McLennan County and District 56. My decision will allow he or she to gain seniority over all of their fellow freshmen which, in turn, will help them secure better committee assignments and be able to more effectively serve our constituents.

“As I step away from my legislative duties, I have a profound sense of gratitude for the good people of this district who entrusted me to be their voice in our state’s capitol. It has been the honor of my life to serve my fellow Texans and my McLennan County neighbors for ten legislative sessions and countless special sessions. I am proud of my record of service in the legislature. Working together with my colleagues and the people of District 56 we have accomplished many great things for our county, our district, and our state.

“While my service in the legislature is coming to an end, my love of Texas and McLennan County has not. While I look forward to spending more time with Lyn, who has served right alongside me, I will continue to support and champion the issues and causes I have fought for these almost twenty years. We plan on remaining active in our community for many years to come and we will never stop praying that God continue to bless the great sovereign State of Texas and the people who call it home.”

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com.