Rep. Tan Parker was sworn in as State Representative for District 63 in January of 2007. Since that time, he has emerged as a principled, effective leader for Denton County who has been honored across Texas for his conservative leadership.
In his first two terms, Parker has fought for a conservative agenda including property tax relief, appraisal reform, strengthening border security and immigration policy, promoting fiscally responsible government spending, and protecting traditional values. Consistently rated as one of the top conservative members of the Texas House, Parker has been named a "Taxpayer Hero" by Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, and his voting record has earned recognition from the Texas Association of Business, Texas Eagle Forum, Heritage Alliance, Americans for Prosperity, and Young Conservatives of Texas, who named him their 2007 Rookie of the Year.
Rep. Parker serves as Vice Chairman of the Technology, Economic Development and Workforce Committee, where he has championed job creation strategies for Texas. He also serves as a member of the Pensions, Investments and Financial Institutions Committee, and the Health and Human Services Eligibility Oversight Committee.
An entrepreneur and successful businessman, Tan is the founder of Applied Business Strategies, a management consulting firm. He previously served as a Regional Vice President for Computer Sciences Corporation's (CSC) Financial Services Group, and as Executive Vice President of Trivac Corporation. His business career includes more than 14 years of experience in the technology, software, financial services, and training industries.
Parker began his public service by serving in the White House under President George H.W. Bush at the direction of C. Boyden Gray, the former Counsel to the President. He also served the United States Commerce Department in London, England, promoting U.S. investment in the United Kingdom.
Parker is a former Chairman of the Texas Industrial Development Corporation, which provides low cost, long term financing to public and private entities for infrastructure and job creation. He served as an appointee to the e-Texas initiative, geared toward making Texas government more efficient and effective through e-enablement.
A lifelong Republican, Tan has a long history of working to promote the conservative principles of the Republican Party. In April of 2006, Tan won the Republican nomination after a hard-fought GOP primary contest which included five candidates. He won the general election in November of 2006, and was re-elected in 2008 with almost 73% of the vote.
Parker earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Dallas, where he served as Student Body President, and a Master's Degree from the London School of Economics. Parker lives in Flower Mound, Texas with his wife Beth and daughters Lauren and Ashley. The Parker family is active at St. Ann Parish.
