DEAN MCWILLIAMS
On Top of the Issues
Photos and ar!cle courtesy of Don Rogers.
From his beginnings as a Texarkana native and
graduate of Texas High School, Dean McWilliams has
become one of the most acclaimed and influential
lobbyists in the entire State of Texas. In order to
understand the high level of accomplishment that
McWilliams has achieved as a lobbyist in our state
capitol in Austin, however, it is first necessary to
grasp the basics of what a lobbyist does every day.
Although the stereotype of a lobbyist has long been
that of a never-ending cycle of high-end restaurants
and golf tournaments, in truth the majority of a
modern lobbyist’s time is often spent accumulating
information, formulating strategy, and effectively
conveying their client’s message. Indeed, Dean
McWilliams is a perfect example of the informationbased approach that many successful lobbyists
employ, as there is a premium placed on being the
best informed and most knowledgeable about each
clients’ needs and issues. A lobbyist must know his
or her issue better than anyone else, and must think
of every conceivable question someone could ask
and be sure to have an answer for it. A lobbyist must
also contemplate every spin that his or opposition
might use and have a persuasive counterpoint ready.
In addition, a successful lobbyist must know the
specific processes of the Texas Legislature and how
to use them to his or her advantage. Since the Texas
Legislature only meets for one 140 day session every
two years, intense preparation and a single-minded
focus are paramount for a lobbyist to succeed in
the Lone Star State. A lobbyist must know the very
technical procedural rules of the House and Senate
for consideration of bills in committee and on the
floor, as well as the rules regarding the deadlines for
consideration of bills at various stages. If trying to
kill a bill, these rules and deadlines can be a lobbyist’s
best friend, but when trying to pass a bill, they can be
his or her worst enemy. Finally, a lobbyist must have
both the interpersonal skills and the savvy to interact
with legislators and staff to effectuate desired
outcomes for their client. This includes such nuances
as never asking a legislator for a vote that the lobbyist
knows they can’t take back to the district, recognizing
that money will never buy a vote, treating all
members and staff with respect and courtesy, and
being prepared to forge whatever unusual alliances
may be necessary, be they Republican-Democrat or
urban-rural and so forth. In other words, a successful
modern Texas lobbyist has a lot more to concentrate
on that just his or her golf swing.
Over the years, Dean McWilliams has proven
to be one of the best in the business at applying
these principals to his lobbying business. Those
efforts have garnered him both regional and
national acclaim. Publications such as the Dallas
Morning News and the Austin Business Journal
consistently rank him amongst the top ten highest
grossing lobbyists in the State of Texas. Similarly,
Capitol Inside, the insiders’ news source of the Texas
Legislature, has listed McWilliams as one of the
top ten Impact Players of the industry. McWilliams
came to the attention of the national media
during President George W. Bush’s first presidential
campaign. As a Bush Pioneer, McWilliams raised over
$100,000 for the campaign, garnering coverage of his
fundraising efforts on CNN. McWilliams and his wife
Andrea, along with State Representative Phil King,
served as Texas co-chairs for Republican Presidential
Candidate Mike Huckabee during the 2007-2008
presidential cycle. He has earned membership
on Governor Rick Perry’s Lone Star Council and
Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst’s Platinum
Council. He has chaired fundraising efforts for U.S.
Senator John Cornyn, Governor Perry, Lieutenant
Governor Dewhurst, Attorney General Greg Abbott,
and Texas Comptroller Susan Combs.
Much of these accomplishments are traceable
to McWilliams’ extensive experience working in
and around the Texas Legislature. Having worked
in both the Texas Senate and the Texas House of
Representatives, he is familiar with all aspects of
the Capitol’s inner workings. From 1993 to 1995,
McWilliams worked on legislative issues in the
Senate for former Lieutenant Governor Bill Ratliff,
the past chairman of the powerful Senate Finance
Committee. In addition to handling natural resources
and budget-related issues for Lieutenant Governor
Ratliff, McWilliams also served on the Lieutenant
Governor’s Task Force on Prison Overcrowding and
the Legislative Budget Board Task Force on Health
Care Reform. McWilliams also spent several years
serving as Chief of Staff for multiple Senators and
Representatives. He began that process in 1991 by
gaining employment with his hometown Texarkana
State Representative Barry Telford, who held the
coveted chairmanship of the House Calendars
Committee.
These credentials have helped Dean McWilliams
successfully represent numerous clients over the
years, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to
Texas cities. Indeed, one of McWilliams’ top clients
continues to be the City of Texarkana itself. In his
capacity as Texarkana’s state government lobbyist,
McWilliams has worked in collaboration with
Texarkana’s Mayor, City Council, and City Manager,
as well as the President of Texas A&M UniversityTexarkana (TAMU-T) an other area leaders to
authorize the downward expansion and to secure
$75 million in tuition revenue bonds and additional
ongoing funding for TAMU-T. McWilliams has
also worked with Texarkana-area legislators and
community leaders in passing legislation creating
the Riverbend Water Resource District to preserve
and enhance the availability of water in the area.
Another top client for McWilliams is the Red River
Redevelopment Authority (RRRA). McWilliams
worked with Bowie County Judge James Carlow and
the RRRA’s Director to help secure grant funding.
He is also working to ensure a smooth transfer of
ownership from the United States Army to RRRA
while promoting economic development at the
site. Also noteworthy is McWilliams’ ongoing
representation Truman Arnold Companies. In that
capacity, McWilliams works with Texarkana icon, top
political contributor and area benefactor, Truman
Arnold, and his son Greg on issues of importance
to the community and to their company’s fuel and
aviation business.
McWilliams inherited his love of politics from his
family, which boasts a long heritage of ties to the
Texarkana area. Indeed, his great-grandfather was in
fact the first sheriff of Bowie County, Texas. Currently,
his parents, George and Becky McWilliams, call
Texarkana home and have been extremely active in
political, legal, and civic affairs of great importance to
the Texarkana region.
HER MAGAZINE OF TEXARKANA
17