View source for Ron Reynolds (politician)

{{short description|American politician (born 1973)}}
{{use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name               = Ron Reynolds
| image              = Texas State Rep. Ron Reynolds 2021 (cropped).jpg
| caption            = Reynolds in 2021
| state_house        = Texas
| district           = [[Texas's 27th House of Representatives district|27th]]
| party              = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]]
| term_start         = January 11, 2011
| term_end           =
| preceded           = [[Dora Olivo]]
| succeeded          =
| birth_name         = Ronald Eugene Reynolds
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|1973|09|18}}
| birth_place        = [[Jackson, Tennessee]], U.S.
| death_date         =
| death_place        =
| death_cause        =
| resting_place      =
| residence          = [[Missouri City, Texas]], U.S.
| occupation         = {{hlist|Politician|judge|professor}}
|signature=Ron Reynolds Signature.png
| spouse             = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Jonita Wallace|end=div}}
}}
| children           = 3<ref name=kids>{{cite news|title=DISTRICT 26 State Rep. – David Hamilton (Republican), Ron Reynolds (Democrat)|url=http://www.fortbendstar.com/2014/10/28/district-26-state-rep-david-hamilton-republican-ron-reynolds-democrat/|access-date=13 December 2014|website=[[Fort Bend Star]]|date=October 28, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150104171827/https://www.fortbendstar.com/2014/10/28/district-26-state-rep-david-hamilton-republican-ron-reynolds-democrat|archive-date=January 4, 2015}}</ref>
| parents            =
| education         = [[Texas Southern University]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])<br>[[Texas Tech University School of Law]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])
|module            = {{br list | '''Criminal information''' | {{Infobox criminal
|child             = yes
|conviction = *[[Barratry (common law)|Solicitation of professional employment (5 counts)]]<ref name=jgjs>{{cite news|last1=Gill|first1=Julian|last2=Scherer|first2=Jasper |title=State Rep. Ron Reynolds released from Montgomery Co. Jail after serving nearly 4 months |url=https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/State-Rep-Ron-Reynolds-released-from-Montgomery-13508164.php |website=Chron|date=January 4, 2019}}</ref>
|criminal_penalty  = Served 120 days of a 365 day sentence
|conviction_status = {{ubl|Was incarcerated at the [[Montgomery County, Texas|Montgomery County]] Jail|Released}}
}}
}}
}}
'''Ronald Eugene Reynolds''' (born September 18, 1973) is an American politician and [[disbarment|disbarred lawyer]] who represents [[Texas's 27th House of Representatives district|District 27]] in the [[Texas House of Representatives]]. He was first elected in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/legeLeaders/members/memberDisplay.cfm?memberID=5686|title=Ron Reynolds|work=Texas Legislators: Past & Present|publisher=Legislative Reference Library of Texas|access-date=December 12, 2014}}</ref> Reynolds is the first [[African Americans|African American]] elected to represent [[Fort Bend County, Texas|Fort Bend County]] in the Texas House of Representatives since the [[Reconstruction era]].
Reynolds was elected Chair of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus in August 2022. He led the charge to form the first-ever Texas [[Historically Black Colleges and Universities]] (HBCU) Legislative Caucus in 2023 and now serves as its Chair.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://stylemagazine.com/news/2024/dec/10/texas-state-representative-ron-reynolds-takes-charge-of-texas-hbcu-caucus/|title=Texas State Representative Ron Reynolds Takes Charge of Texas HBCU Caucus|website=Houston Style Magazine}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.statesman.com/picture-gallery/news/2023/05/04/texas-hbcu-caucus-huston-tillotson-students-representatives/11795251002/|title=Students, Representatives announce new HBCU Caucus|website=Austin American-Statesman}}</ref>
Previously, he served as the Chair of Texas Legislative Progressive Caucus and was a managing partner and attorney in private practice with the Brown, Brown & Reynolds law firm.<ref name="auto"/><ref name=Bar>{{cite web|url=https://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Find_A_Lawyer&template=/Customsource/MemberDirectory/MemberDirectoryDetail.cfm&ContactID=203318|title=Mr. Ronald Eugene 'Ronald' Reynolds|website=[[State Bar of Texas]]|accessdate=July 2, 2024}}</ref> He specialized in [[Personal injury lawyer|personal injury law]], Social Security disability and [[family law]]. He was an [[adjunct professors in North America|adjunct professor]] at [[Texas Southern University]], a Houston Associate Municipal Judge, and was the president of the Houston Lawyers Association<ref>{{cite news|last=Lodha|first=Pooja|url=http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/politics&id=8634787|title=Ft. Bend County state rep. charged with barratry|website=[[KTRK-TV]]|date=April 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501202217/http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/politics&id=8634787|archive-date=May 1, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> and president of the [[Missouri City, Texas|Missouri City]] & Vicinity [[National Association for the Advancement of Colored People]] (NAACP).<ref name="House bio">{{cite web|title=Rep. Reynolds, Ron District 27|url=https://house.texas.gov/members/member-page/?district=27|website=Texas House of Representatives|access-date=July 2, 2024}}</ref> Currently, he is a National Board Member of the NAACP<ref>{{cite web|url=https://naacp.org/people/rep-ronald-reynolds|title=Rep. Ronald Reynolds|website=[[National Association for the Advancement of Colored People]]|access-date=July 2, 2024}}</ref> since his appointment to the board in February 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://stylemagazine.com/news/2024/feb/21/representative-ron-reynolds-joins-naacp-national-b|title=Representative Ron Reynolds Joins NAACP National Board of Directors|date=February 21, 2024|website=Houston Style Magazine}}</ref> He is also a principal at Civitas Engineering and Group Vice President of Business Development.
In November 2018, Reynolds was re-elected to his fifth term as a member of the Texas House of Representatives while he was in jail.<ref name=ktxs>{{cite web|url=https://ktxs.com/news/texas/texas-house-member-wins-re-election-from-a-jail-cell|title=Texas House member wins re-election from jail cell|website=[[KTXS-TV]]|publisher=[[Associated Press]]|date=November 7, 2018}}</ref> One day after U.S. President [[Joe Biden]]'s performance in the [[2024 Joe Biden–Donald Trump presidential debate|June 27, 2024, presidential debate]], which he called a "train wreck",<ref>{{cite news|last=McCardel|first=Michael|url=https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/inside-politics/texas-politics/national-delegate-says-there-is-time-to-replace-president-biden-on-the-ticket/287-5285effa-5bbd-4c9f-812b-7f6e376bd823|title=National delegate to Democratic National Convention says there is time to replace President Biden on the ticket|website=[[WFAA]]|date=July 7, 2024}}</ref> Reynolds became one of the first [[Democratic party (United States)|Democratic]] politicians to call for Biden to be replaced at the [[2024 Democratic National Convention]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.khou.com/article/news/politics/ron-reynolds-president-biden-democratic-party-nomination/285-5e974444-3093-4de2-8519-ed55e53084ca|title=Houston-area lawmaker among first to call for President Biden to be replaced at convention|date=June 28, 2024|website=[[KHOU]]|access-date=July 2, 2024}}</ref>
== Early life and education ==
Reynolds moved from Tennessee to [[Missouri City, Texas]], as a child with his single mother.<ref name=lt>{{cite news|last=Schleifer|first=Theodore|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/Reynolds-says-legal-troubles-do-not-define-him-5911879.php|title=Reynolds says legal troubles do not define him|website=Houston Chronicle|date=November 22, 2014}} {{subscription-required}}</ref> He attended the local schools of Fort Bend County.<ref name=q&a>{{cite news|url=https://abc13.com/representative-ron-reynolds-tom-virippan-texas-house-district-27-candidate-qa/6996533|title=Q&A with candidates for Texas House District 27|website=KTRK-TV|date=October 14, 2020}}</ref> Reynolds graduated from [[Texas Southern University]] in 1996 with a [[Bachelor of Science]] degree in public affairs. He then attended [[Texas Tech University School of Law]], graduating in 1999, with a [[Juris Doctor]] degree.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.txdirectory.com/online/person/?id=39628&office=16799|title =Rep. Ron Reynolds (D)|website=Texas State Directory Online}}</ref>
== Political career ==
Reynolds first vied in the [[2008 Texas House of Representatives election|2008 Texas House of Representatives]] Democratic party primary election for [[Texas's 27th House of Representatives district|District 27]], against the incumbent, [[Dora Olivo]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Texas Consultants Power Rankings Score |url=https://capitolinside.com/consultants2008.htm |access-date=November 7, 2023|website=Mike Hailey's Capitol Inside}}</ref>
Reynolds garnered 14,634 votes (49.7%) to Olivo's 14,821 (50.3%). In 2010, he vied in the Democratic primaries again and unseated Olivo after polling 5,158 (57.6%) to 3,791 (42.4%).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramshaw |first=Emily |date=March 4, 2010 |title=Surprise! |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2010/03/04/how-the-2010-texas-primary-races-turned-out |access-date=November 7, 2023 |website=[[The Texas Tribune]] |language=en}}</ref> In the same year's [[2010 Texas House of Representatives election|general election]], he beat Derek Dean Grayson of the [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian party]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Ron Reynolds |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Ron_Reynolds |access-date=November 7, 2023 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}}</ref> He was sworn in on 10 January 2011 as State Representative, House District 27.<ref name="House bio"/>
In 2012, he ran unopposed in the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic party]] primaries and won re-election with 69% of the votes in the general election.<ref name=":0"/> Reynolds was elected for a third term during the [[2014 Texas House of Representatives election|2014 general election]] after polling 24,326 (67%) against David Wayne Hamilton's 11,990.<ref name=":0"/> Reynolds was opposed by Angelique Bartholomew in the runoff for the Democratic party primaries for the 27th district in 2016. Reynolds led in the March 1, 2016, primary but came up about 250 votes short to avoid a runoff election. He finished first in the four candidate primary with about 48.5% of the vote. Angelique Bartholomew received 24.1%. The runoff election occurred on May 24, 2016.<ref name=em>{{cite news|last=Rocha|first=Alana|title=Embattled State Lawmaker on Losing End of Malpractice Suit|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2016/04/30/504000-judgement-issued-against-ron-reynolds|website=The Texas Tribune|date=April 30, 2016}}</ref> Reynolds was supported by [[Al Green (politician)|Al Green]], [[Sheila Jackson Lee]], [[Sylvester Turner]], and the Democratic party chair of Fort Bend County in what was his first primary challenge since he had been elected and won the runoff election<ref>{{cite news|last=Foxhall|first=Emily|title=Returns show embattled House member Ron Reynolds winning primary race|url=https://www.chron.com/politics/houston/article/Early-returns-show-embattled-House-member-ahead-7943602.php|website=Chron|date=May 25, 2016}}</ref> by a vote of 53% to 47%.<ref name=sc&b>{{cite news|last=Rocha|first=Alana|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2016/09/12/embattled-lawmaker-files-bankruptcy|title=State Rep. Ron Reynolds: Sued, Convicted and Now Bankrupt|website=The Texas Tribune|date=September 12, 2016}}</ref> He survived the low-turnout runoff election by 225 votes.<ref name=Kg>{{cite news|last=Kragie|first=Andrew|url=https://apnews.com/article/business-personal-bankruptcy-351da933d24047728a719cfba8eb62b0|title=State Rep. Ron Reynolds files for bankruptcy|website=[[Associated Press]]|date=September 7, 2016}}</ref> He faced the Republican party politician Ken Bryant in the [[2016 Texas House of Representatives election|2016 general election]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Rogers|first=Brian|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/State-rep-hit-with-500K-court-judgment-7384799.php|title=State rep hit with $500K court judgment|website=Houston Chronicle|date=April 29, 2016}} {{subscription-required}}</ref> During the Democratic primaries in 2018, he beat his opponent Wilvin Carter with 61.37%. He won the [[2018 Texas House of Representatives election|2018 general election]] unopposed while in jail as the Republican party did not field a candidate.<ref name=ktxs/><ref>{{Cite news|last=McCullough|first=Jolie|date=November 7, 2018 |title=State Rep. Ron Reynolds wins re-election from Montgomery County jail cell |url=https://www.khou.com/article/news/politics/elections/state-rep-ron-reynolds-wins-re-election-from-montgomery-county-jail-cell/285-612216387 |access-date=November 7, 2023|website=KHOU |language=en-US}}</ref>
During the [[2020 Texas House of Representatives election|2020 general election]], he defeated Tom Virippan to win re-election.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shoop |first=Claire |date=March 3, 2020|title=Updated: Democratic State Rep. Ron Reynolds, Republican Tom Virippan to compete in general election for Texas House District 27 |url=https://communityimpact.com/houston/sugar-land-missouri-city/election-texas-2020-primary/2020/03/03/after-early-voting-incumbent-state-rep-ron-reynolds-leads-democratic-primary-for-texas-house-district-27-tom-virippan-ahead-for-republicans|access-date=November 7, 2023|website=Community Impact}}</ref> Reynolds was arrested with [[U.S. congressman]] Al Green during a voting rights protest in front of the [[United States Supreme Court|U.S. Supreme Court]] in [[Washington D.C.]] in 2021.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Vasquez|last2=DeBenedetto|first1=Lucio|first2=Paul|url=https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/2021/08/03/404865/2-houston-area-democrats-arrested-during-voting-rights-rally-in-washington-d-c/|title=Houston U.S. Rep. Al Green Given Citation During Voting Rights Rally In Washington D.C.|website=Houston Public Media|date=August 3, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Eltohamy|first=Farah|url=https://dentonrc.com/state-rep-ron-reynolds-and-u-s-rep-al-green-arrested-while-demonstrating-for-federal/article_6d8a6bab-a333-56c9-94cb-a9afec027407.html|title=State Rep. Ron Reynolds and U.S. Rep. Al Green arrested while demonstrating for federal voting bill at U.S. Capitol|website=[[Denton Record-Chronicle]]|date=August 3, 2021}}</ref> He was one of many Democrats who had arrest warrants issued to them after they refused to join a special session ordered by [[Greg Abbott]] in August 2021.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.khou.com/article/news/politics/gene-wu-ron-reynolds-arrest-warrants/285-d72909ef-18f9-4418-a9dd-f3b0ad95f320|title='Extraordinary abuse of power': State representatives from Houston respond to arrest warrants|website=KHOU|date=August 11, 2021}}</ref> He founded the Texas House Progressive Caucus in 2021 and in 2022, he polled 70.3% of the votes to beat the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican party]] candidate, Sohrab Gilani.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Texas Rep. Ron Reynolds|url=https://www.texastribune.org/directory/ron-reynolds|access-date=November 7, 2023 |website=The Texas Tribune |language=en}}</ref> Reynolds was elected Chair of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus in August 2022.<ref name="House bio"/> He led the charge to form the first-ever Texas [[Historically Black Colleges and Universities]] (HBCU) Legislative Caucus in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=HBCU Students and Texas State Representative Ron Reynolds Lead Charge in Forming First-Ever Texas HBCU Legislative Caucus |url=https://htu.edu/hbcu-students-and-texas-state-representative-ron-reynolds-lead-charge-in-forming-first-ever-texas-hbcu-legislative-caucus|access-date=November 11, 2023|website=[[Huston–Tillotson University]]}}</ref>
Reports have named Reynolds as owing the most in fines to the [[Texas Ethics Commission]] compared to any other lawmaker in 2017,<ref name=JW>{{cite news|last=Wang|first=Jackie|title=House member marks one-year anniversary of filing zero campaign finance reports|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2017/02/22/state-rep-filed-zero-ethics-report-over-past-year|website=The Texas Tribune|date=February 22, 2017}}</ref> 2018,<ref name=Barr/> and 2024. As of July 2024, Reynolds owed over $77,000 in fines to the Texas Ethics Commission.<ref>{{cite news|last=Despart|first=Zach|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/23/texas-ethics-campaign-finance-attorney-general/|title=In Texas, violating campaign ethics laws rarely yields repercussions. The attorney general’s office is to blame.|website=The Texas Tribune|date=July 23, 2024}}</ref>
== Political views==
=== Abortion ===
Reynolds is in favor of [[Abortion in the United States|abortion]] rights and is pro-choice.<ref name=pm>{{cite news|last=Rocha|first=Alana|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2014/06/12/republicans-see-chance-win-hd-27/|title=Republicans See Potential Opportunity in House Democrat's Legal Troubles|website=The Texas Tribune|date=June 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200704235134/https://www.texastribune.org/2014/06/12/republicans-see-chance-win-hd-27/|archive-date=July 4, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Cannabis ===
A joint resolution introduced by Reynolds called for an amendment to the [[Texas Constitution|state Constitution]] that would direct Texas legislators to "authorize and regulate the possession, cultivation, and sale of [[Medical cannabis in the United States|cannabis for medical use]] in this state."<ref>{{cite news|last=Harrington|first=A. J.|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/ajherrington/2024/11/13/texas-lawmaker-files-cannabis-legalization-bill|title=Texas Lawmaker Files Cannabis Legalization Bill|website=[[Forbes]]|date=November 13, 2024}}</ref>
=== Justice system ===
Reynolds has supported [[criminal justice reform in the United States|criminal justice reform]] bills such as grants to police departments for [[police body camera]]s, grand jury reform, and [[James White (Texas politician)|James White]]'s bill to decriminalize [[truancy]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Langford|first=Terri|title=Rep. Ron Reynolds Fending Off Conviction, Challengers in Primary|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2016/02/14/reynolds-fending-conviction-challengers-primary|website=The Texas Tribune|date=February 14, 2016}}</ref> He supported a bill that would require a special prosecutor in cases of officer-involved shootings. Reynolds believes that his legal problems were politically and racially motivated,<ref>{{cite news|last=Rocha|first=Alana|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2016/05/10/legal-troubles-financial-woes-fill-hd-27-runoff/|title=Convictions, Lawsuits Don't Slow Ron Reynolds Re-Election Bid|website=The Texas Tribune|date=May 10, 2016}}</ref> and that he is the victim of [[selective prosecution]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Goldenstein|first1=Taylor|title=State Rep. Ron Reynolds is disbarred months after jail release |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/State-Rep-Ron-Reynolds-is-disbarred-months-after-14291548.php |website=Houston Chronicle|date=August 8, 2019}} {{subscription-required}}</ref> When his conviction was overturned in 2014, Reynolds offered a critique of the justice system of [[Montgomery County, Texas|Montgomery County]], saying "I have a very strong conviction I didn't get a fair trial, but even bigger I believe it's difficult for [an] African-American to get [a] fair trial in Montgomery County, Texas".<ref name=kprc>{{cite news|last1=Cooper|first1=Nakia|last2=Archer|first2=Phil|url=https://www.click2houston.com/news/2014/11/11/judge-overturns-conviction-of-state-rep-ron-reynolds|title=Judge overturns conviction of state Rep. Ron Reynolds|website=[[KPRC-TV]]|date=November 10, 2014}}</ref> In 2015, Reynolds likened a criminal case against him as a "modern day [[Lynching in the United States|lynching]]".<ref name=jgjs/>
=== Medicare ===
Reynolds has indicated his support for the expansion of [[Medicare (United States)|Medicare]] to address the amount of uninsured residents in Texas, which has the highest percentage of [[Health insurance coverage in the United States|uninsured people in the United States]].<ref name=q&a/>
=== Minimum wage ===
In 2019, Reynolds proposed a bill to raise the [[minimum wage in the United States|minimum wage]] of Texas to $15 an hour. He said, "We need to close the economic gap here in Texas, working full time and trying to support a family on less than $15,000 a year is impossible."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://abc13.com/rep-ron-reynolds-hb-194/5101170|title=Texas representative proposes bill to raise minimum wage to $15/hr|website=KTRK-TV|date=January 22, 2019}}</ref>
=== Reparations ===
Reynolds proposed legislation that would have Texas pay [[Reparations for slavery in the United States|reparations]] amounting to $95 million to descendants of the Sugar Land 95, which were 95 19th-century African Americans that were forced to work in a plantation in [[Sugar Land, Texas]], under the [[convict leasing|convict lease system]]. He suggested that identification could be done by [[genetic testing|testing DNA]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Ortiz|first=Alvaro "Al"|url=https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/2019/03/05/324158/state-representative-proposes-paying-95-million-in-reparations-to-descendants-of-sugar-land-95|title=State Representative Proposes Paying $95 Million In Reparations To Descendants Of Sugar Land 95|website=Houston Public Media|date=March 5, 2019}}</ref>
=== Gaza-Israel conflict ===
In November 2023, Reynolds was a signer of a letter urging the [[Presidency of Joe Biden|Biden administration]] to secure additional humanitarian aid<ref>{{cite news|last=Salhotra|first=Pooja|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/12/texas-palestine-israel-ceasefire-protest/|title=Texans fill downtown Austin streets to demand ceasefire in Gaza|website=The Texas Tribune|date=November 12, 2023}}</ref> and push for a [[Calls for a ceasefire during the Israel–Hamas war|ceasefire]] in [[Israel's war on Gaza]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Abrams|first=Cameron|url=https://thetexan.news/issues/social-issues-life-family/texas-house-democrats-urge-party-chair-to-request-biden-call-for-ceasefire-in-israel-hamas/article_256d1410-7e85-11ee-9272-9f7a9795f606.html|title=Texas House Democrats Urge Party Chair to Request Biden Call for Ceasefire in Israel-Hamas Conflict|website=[[The Texan (website)|The Texan]]|date=November 8, 2023}}</ref> He signed a later letter urging the administration "to reassess the unconditional aid provided to Israel" in the hope that they would "not hesitate to halt the provision of offensive weapons in order to prevent any future [[Human rights violations against Palestinians by Israel|human rights violations]]."<ref>{{cite news|last=Waltons|first=Brandon|url=https://texasscorecard.com/state/democrats-in-texas-house-call-on-biden-to-end-unconditional-support-to-israel|title=Democrats in Texas House Call on Biden to End ‘Unconditional Support’ to Israel|website=[[Empower Texans|Texas Scorecard]]|date=April 24, 2024}}</ref>
== Awards and honors ==
Reynolds has been awarded with the [[Equal Employment Opportunity Commission|EEOC Civil Rights All Star Award]], the [[American Red Cross|American Red Cross Humanitarian Award]], the Houston Black Chamber of Commerce Pinnacle Award (twice), the Missouri City Juneteenth Community Service Award, and the DMARS Business Journal Top Lawyer & Public Servant Award. He was named in Houston's Top 40 Leaders Under 40, named Houston’s Top Lawyer by HTexas Magazine, and recognized in Who's Who in Black Houston.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 17, 2023 |title=Ron Reynolds|url=https://texasblackexpo.com/about/ron-reynolds |access-date=January 2, 2024 |website=Texas Black Expo |language=en-US}}</ref> He was voted by the House Democratic Caucus as Freshman Legislator of the Year in 2011<ref name=Record/> and was named Public Servant of the Year by the Houston Minority Contractors Association.<ref>{{cite web|date=February 6, 2013 |title=State Rep. Ron Reynolds named House Democratic Whip |url=https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/sugarland/news/article/State-Rep-Ron-Reynolds-named-House-Democratic-9527218.php|website=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref>
He has also received the American Red Cross Humanitarian Award, the [[YMCA]] Minority Achievers Award, the NAACP Drum Major for Justice Award,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ron Reynolds plans to seek re-election |url=https://fbindependent.com/ron-reynolds-plans-to-seek-reelection-p8948-91.htm |access-date=December 22, 2023|date=September 16, 2015|website=Fort Bend Independent}}</ref> and the Texas Association of African American Chamber of Commerce's Legislator of the Year Award.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://fbindependent.com/state-rep-ron-reynolds-files-for-reelection-in-the-democratic-party-prima-p13674-91.htm|title=State Rep. Ron Reynolds files for re-election in the Democratic Party primary|website=Fort Bend Independent|date=December 3, 2019}}</ref>
== Legal issues ==
Reynolds has faced several legal and ethical challenges during his career. In 2005, the [[State Bar of Texas]] sanctioned him twice for professional misconduct, resulting in a suspension from practicing law from April 1, 2005, to June 30, 2006, followed by a probated suspension that lasted until June 30, 2009.<ref>{{cite news|last=Jordan|first=Jay R.|url=https://www.yourconroenews.com/neighborhood/moco/news/article/State-Rep-Reynolds-barred-from-practicing-law-on-9506995.php|title=State Rep. Reynolds barred from practicing law on appeal bond|website=[[The Courier (Conroe newspaper)|The Courier]]|date=November 24, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://static.texastribune.org/media/documents/Feb._2005_Public_Sanction_1.pdf|title=Reynolds' Feb. 2005 Public Sanction|website=The Texas Tribune|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20221225055006/https://static.texastribune.org/media/documents/Feb._2005_Public_Sanction_1.pdf|archive-date=December 25, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://static.texastribune.org/media/documents/Nov._2005_Public_Sanction_1.pdf|title=Reynolds' Nov. 2005 Public Sanction|website=The Texas Tribune|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525230623/https://static.texastribune.org/media/documents/Nov._2005_Public_Sanction_1.pdf|archive-date=May 25, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> During his first political campaign in 2008, the Texas Ethics Commission terminated his campaign treasurer. Reynolds continued to raise and spend campaign funds until a new treasurer was appointed six months later.<ref name=Record>{{cite news|last=Tennissen|first=Marilyn|url=https://setexasrecord.com/stories/510618450-texas-state-rep-named-freshman-of-the-year-jailed-on-barratry-charges|title=Texas state rep. named 'Freshman of the Year' jailed on barratry charges|date=April 25, 2012|website=Southeast Texas Record}}</ref>
In 2012, Reynolds turned himself in to authorities on accusations of [[barratry (common law)|barratry]] and was released on bond.<ref>{{cite web|last=Wrigley|first=Deborah|url=http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=8636134|title=More details emerge about Rep. Reynold's arrest|website=[[KTRK-TV]]|date=April 25, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501184135/http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=8636134|archive-date=May 1, 2012}}</ref> The case was dismissed in 2013 due to issues with evidence handling.<ref>{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Doug|url=http://www.khou.com/news/crime/First-charges-dropped-in-prosecutor-mess-193703491.html|title=First charges dropped in prosecutor mess|date=February 27, 2013|website=[[KHOU]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501223510/http://www.khou.com/news/crime/First-charges-dropped-in-prosecutor-mess-193703491.html|archive-date=May 1, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Later that year, his law office was raided in connection with a $25 million kickback scheme.<ref>{{cite news|last1=McCullough|first1=Jolie|title=State Rep. Ron Reynolds turns himself in to serve year-long jail sentence|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2018/09/07/state-rep-ron-reynolds-turns-himself-begin-serving-year-long-jail-sent|website=The Texas Tribune|date=September 7, 2018}}</ref> Reynolds was indicted for participating in a scheme to steer clients in exchange for kickbacks and was initially convicted in 2013, but a mistrial was declared.<ref>{{cite news|last=Rocha|first=Alana|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2013/03/26/ron-reynolds-booked-barratry-charges/|title=Reynolds Booked Into Montgomery County Jail|website=The Texas Tribune|date=March 26, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Horswell|last2=Zaveri|first1=Cindy|first2=Mihir|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Judge-overturns-conviction-sets-new-trial-in-5884133.php|title=Judge overturns conviction, sets new trial in legislator's solicitation case|website=Houston Chronicle|date=November 11, 2014}} {{subscription-required}}</ref> In 2015, he was convicted on five counts of illegal solicitation of legal clients on November 16, 2015, fined, and sentenced to one year in prison.<ref name=4d>{{cite news|last=Ramsey|first=Ross|title=State Rep. Reynolds Guilty of Ambulance-Chasing|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2015/11/21/report-state-rep-reynolds-guilty-ambulance-chasing/|website=The Texas Tribune|date=November 21, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Tresaugue|first=Matthew|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/neighborhood/woodlands/crime-courts/article/Houston-news-6653231.php|title=Lawmaker gets jail sentence, fine for 'ambulance chasing'|website=Houston Chronicle|date=November 24, 2015}}</ref> Reynolds had [[Pro se legal representation in the United States|represented himself]] in court proceedings, later saying, "Everybody advised me not to do it, but who would best represent me other than me? I know the most about this case". Reynolds was the only one of the eight attorneys charged who did not accept a [[plea bargain|plea deal]] and took the case to trial.<ref>{{cite news|last=Horswell|first=Cindy|title=State Rep. Reynolds facing new trial on barratry allegations|url=https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/fortbend/news/article/Rep-Reynolds-confronts-barratry-allegations-again-6638858.php|date=November 17, 2015|website=Chron}}</ref>  Reynolds planned to appeal the decision.<ref name=4d/>
In April 2016, Reynolds was ordered to pay a former client $504,000. He was accused of winning a monetary settlement for a client whose daughter died in a car crash and then keeping her share of the money.<ref>{{cite news|last=Keith|first=Damali|title=$504,000 judgment against State Representative Ron Reynolds|url=https://www.fox26houston.com/news/504000-judgment-against-state-representative-ron-reynolds|website=[[KRIV (TV)|Fox 26]]|date=April 29, 2016}}</ref> Also in the same month, a Harris County judge ordered Reynolds to pay more than $95,000 to a couple after he had reached a settlement without informing them or having their consent.<ref name=em/> The next month it was reported that his law license had been suspended<ref>{{cite news|title=More legal troubles for State Rep. Ron Reynolds after unpaid settlement|url=https://abc13.com/state-representative-settlement-money/1343109/|website=[[KTRK-TV]]|date=May 17, 2016}}</ref> by the [[Supreme Court of Texas]]'s Board of Disciplinary Appeals. It was also reported that he missed the filing deadline of May 16 to report his campaign fundraising information and that he owed over $30,000 in fines to the Texas Ethics Commission for failing to file campaign and personal financial statements on time.<ref>{{cite news|last=Rocha|first=Alana|title=State Rep. Reynolds' Law License Suspended as He Appeals Convictions|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2016/05/18/state-suspends-rep-reynolds-law-license|website=The Texas Tribune|date=May 18, 2016}}</ref> Reynolds filed for chapter 7 [[bankruptcy in the United States|bankruptcy]] in 2016.<ref name=sc&b/> He listed he owed $3,000 in unpaid Houston-area tolls, $15,000 to the Texas Ethics Commission for failing to file financial disclosure forms,<ref name=Kg/> and faced $1.3 million in debt.<ref>{{cite news|last=Snyder|first=Mike|title=The curious case of Ron Reynolds, poised for re-election despite 'bad acts'|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/columnists/greater-houston/article/The-curious-case-of-Ron-Reynolds-poised-for-9458381.php|website=Houston Chronicle|date=September 29, 2016}} {{subscription-required}}</ref>
Between 2016 and 2019, Reynolds was ordered to pay significant settlements to former clients and owed substantial fines to the Texas Ethics Commission.<ref>{{cite news|last=Platoff|first=Emma|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2019/01/04/ron-reynolds-released-jail-texas-representative-democrat/|title=Texas Rep. Ron Reynolds released from jail — just in time for the legislative session|website=The Texas Tribune|date=January 4, 2019}}</ref> His law license was suspended, and he filed for bankruptcy in 2016. His 2015 conviction was upheld in 2017, and he began his prison sentence on September 7, 2018.<ref name=Barr>{{cite web|last=Barr|first=Jody|url=https://www.kxan.com/investigations/texas-lawmaker-with-largest-ethics-fines-sent-to-jail|title=Texas lawmaker with largest ethics fines sent to jail|website=[[KXAN-TV]]|date=September 7, 2018}}</ref> Reynolds was released on January 4, 2019, just days before the beginning of the [[86th Texas Legislature|86th legislative session]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Platoff|first=Emma|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2019/01/04/ron-reynolds-released-jail-texas-representative-democrat/|title=Texas Rep. Ron Reynolds released from jail — just in time for the legislative session|website=The Texas Tribune|date=January 4, 2019}}</ref> Reynolds was formally disbarred in July 2019.<ref name=Bar/><ref>{{cite news|last=Barr|first=Jody|title=TX lawmaker who won re-election from jail cell stripped of law license |url=https://www.kxan.com/investigations/tx-lawmaker-who-won-re-election-from-jail-cell-stripped-of-law-license|date=August 8, 2019|website=[[KXAN-TV]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Despart|first=Zach|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/23/texas-ethics-campaign-finance-attorney-general/|title=In Texas, violating campaign ethics laws rarely yields repercussions. The attorney general’s office is to blame.|website=The Texas Tribune|date=July 23, 2024}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* {{cite news|last=Reynolds|first=Ron|url=https://theatlantavoice.com/ron-reynolds-maga-vs-black-america/|title=Texas State Rep. Ron Reynolds: Why MAGA Policies Are Detrimental to Black Communities|website=The [[Atlanta Voice]]|date=April 18, 2024}}
* {{cite web|last=Asch|first=Sarah|url=https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/texas-legislature-black-caucus-priorities-ron-reynolds|title=Texas Legislative Black Caucus priorities include health care, criminal justice reform this session|website=[[KUT|Texas Standard]]|date=February 10, 2023}}
* {{cite news|last=Reynolds|first=Ron|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/14/opinions/texas-voting-rights-dc-reynolds/index.html|title=Texas state rep: Why I flew to the nation’s capital|website=[[CNN]]|date=July 14, 2021}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.house.texas.gov/members/member-page/newsletters/27/2021-Newsletter.pdf|title=State Representative Ron Reynolds, District 27 Update|date=Fall 2021}}
{{S-start}}
{{s-par|us-tx-hs}}
{{succession box
| before=[[Dora Olivo]]
| title=Member of the <br>{{nowrap|[[Texas House of Representatives]]}}<br>from [[Texas's 27th House of Representatives district|District 27]] ([[Missouri City, Texas|Missouri City]])
| years=2011&ndash;
| after=Incumbent}}
{{s-end}}
{{Texas House of Representatives}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Reynolds, Ron (Texas politician)}}
[[Category:1973 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Texas lawyers]]
[[Category:Disbarred American lawyers]]
[[Category:Texas politicians convicted of crimes]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the Texas House of Representatives]]
[[Category:African-American state legislators in Texas]]
[[Category:Texas Southern University alumni]]
[[Category:Texas Tech University School of Law alumni]]
[[Category:People from Jackson, Tennessee]]
[[Category:People from Missouri City, Texas]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the Texas Legislature]]