Tony Dale

Dale received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Ohio State University at Columbus in central Ohio.[3] While at Ohio State, he was active in partisan politics and for a time was President of the Ohio State University College Republican Club and the state co-chairman of the Ohio College Republican Federation. He also worked at the Ohio Republican Party for four years as a college intern.

In 1989, Dale met his wife, attorney Mary Lopez Dale, when the two enlisted in the United States Army Reserve. Both served in Reserve Officer Training Corps; upon college graduation, they were stationed at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas. In 1997, both left the Army with the rank of captain. His military decorations include the Parachutist Badge, Army Commendation Medal with Oak leaf cluster, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Texas Cold War Service Medal, Texas Humanitarian Relief Ribbon and Expert Marksman Badge and The Noble Patron of Armor Award. Dale is a charter member of the Hunter-Morris Memorial American Legion Post 911 in Cedar Park.[4] Mrs. Dale was the 2014-2015 post commander.[5] He is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Texas State Guard where he serves as the Director of the Civil Affairs Operations Section at Headquarters, Camp Mabry.[6]

The former owner of a consulting company, Dale is a member of the Cedar Park Chambers of Commerce.[3] The Dales have two daughters. One is graduate of Leander ISD schools and the other attends school at LISD.[4] They attend St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church in Austin.[3]

From 2002 until 2009 Dale served as a precinct chairman for the Williamson County Republican Party. He also served in the capacity of election clerk and election judge. In 2004, then District 20 State Representative Dan Gattis appointed Dale to the Textbook Review Panel of the Texas Education Agency.[4]

From 2009 to 2012, Dale was a member of the Cedar Park City Council and for a year served as the mayor pro tem. Earlier, he was the secretary and later vice chairman of the Cedar Park Planning and Zoning Commission. As a member of the board of the Williamson County Conservation Foundation, he pushed for local control over federal regulations. He served too on the Cedar Park Charter Review Committee.[4]

In 2012, the long-term incumbent Republican Representative Beverly Massey Wooley of Houston could not seek a tenth term in District 136, which was reconfigured and based in Williamson County, rather than Harris County.[7] Therefore, an open seat developed, and Dale and another Republican, Paul Matthews, each sought their party nomination. Dale easily prevailed, 5,126 votes (66.4 percent) to 2,597 (33.6 percent).[8] In the general election on November 6, 2012 Dale defeated the Democrat Matt Stillwell and the Libertarian Party nominee, Matthew Wayne Whittington (born c. 1971) of Cedar Park. He received 32,383 votes (53.1 percent); Stillwell, 24,851 (40.7 percent); Whittington, 3,802 votes (6.2 percent).[9]

In 2014 Dale was unopposed in the Republican Primary. In the November 4, 2014 Dale received 20,862 (54.2 percent) and out paced his closest opponent by 13.1 percent. Democratic nominee John Bucy of Austin received 15,821 (41.1 percent) and Libertarian nominee Justin Billiot of Cedar Park received 1,811 (4.7 percent).

In 2016 Dale ran unopposed in the Republican Primary. In the November 8, 2016 general election, he received 41,643 votes (55.0%) and defeated Democratic challenger Paul Gordon who received 34,077 votes (45.0%).

In the 83rd Legislative Session (2013-2014) Dale served on the House committees of (1) Homeland Security and Public Safety, (2) Energy Resources and (3) House Select Committee on Child Protection.[3] In the 84th Legislative Session (2015-2016) Dale served on the house committees of (1) Homeland Security and Public Safety, (2) Energy Resources and (3) Local and Consent Calendar Committee. In the 85th Legislative Session (2017-2018) Dale served on (1) Environmental Regulation Committee and (2) Vice Chairman of the Juvenile Justice & Family Issues Committee and (3) House Select Committee on Cybersecurity. He was appointed as a member of the House Working Group to reform the Child Protective Service. He is a member of the House Working Group developing internal House policies on sexual harassment. He is the Chairman of the House Energy Caucus. In the 85th legislative session Dale served as Deputy Floor Leader for the Republican Caucus. He is on the board of directors of the Texas Conservative Coalition.

The Cedar Park Chamber of Commerce named Dale the 2017 Citizen of the Year. In 2018 Cedar Park Mayor Matt Powell presented Dale with the city's highest civilian honor by bestowing upon him a key to the city. In 2017, 2016, 2015 and 2013 the Hill Country News reader poll voted Dale the "Best Elected Official". The Texas Conservative Coalition, a bipartisan group of legislators, named him a "Courageous Conservative" following the 83rd, 84th and 85th regular sessions. After the 84th session the Texas Right To Life rated him a 100%. The Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT) named him Freshman of the Year in 2013."[3] Following the 84th legislative session in 2015 the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas named him, "Best of the House". In 2015 he was elected to the Board of Directors of the Texas Conservative Coalition. In 2013 and 2015 the Texas Association of Business named him a "Champion For Free Enterprise". The Texas Alliance For Life PAC endorsed his reelection in 2015/2016. In 2015 the Texas Conservative Roundtable named him an "Effective Conservative".

He has also conducted seminars in Amman, Jordan on campaign message, communications and organization for the International Republican Institute.

Dale won his third term in the House in the general election held on November 8, 2016. With 41,643 votes (55 percent), he defeated the Democrat Paul R. Gordon, who polled 34,077 (45 percent).[13]

Dale lost his bid for a fourth term in the general election held on November 6, 2018. He was unseated by the Democrat John Bucy III, who had lost the 2014 election to Dale: 41,485 votes (53.3) to 34,031 (43.8 percent). The Libertarian Party choice, Zack Parks, held another 2,253 (2.9 percent).[14]