While serving 10 years in the Texas Senate, David Sibley (R-Waco) earned a reputation as a respected leader. As chair of the Senate Business & Commerce Committee during four legislative sessions, Dr. Sibley also had the opportunity to work closely with Senator Shapleigh.

Recently, Dr. Sibley, a Republican, sent a letter to El Paso Inc. to talk about Senator Shapleigh's record. "Eliot is one of the hardest working members in the Senate," wrote Dr. Sibley. "Eliot challenged our thinking about the Border. He saw it as the economic engine of the future."

For example, Senator Shapleigh pushed the legislature to help pass a Texas Border Marshall Plan to spur investment in clusters of value, wrote Dr. Sibley. Additionally, "[i]n each session, [Senator Shapleigh] passed the next step of El Paso's four year medical school, no small feat considering no medical school has been built in the US since 1983." Moreover, Senator Shapleigh worked to pass a job creation tax credit for Texas. "[Senator Shapleigh] saw the day when web based technology would attract Boeing and Raytheon to El Paso. He took me to El Paso to tour the Boeing plant after he worked to bring 800 more jobs to the plant."

In sum, "Eliot is a leader--one of the best I've seen," he added.

"[Senator Shapleigh's] eloquence on the Senate floor makes people listen, and his skills at compromise have helped him pass over 400 bills. In all it takes to pass a bill, he gets things done."

But Dr. Sibley recognized that the road to success does not come without its challenges. "[I]n Austin, sometimes you have to fight," Dr. Sibley advised. "In the Senate, people respect dedication, well researched policy, and integrity. As your Senator, Eliot works well on both sides of the aisle. You guys are lucky to have him."

Read Dr. Sibley's Letter: [letter pdf].