State Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay, and state Rep. Ralph Sheffield, R-Temple, made two of the more unfavorable listings this year. This is the 19th list the magazine has published after starting with the 63rd Legislature in 1973.
Fraser was listed as one of the 10 worst legislators for the third time. Texas Monthly said he has an “insatiable ego” and reached new levels of “self-absorption.” It added quotes from Fraser telling Sen. Wendy Davis during a debate that he had a hard time hearing some women’s voices and that he had spoken to minority voters about the Voter ID Bill because he had spoken to Sen. Royce West, an African-American.
On the last day of the session, Fraser was voted unanimously to be president pro tempore of the session. He said the unanimous vote was proof the other members believed he had a good session.
“Texas Monthly had made a statement early in the session that if I carried the Voter ID Bill they were going to put me on the 10 worst no matter what else I did in the session,” Fraser said.
Fraser said Texas Monthly took the quotes out of context. He said he sometimes has to wear a hearing aid. Fraser said he had been in the debate all day, was tired and was having trouble hearing what Davis was saying. His hearing problem makes it difficult for him to hear some frequencies of voices.
“It wasn’t meant as a detriment to her,” he said.
Fraser said West is a friend of his and his comment was meant as a joke. He said he spoke to West about the comment and West knew it was a joke.
Sheffield was named on the list in the category of “furniture.”
The article explained the origin of the term: “Originally, it applied to lawmakers with a level of participation that was well below average, indicating that they were indistinguishable from their desks, chairs and inkwells. Today the definition also refers to the least consequential members.”
Sheffield said he doesn’t see himself as a piece of furniture. He said he worked hard behind the scenes to get bills passed.
“Just because you’re not on the mic doesn’t mean you’re not doing your job,” he said. “I think that’s what Paul (Burka, political editor for Texas Monthly) likes to see.”
Sheffield served other roles during the session, both as a Republican floor leader and as co-class president for the 22 freshman representatives. “That kept me busy as well,” he said.
Sheffield said he thinks it’s out of place for a freshman member of the House to be named one of Texas’ worst legislators. He said he learned from watching senior members at the microphone. After a “very educational” first session, Sheffield said he will be better prepared next session.
“I’m definitely going to have the experience under my belt,” he said.
And there is precedent for improvement - state Rep. James Nugent of Kerrville made the original 10 worst list in 1973 and as Jim Nugent was on the 10 best in 1977. Craig Washington of Houston pulled the opposite feat, being listed among the best legislators in 1973, 1979 and 1981, and making the worst list in 1985 and 1987.
