Published: June 12, 2008 04:07 pm      

Rep’s longtime political partner leaving for chamber post

By Raymond Billy

rbilly@jacksonvilleprogress.com

Although he believes new District Administrator Wendy Dean will excel at the job, state Rep. Chuck Hopson says he will still miss the person who served in the post throughout his time as a member of the Texas House of Representatives.

Jeana Brooks, who has been Hopson’s district administrator since he first took the oath of office in 2001, was given a going-away party Wednesday in Jacksonville. Brooks said she’ll never forget her time working for Hopson.

“It’s been fabulous working here, and very interesting,” Brooks said. “There’s never a dull moment in politics.

“It’s never the same from day to day. Sometimes I’m working with state agencies and sometimes I’m working with community leaders to organize fundraisers. Once I even met with Willie Nelson for lunch, so it’s always different,” Brooks said.

Brooks was Hopson’s representative to each of the four counties — Cherokee, Houston, Panola and Rusk — in his congressional district. She was a teacher for six years — the last five at Frankston Middle School — before leaving the profession to join Hopson’s congressional campaign. Hopson said he liked Brooks’ assertiveness in pursuing a position on his congressional staff.

“I remember one day during my campaign, Jeana saying ‘You need someone on your staff who understands education issues.’ I said, ‘OK, who have you got in mind?’” Hopson said. “That was the beginning of our political partnership.”

Brooks said she switched careers to work with Hopson because she believed in him as a public servant.

“I’ve known Chuck for basically all of my life. He’s been a friend of my family’s for a long time. I left teaching to work for him, so obviously I think highly of him as a person,” said Brooks, who holds an education degree from the University of Texas at Tyler.

Brooks, who has lived in Jacksonville for 12 years, is now switching careers once again, this time to become president of the Crockett Chamber of Commerce. She said the process of landing the job was a quick one.

“I interviewed for the position and the next thing I knew, they were calling and asking, ‘Can you be here in a week?’ So, I’m already moved over there,” she said.

If Brooks’ work with Hopson is any indication, she will certainly be equipped to handle the diverse situations one has to juggle at a chamber of commerce, Hopson said.

“Jeana has just been a blessing to have as an administrator. In that position, you never know who you’re going to have to talk to. One minute, you might be talking to the governor, next thing you know, you’re speaking with the president of Mexico. Then, all of a sudden, you’re talking to someone who is simply having trouble paying bills and needs to know what options might be available,” Hopson said. “She handled all of those situations very well.”

Dean, the new administrator, has a wealth of political experience and has worked on several campaigns, including that of her father, who is a county court at law judge in Rusk County. Hopson said Dean is “very experienced and smart. She’ll do a fine job and we’re happy to have her.”

However, Hopson said he won’t forget Brooks’ contribution to his district.

“She’s certainly done a lot where education is concerned,” Hopson said. “We’ve had more students participate in the NASA program from this district than any other in Texas and that has a lot to do with Jeana’s work.”