Tom Oliverson
713-554-9030 www.tomoliverson.com Dr. Tom Oliverson is a practicing anesthesiologist and partner in U.S. Anesthesia Partners, the largest anesthesiology provider in Texas with more than 1,100 doctors. Oliverson and his wife were appointed to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s inaugural committee. He is active in many Second Amendment organizations and supports the Boy Scouts of America, Family Life Ministries and other organizations. He and his wife are members of Jersey Village Baptist Church and live in Cypress where they home-school their three children.
Why are you running for District 130 representative?
I have always been very politically involved and interested. About four years ago I had an interaction with a husband and wife. He was a retired congressman from Ohio. She tells me, ‘You need to run for public office—whether it’s state or federal, this country needs people like you.’ About a year ago, I became willing. I prayed and asked God if it was really his will that I would go into public service. As soon as I prayed, things just started happening. Next thing I know our state representative might be named sheriff, and I’m sitting in a meeting with him. He’s saying, ‘You’d make me sleep a lot better at night if you considered doing this.’ I have the good fortune of being good friends with our Lt. Gov. [Dan Patrick]. I asked for his opinion, and he’s very supportive.
What are some of the biggest challenges facing District 130?
I think that we need a state representative that will work with other local elected leaders to ensure transportation and infrastructure issues are dealt with. Change is coming to the district in terms of growth. The Grand Parkway is scheduled to open at the beginning of [February]. It’s going to bring changes. There are already plans to develop the farmland in communities laying on either side of the road. Because most of it’s unincorporated Harris County with no zoning, it’s going to be a bit chaotic. But it can be controlled chaos or it can be stark-raving mad, “Lord of the Flies” chaos depending on whether we have somebody who is engaging all the stakeholders—developers, fire departments, EMS system, school districts, utility providers and the sheriff’s department—and making sure all the resources for orderly growth are present. I think that’s really important. I think if you had to ask me in the next 10 years what’s going to be the biggest driver in our district in terms of growth, [the Grand Parkway is] going to be a big one.
What is the first initiative you would like to accomplish in office?
I’ll oppose Obamacare in Texas, look to reduce regulation on businesses so the economy continues to grow and prosper and more jobs can be created, and I hope to ban sanctuary cities in Texas. People get angry with the federal government for not securing the border, but then there are cities like Houston that are unwilling to allow their police officers to ask questions about immigration status. One of the first things I’m definitely going to address is sanctuary cities. Gov. [Greg] Abbott has called for that bill to be filed. I’m very interested in filing that bill. I think his idea is a good idea. I think it will work. We came very close to passing it in the last legislative session. I think it’s time we get serious about it.
