Capitol Inside Names Richie 23rd in Texas Power Rankings for 2013

January 31, 2013—AUSTIN, TX—Carl S. Richie, Jr. is the 23rd most powerful lobbyist in Texas according to Capitol Inside’s 2013 “Texas Power Rankings Hired Guns” list. The list ranks the 100 most influential contract lobbyists working at the Texas Capitol.

A lawyer, in addition to being a lobbyist, Richie has consistently been included in the upper echelons of the power lists. In the 2009 and 2011 rankings, Richie was ranked second and fourth respectively on the “In-House Lobbyists” lists as the lead lobbyist for energy giant TXU Energy. He also ranked in the top five in 2003 and 2005 as a lobbyist with the law firm Gardere Wynne Sewell, LLP.

Prior to opening his own firm, Richie served as Vice President of Government Affairs for TXU Energy where he managed the company’s state legislative and regulatory advocacy team and external consultants. Previously, he worked as a Fellow to a member of the U.S. Congress, a leading staffer to a Houston City Council member, and as Deputy Chief of Staff to Texas Governor Ann W. Richards. While there, he led the Governor’s Ethics Task Force, which established the creation of the Texas Ethics Commission and served as the agency’s Acting Director.

In addition to his legal and legislative lobby experience, Richie is an expert on regulatory matters, representing corporate clients before Texas state agencies on matters related to campaign finance, energy, healthcare, taxes and workers’ compensation. He also has extensive experience in the energy field representing consumers, generators, retailers and traditional utilities.

Richie earned a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M at Commerce, a Master of Public Administration from Texas Southern University, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Houston Law Center.

Currently, Richie serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Commissioners for the Housing Authority of the City of Austin. He has earned the highest awards given to public housing commissioners, including the Elizabeth B. Wells Memorial Award by the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO), the Commissioner’s Public Service Award from the Southwest Regional Council of NAHRO and twice as Commissioner of the Year Award by the Texas Chapter of NAHRO.