AUSTIN
Brandon Dudley, Chief of Staff/Legal Counsel
Brandon joined Senator Ellis’ office in January of 2004. Prior to joining the Ellis team, Brandon directed various educational and empowerment programs for at risk youth, and worked for a number civil rights organizations doing legal and policy work in the areas of criminal justice, education, civil liberties and voting rights. Brandon has also served as the policy advisor for the Innocence Project, a non-profit organization that works to exonerate the wrongfully convicted and develop and implement reforms throughout the criminal justice system. Brandon received his BA in Political Science and attended the Graduate School for Social Work at the University of Texas at Austin, and received his Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the University of Houston Law Center.
Email: Brandon.Dudley@senate.state.tx.us
David Edmonson, Senior Policy Advisor
David joined Senator Ellis’ staff in March 2010. Prior to joining the Senator’s staff, he served as general counsel for Senator Eliot Shapleigh (D-El Paso) from 2005 to 2010. In Senator Shapleigh’s office, he primarily focused on education, veteran affairs, and environmental policy. David received his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Houston and his Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the University of Texas School of Law.
Email: David.Edmonson@senate.state.tx.us
Loi Taylor, Executive Assistant
Loi Taylor rejoined Senator Ellis’ staff in April 2010 after previously working for him from 2001-2004 and 2005-2007. Before coming to the Senator’s office, she was the promotions and sales support coordinator for Barrett Kendall Publishing. Loi has forged a career in public service through stints with the Texas Democratic Party and Travis County Constable Precinct Five. She is an advocate for the prevention of family violence and animal cruelty. Loi received a Bachelor’s degree in Radio-Television from the University of Houston and her Master’s in Public Administration at Texas State University.
Email: Loi.Taylor@senate.state.tx.us
Tina Tran, Legislative Director/Legal Counsel
Tina Tran joined Senator Ellis’ staff in October of 2007. Prior to joining Senator Ellis’ staff, Tina was a legal intern for the First Court of Appeals in Houston. She was also an intern at Bay Area Legal Aid and the Thurgood Marshall School of Law Legal Clinic providing free legal services to indigent and other qualified individuals. Tina received her B.A. in English Literature from the University of California at Berkeley and her Doctorate of Jurisprudence from Thurgood Marshall School of Law.
Email: Tina.Tran@senate.state.tx.us
Jeremy Warren, Communications Director
Jeremy Warren has served as Communications Director for Senator Rodney Ellis since 1998, and in 2001, for the Senate Finance Committee. During his tenure, Jeremy crafted winning media strategies for important legislative issues, such as the James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Act, the Sales Tax Holiday, TEXAS Grants and the 2002-2003 General Appropriations Act. In 2001, he was named “Legislative Staffer of the Year” by Hispanic Journal Magazine.
Email: Jeremy.Warren@senate.state.tx.us
HOUSTON
Arielle Edwards, Casework Manager/District Aide/Policy Advisor
Arielle Edwards joined Senator Ellis’ staff in January 2009. After receiving her BA from Dillard University and Master’s in Clinical and Community Psychology from Texas Southern University, Arielle has had experiences in community and social services such as Head Start and other community psychological services.
Email: Arielle.Edwards@senate.state.tx.us
Chuck Franklin, District Aide/Policy Advisor
Chuck Franklin joined Senator Ellis’ staff in June 2010. Prior to joining Senator Ellis’ staff, he interned with Gene Locke’s Mayoral Campaign where he led college outreach and volunteer efforts. Chuck graduated from Rice University with a Bachelor’s in Political Science.
Email: Chuck.Franklin@senate.state.tx.us
Sakina Lanig, Alief Outreach Liaison
Sakina is strongly rooted in community activism; growing up listening to the late Congressman Mickey Leland and her parents discussing the world’s challenges in her living room. She got her feet wet in Austin politics working in city council campaigns, state races for Rep. Garnet Coleman, and gubernatorial politics for the late Governor Ann Richards. Later, graduating from the University of Texas- Austin, she became active as a voice for families of persons with disabilities and special circumstances at the University of Houston. After leaving UH Law Center, she became the Director of Constituent Services for then Council Member Carol Alvarado, where she was also responsible for researching policy and agenda items. Sakina first worked for Senator Ellis in 2003 serving as his Deputy District Director for Alief. In 2005 she left to start a small business and work as a Community Organizer for Texans Together and Houston Votes. In February 2009, she returned to serve as Outreach Liaison for the Alief / Southwest Area of Senate District 13.
Email: Sakina.Lanig@senate.state.tx.us
Loveless Mitchell, Fort Bend Deputy District Director
Loveless joined senator Ellis’ staff January of 1999. Mr. Mitchell has been a longtime activist in the Fort Bend area. He is currently President of Hunters Glen Home Owners Association, Board Member of the Texas Parkway Alliance, Vice President of the Coalition of Black Democrats and a board member of the Fort Bend Chapter of the NAACP. In 1998 Loveless retired from Kraft Foods after 33 years of service. Loveless is a graduate of Dillard University.
Email: Loveless.Mitchell@senate.state.tx.us
Maria Montes, Administrative Coordinator
Maria Montes joined Senator Ellis’ staff in January 2012. After receiving her BA from Hollins University in Communications, she worked for Cherish Our Children International, a non-profit that helps children in need as Director of Operations. Additionally, she worked for the Waterman Steele Group and Strong Strategies on education programs as well as political fundraising. She is an active member of the Harris County Young Democrats civic club.
Email: Maria.Montes@senate.state.tx.us
Sadie Rucker, Executive Assistant
Sadie has been Senator Ellis’ Executive Assistant since 1996. She is currently working on her Certification for Public Affairs Managers at University of Houston. Sadie also holds two degrees. She received her undergraduate BA from Texas Southern University in Sociology and her MS from University of Houston in Training and Development. It is also noted that she is a registered Interior Designer, licensed by the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners.
Email: Sadie.Rucker@senate.state.tx.us
Jessica Schleifer, Policy Advisor
Jessica Schleifer joined Senator Ellis’ staff in February of 2010. Prior to joining Senator Ellis’ staff, Jessica was a policy intern during the 81st Legislative Session. She also served as a data coordinator for a non-profit foundation that provides free heart screenings to student athletes and has prior experience in clinical research and education. Jessica received her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Texas Health Science Center.
Email: Jessica.Schleifer@senate.state.tx.us
Ashton Taylor, District Director
Ashton Taylor, a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, joined Senator Ellis’ staff in August of 2011. Prior to joining the staff, Ashton worked in Senator Ellis’ office in 2009 as an intern with The Texas Legislative Internship Program (TLIP). After Ashton completed his internship he received his Juris Doctorate from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law. Upon passing the Texas bar exam in 2010, Ashton worked for the Innocence Project New Orleans, where he served as policy advisor. Ashton also holds an Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the University of Houston.
Email: Ashton.Taylor@senate.state.tx.us