Staff
Staff
AUSTIN STAFF
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
Scott Ehlers, Senior Policy Advisor
Scott joined Sen. Ellis' staff in August 2008. Prior to joining the Senator's staff, he was the State Legislative Affairs Director for the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. At NACDL, he assisted the organization's state affiliates and allies by keeping them updated on criminal justice issues and legislation around the country, providing them with strategic advice and resources, and organizing an annual training conference. At NACDL, he worked extensively on such issues as problem-solving courts, eyewitness identification reform, and recording custodial interrogations. Scott has also served as the lead author for numerous research reports for the Justice Policy Institute on such issues as treatment alternatives to incarceration for non-violent drug offenders and the impact of "three-strikes" sentencing schemes. Scott earned his Master's degree in Justice, Law, and Society from American University and his Bachelor's degree in Government and Economics from the University of Texas.
Email: Scott.Ehlers@senate.state.tx.us
Amber Goodwin, Policy Advisor
Amber Goodwin joined Senator Ellis's staff in June 2010. Prior to working on Sen. Ellis's staff, Amber was the State Political Director for Organizing For America, the grassroots arm of the Democratic Party in Texas. Amber is a native of Midland, TX and started working in politics in Washington, DC as a Legislative Aide for Congressman Donald Payne and former Congressman and current U.S. Senator Robert Menendez. Amber worked on electoral, legislative and policy issue-based trainings across the country as a Campaign Camp Manager for Grassroots Solutions, Community and Political Organizer for the Houston Justice for Janitors Campaign, National Convention Director for the Young Democrats of America, and Houston Field Director for the Obama For America Campaign in 2008.
In 2009, Amber was a Texas Legislative Internship Program (TLIP) Intern for Rep. Paula Pierson during the 81st Legislative Session. Amber graduated with a B.S. in Social Sciences from Florida State University and is currently completing her Masters in Liberal Arts & Social Policy at St. Edwards University.
Email: Amber.Goodwin@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 is currently completing a Master's degree in Public Health from the University of Texas Health Science Center.
Email: Jessica.Schleifer@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 is currently completing 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 J.D. from Thurgood Marshall School of Law.
Email: Tina.Tran@senate.state.tx.us
HOUSTON STAFF
Kisha Dace, Administrative Assistant
Kisha began working for Senator Ellis' as an administrative assistant in August of 2009. She had 15 years of administrative assistant experience along with 10 years of data entry prior to joining Senator Ellis' office.
Email: Kisha.Dace@senate.state.tx.us
Arielle Edwards, Casework Manager/District Aide
Arielle Edwards joined Senator Ellis' staff in January 2009. After receiving her BA from Dillard University and MA 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
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 BA in Political Science.
Email: Chuck.Franklin@senate.state.tx.us
Andrea Hinckson, Deputy Chief of Staff/Director, Senate Committee on Government Organization
Andrea Hinckson re-joined Sen. Ellis' staff in November 2009 after working for him in 2000, 2004, and 2007. Previously, Andrea was the Director of Policy and Government Relations at Mental Health America of Greater Houston, overseeing the agency's local, state, and federal legislative and policy agenda. She also worked in the offices of former Mayor Lee P. Brown, former State Representative Patricia Gray, and was the Chief of Staff and District Director for State Representative Dora Olivo. Andrea graduated from Rice University with a BA in History and Political Science.
Email: Andrea.Hinckson@senate.state.tx.us
Dallas Jones, District Director
Dallas first joined Senator Ellis's staff in July 2007. He has worked in many aspects of politics including serving as Community Liaison for Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, District Director for State Representative Garnet Coleman, and briefly as Community Outreach Director for State Senator Rodney Ellis. Dallas has also worked as an activist in the fight for civil rights serving as a National Staff Member for the NAACP as Regional Youth and College Director over the Southwestern States. He also served as National Youth Outreach Director for the NAACP National Voter Fund where he organized and empowered young people around the country. Dallas has traveled extensively as a nationally recognized speaker lecturing in the areas of civil rights, leadership, and public policy.
Dallas has worked on several successful campaigns including Councilmember Wanda Adams, Obama for America, Rick Noriega for US Senate, and many others. He is an alumnus of Sam Houston State University where he studied Political Science and Theater. In addition, he is currently a member of several boards and commissions including Most Worshipful E.M Hunter Grand Lodge of Texas, A.F. & A.M., City of Houston Parking Commission, TIRZ #14/Fourth Ward Redevelopment Authority Board (Vice Chair), Express Children's Theater and the Exceptional Men of The Talented Tenth Inc. (Vice Chair).
Email: Dallas.Jones@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
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.
Before working in the Senator Ellis' office, Sadie worked at University of Houston in the Vice President for Student Affairs office as the Executive Assistant to the Vice President. In her role at UH she hosted several VP events and planned community service events with several university officials and outside agencies.
While working for Senator Ellis she has been actively attending political conventions and events. She has also helped plan several activities and events while working for the Senator. She is also a key person in the office and can assist you in many aspects regarding the Senator's office.
Email: Sadie.Rucker@senate.state.tx.us
Christina Sanders, District Aide / Policy Analyst
Christina joined Senator Ellis' office in January of 2010. Prior to joining the Ellis team, Christina worked public policy as the coordinator for Houston Communities for Safe Indoor Air (HCSIA), where she works on smoke-free policy change and childhood obesity policy. She has also served as the National Coordinator of Black Youth Vote!, a youth-led voter empowerment and mobilization component of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation.
Christina co-authored a manuscript entitled, "From ‘Block the Vote' to ‘Protect the Vote': Historically Black Student Voting Suppression and Disenfranchisement in Texas" published in Volume XIV of the Harvard Journal of African American Public Policy; making her one of the country's youngest experts on Student Voter Disenfranchisement.
Christina Sanders, a Houston native, received her Bachelor's of Political Science and Master's of Public Administration in Public Policy degree from Texas Southern University.
Email: Christina.Sanders@senate.state.tx.us
