Our guests will be David Lancaster and
State Representative Donna Howard. They will be addressing Texas’ budget shortfall, redistricting, the border controls, education funding (or lack of) as the new Legislature convenes to conduct the business of the people in 2011.
David Lancaster is a Native West Texan. Born in Seminole; Schooled in Kermit 1973 Bachelor of Journalism Graduate, University of Texas at Austin (UT, or “The University”). Worked his way through school as a waiter, bartender, bookmobile driver and pizza maker.
First “real job” after college was sports reporter for Belo Corporation in Dallas area where his coverage ran the gamut from Bowie Jr. High through Nimitz High School up to Dallas Cowboys.
As a political campaign operative, Lancaster worked on the 1974 U.S. Congressional campaign of Jake Pickle and the 1976 Presidential and Senate re-election campaigns of Lloyd Bentsen.
Prior to joining the Texas Society of Architects (TSA) January 1, 1989, he was the Executive Director of Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA, 1983-88), after starting association career at Texas Automobile Dealers Association (TADA, 1976-80). Recognized as a Certified Association Executive in 1982. (Stopped buying CAE renewals in ‘92.)
Now in his 34th year of association management, the last 21 of which have been with TSA. Lancaster's achievements since his arrival at TSA include the following: Practice Act was passed and guided through two Sunset reviews, Architects Lien and Good Samaritan Laws passed and subsequently strengthened, plus other wonderful legislative things.
In 2001, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) bestowed upon Lancaster the highest recognition awarded to non-architects: “Honorary AIA” membership. Also received a 1999 AIA National Service Award for his contributions to ADVOCACY and ArchiPAC. He was 2003 president of the Council of Architectural Component Executives (CACE), which included him serving on the AIA Board of Directors (2003) and AIA Executive Committee (2004).
Lancaster is married to Julie Kniseley and is a father of two sons (Joe and Dan) and a daughter (Xiaoman).
A seasoned professional with years of hands-on experience in the areas of public health and public education, State Representative Donna Howard’s policy expertise and leadership skills have earned her a place at the center of the growing effort to champion mainstream values in the Texas legislature.
Howard serves on the House Higher Education Committee, House Administration Committee, and is Vice Chair of the House Culture, Recreation, and Tourism Committee. She also co-founded the Air Quality Caucus, a bipartisan group of 30-40 lawmakers working on clean energy issues.
Howard is a native of Austin who graduated from Reagan High School, then went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a master’s in health education, both from the University of Texas. She worked as a critical care nurse at Brackenridge and Seton hospitals, was the first hospital-based Patient Education Coordinator in Austin history, and helped start the Seton Good Health School. She has also served as president of the Texas Nurses’ Association (District 5) and as a Health Education instructor at UT.
A recognized expert on public education, Howard was elected to the Eanes ISD board in West Austin, where she served from 1996 to 1999 and was certified as a Master School Trustee by the Texas Association of School Boards. She co-founded the parent organization Advocates for Eanes Schools and helped form the Texas Education Crisis Coalition, a grassroots group of parents, business owners, and community leaders working together to tackle the public school finance issue.
Howard has served on the boards of Austin Area Interreligious Ministries, Common Cause, and the Texas Freedom Network, and is currently a board member of the Expanding Horizons Foundation, supporting low-income housing and education.
Married to Austin attorney Derek Howard, Howard is the mother of three adult children, all educated in public schools, and is active in her neighborhood and church, where she has served on the board.
