Tom Pauken
Tom Pauken | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Texas Workforce Commission for Employers | |
| In office March 1, 2008 – March 1, 2013 | |
| Governor | Rick Perry |
| Preceded by | Ron Lehman |
| Succeeded by | Esperanza Andrade |
| Chair of the Texas Workforce Commission | |
| In office March 1, 2008 – May 1, 2012 | |
| Governor | Rick Perry |
| Preceded by | Diane Rath |
| Succeeded by | Andres Alcantar |
| Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas | |
| In office 1994–1997 | |
| Preceded by | Fred Meyer |
| Succeeded by | Susan Weddington |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Thomas Weir Pauken January 11, 1944 Victoria, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican (1965–present) |
| Spouse | Ida Ayala |
| Children | 7 |
| Alma mater | Georgetown University Southern Methodist University |
| Website | Official website |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1967–1970 |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
Thomas Weir Pauken (born January 11, 1944) is an American politician and member of the Republican Party.
Pauken is a former member and chairman of the Texas Workforce Commission. A former long-term resident of Dallas, who now resides in the resort community of Port Aransas in Nueces County on the Texas Gulf Coast, Pauken is a businessman, lawyer, and the author of two books. He served as chairman of the Texas Republican Party from 1994 to 1997 during the transition period when the party leaped quickly from minority to majority status at the statewide level. A staunch conservative, Pauken also served on President Ronald W. Reagan's White House staff.
On August 21, 2006, Governor Rick Perry named Pauken to chairman the Texas Task Force on Appraisal Reform (TFAR) to study and make recommendations on how to address Texans' continuing concerns over property appraisals. In March 2008, Perry appointed Pauken chairman of the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), which administers state unemployment compensation benefits, provides workforce development services, and maintains and issues state labor market data.
During his time as TWC chairman, which ended in May 2012, Pauken oversaw the development of the Texas Back to Work program and the Texas Veterans Leadership Program (TVLP).
He was a candidate for governor in 2014 but withdrew early in the contest and supported Greg Abbott, the state attorney general and the party nominee in the November 4 general election.