Biography:

Joe L. Barton was born in Waco, Texas, and resides in Ennis, Texas. He graduated from Waco High School in 1968.

He received a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering in 1972 from Texas A&M University, and a master's degree in industrial administration from Purdue University in 1973.

He was plant manager and assistant to the vice president for Ennis Business Forms, Inc., 1973-81. Barton was selected by President Reagan to participate in the White House Fellows program.

As a fellow, Barton worked with the Department of Energy and later became a project cost control consultant for Atlantic Richfield Co. He was co-founder of a county volunteer ambulance service in 1976.

He was vice president of the Houston County Industrial Development Authority in 1980 and served as chairman of the Crockett Parks and Recreation Board from 1979-80. He was vice president of the Houston County Chamber of Commerce from 1977-80.

Barton was first elected to the U.S. House in 1984.

Barton abd his wife, Terri, live in Ennis. He has three children from a prior marriage.

Past Campaigns:

Joe Barton was first elected to the U.S. House in 1984 with 57 percent of the vote, defeating Democrat Dan Kubiak, a former state legislator. He replaced Republican Phil Gramm, who won a bid for U.S. Senate.

Barton defeated Democrat John Welch in 1990 with 67 percent of the vote. He was re-elected in 1992 with 72 percent of the vote, defeating Democrat John Dietrich. He defeated Democrat Terry Jesmore in 1994 with 76 percent. He was re-elected in 1996 without major party opposition.

Barton was re-elected in 1998, defeating Democrat Ben Boothe with 73 percent of the vote. He was opposed by Libertarian Frank Brady in the general election in 2000. He was re-elected in 2000 with 88 percent of the vote.

In 2002, Barton was re-elected with 70 percent of the vote, defeating Fort Worth teacher Felix Alvarado.

Election Information by State: Select a State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware DC Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Mass. Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hamp. New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming -------------------------   Candidate Search Find candidate running for federal and state offices. Candidate Last Name State (Optional) All Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware DC Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Mass. Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hamp. New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming ------------------------- Office Type (Optional) All President U.S. Senate U.S. House Governor State Office Local Office