Curry sworn in as Texas House representative for Waco area

Pat Curry has been sworn in as District 56's first new representative in the Texas House in 20 years.

Gov. Greg Abbott administered Curry's oath of office Monday at the Texas Governor's Mansion in Austin.

The rest of the newly elected state representatives will take office in January. Curry is getting a head start because his predecessor, Charles "Doc" Anderson, stepped down early in August, and Abbott called a special election to fill the brief remainder of Anderson's unfinished term. Anderson had announced last year he would not seek reelection.

Curry, the Republican nominee for the seat, handily defeated the Democratic nominee, Erin Shank, in both the special election for the unexpired term and the regular election for the full two-year term that starts in January. Both were decided Nov. 5.

Curry won the regular election with 56,195 votes, or 68.6%, to Shank's 25,733 votes, or 31.4%. He won the special election with 56,001 votes, or 68.5%, to Shank's 25,762 votes, or 31.5%.

Anderson was first elected to the District 56 seat in 2004. The district includes the western portion of McLennan County and much of Waco. The rest of the county is part of District 13, which takes in parts of the central city, East Waco, Bellmead and all of Bosque, Hill, Falls, Limestone, Freestone and Leon counties. Rep. Angelia Orr, R-Itasca, won a second term for District 13.

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