Andrew White (businessman)
Andrew White is an American entrepreneur based in Houston, Texas. The son of former Texas governor Mark White, White ran for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Texas in the 2018 Texas gubernatorial election, losing in a runoff to Lupe Valdez. White is the president of the private equity firm Sweat Equity as well as the founder of Allied Home Warranty and Lone Star Repair, both of which he sold to NRG Energy in 2012.
White described his political positions during his gubernatorial campaign as a "common sense Democrat" and a "fiscal conservative Democrat."[1]
Education and business career[edit]
White was born in Houston, Texas in 1972. He attended Lamar High School in Houston, graduating in 1991, and received a B.A. in religious studies from the University of Virginia in 1994. During his college years, he also volunteered as a firefighter and trained for the military.[2] After graduation from UVA, White worked for two years at Credit Suisse First Boston. He then moved to jobs with American Eco, US Industrial Services, and an internet start-up called Market City, which failed shortly after. White then returned to school, receiving an MBA from the University of Texas. Following his graduation, he worked in a variety of executive roles in industrial services.[2]
In 2005, White founded Allied Warranty, a home warranty business, and in 2006, founded Lone Star Repair to provide home repairs. Over the next seven years, Allied Warranty grew to 250,000 customers, and the two businesses were purchased by NRG Energy in 2012.[3] White founded Sweat Equity Partners, a private equity firm, in 2014. The name is acronym composed of his first initial and those of his wife and three children.[3]
Candidacy for governor[edit]
In December 2017, White announced that he would run as a candidate for governor, opposing incumbent Governor Greg Abbott. White's father, Mark White, had previously served as Texas's secretary of state (1973-77), attorney general (1979-83), and governor (1983-1987). Andrew White stated that he was motivated to run by what he considered inadequate state planning for and response to the devastation of Hurricane Harvey.[4] Immediately following the hurricane, White had served in the "Texas Navy," a volunteer civilian boat group rescuing stranded people from the disaster area.[5][6] A photo essay on his rescue efforts appeared in People magazine.[7]
White ran against a field of 8 other candidates in the Democratic primary, among whom his main challenger was former Dallas County sheriff Lupe Valdez. In the primary on March 6, 2018, White received 27% of the vote, forcing a run-off against Valdez, who received 43%. The run-off took place on May 22, 2018.[8]
Political positions[edit]
White describes himself as a "fiscal conservative Democrat".[1] He states that he plans to increase state revenues by closing a loophole for builders, expanding Medicaid to win increased federal funding for Texas public health, and shifting funding from border security to public education.[9]
White has called for a $5,000 pay increase for teachers and sex education in schools. He supports same-sex marriage and abortion rights, and has criticized Governor Abbott for supporting a bathroom bill to restrict restroom access to the gender listed on one's birth certificate.[2][10] He has called for the abolition of the death penalty.[11]
Responses to candidacy[edit]
White was endorsed in the Democratic primary election by The Dallas Morning News,[9] The Houston Chronicle,[12] The Daily Texan, and the San Antonio Express-News.[13][14] The 2014 Democratic candidate for governor, Wendy Davis, criticized White's candidacy and supported Valdez, calling White "this anti-choice man."[10] White also attracted criticism for having once donated to the Kentucky GOP.[10]
Personal life[edit]
White met his wife, née Stacey Krause, through a Young Life group. The couple has three children—Emma Claire (born 2002), Wells (2003), and Thompson (2006). The Whites belong to the Presbyterian Church of America.[2]
White is deaf in his left ear.[2]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Garret, Robert. "Andrew White says past GOP donation was aberration." Dallas Morning News. Feb. 1, 2018.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Garrett, Robert T. "Andrew White's latest big bet: Top 8 other Democratic contenders to challenge GOP Gov. Greg Abbott." Dallas Morning News. Feb. 16, 2018.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Fikac, Peggy. "White: We Need Leaders Who Do Right, Risk Consequences." San Antonio Express. Feb. 17, 2018.
- ↑ Ward, Mike. "Democrat Andrew White Considering Run for Governor." Houston Chronicle. Oct. 25, 2017.
- ↑ Nielsen, Ella. "Texas primaries 2018: Democrats Lupe Valdez and Andrew White are vying to run against Gov. Abbott." Vox. Mar. 6, 2018.
- ↑ Young, Robin. 'Texas Navy' Answers the Call in Houston'. WBUR. Sep. 1, 2017.
- ↑ Gomez, Patrick. Harrowing Images from One Houston Man's Mission to Save Hurricane Harvey Flooding Victims. People. Sep. 2, 2017.
- ↑ Svitek, Patrick. "Valdez, White headed to runoff in Democratic gubernatorial primary." Texas Tribune. Mar. 6, 2018.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "We recommend Andrew White in the Democratic Primary for Texas Governor." The Dallas Morning News. Feb. 4, 2018.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Ratcliffe, R.G. "Texas Democrats Face Choice between Principles and Practicality in Governor's Race." Texas Monthly. Feb. 6, 2018.
- ↑ Dugyala, Rishika. "Democratic gubernatorial candidate calls for ending death penalty." Texas Tribune. Jan. 11, 2018.
- ↑ "For Governor: Andrew White." Houston Chronicle. Feb. 3, 2018.
- ↑ "The Daily Texan Endorses for March Primary Races." The Daily Texan. Feb. 26, 2018.
- ↑ "Abbott and White in governor's races." San Antonio Express News. Feb. 19, 2018.
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