New East Texas house members sworn in as 89th Legislative Session begins

AUSTIN, Texas (KLTV) - The 89th Texas Legislative Session has begun, and with it, multiple new members were sworn in, including some from the Piney Woods region.

State Representative Daniel Alders (R-Tyler) fills in the seat left by retired former State Representative Matt Schaefer.

“It’s an incredible honor to be able to be sworn in and officially kick off this role as a state representative for House District 6,” Alders said. “When you stop and think about just a single session, 140 days, but the opportunities that we have to chart the path forward for Texans, I’m incredibly honored to just play a small role in that.”

State Representative Joanne Shofner (R-Nacogdoches) began her first term as well. The day before her swearing-in, she said she was overcome with emotions.

“I’m so excited to be here, to serve East Texas,” Shofner said.

“I’m more of a do first, feel later,” she added. “Right now, we’re just getting our offices set, because they let us move in, they gave us four hours to move in Saturday.”

Her inauguration comes after a contested primary battle against former State Representative Travis Clardy, which mainly involved school vouchers.

Alders and Shofner said passing school vouchers will be a priority during the session, as well as bolstering bolster security.

Alders’ and Shofner’s swearing in preceded the election of State Representative Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) as Texas House Speaker. He secured the gavel against State Representative David Cook (R-Mansfield), whom both Alders and Shofner voted for.