Eugene Yuanzhi Wu (Chinese: 吳元之; pinyin: Wú Yuánzhī) is a Chinese-American lawyer and politician who is a Democratic member of the Texas House of Representatives, serving since 2013. He was formerly a prosecutor for Harris County.[2]
Gene Wu | |
|---|---|
 Wu in 2017 | |
| Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 137th district | |
| Assumed office January 8, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Scott Hochberg |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 23, 1978 Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province,  People's Republic of China[1] |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Spouse |
Shu Xie (m. 2012) |
| Residence(s) | Houston, Texas , United States |
| Alma mater | Texas A&M University (BS) University of Texas at Austin (MPA) South Texas College of Law Houston (JD) |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Website | Campaign website Texas House of Representatives website |
Early life and education
editWu was born in Guangzhou in Guangdong province, China. Shortly after, his family immigrated to the United States, and spent time in Odessa, Texas before moving to Sharpstown, a working-class neighborhood in Southwest Houston. He attended Ed White Elementary, Fondren Middle School, and St. Thomas Episcopal School.
Wu received his Bachelor of Science from Texas A&M University, a Master of Public Affairs from the LBJ School for Public Affairs[3] at the University of Texas at Austin in Austin, and earned a J.D. degree from the South Texas College of Law in Houston.[4]
Texas House of Representatives
editWu was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 2012. His time as a State Representative has been focused on issues concerning education, criminal justice, public safety and child welfare. He is currently a member of the Juvenile Justice and Family Issues Committee, as well as the House Committee on Appropriations. Following his first legislative session he received the Sierra Club's New Leadership in Environmental Protection Award, and was also named Freshman of the Year by the Texas District and County Attorneys Association.[5]
In 2024, Wu supported an executive order by Greg Abbott that ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety to arrest those attempting to conduct influence operations in support of Operation Fox Hunt to coerce dissidents to return to China.[6][7]
Personal life
editWu is married to Shu Xie (a reporter for ABC 13 in Houston, Texas whose on air name is Miya Shay) and has two children.[4][1]
He has served as a tutor for at-risk youths in the Grad-Lab and Twilight programs at Sharpstown High School and as a mentor for adults with the nonprofit, Skills 4 Living. Wu has been a volunteer and trainer for Neighborhood Centers Inc. In that capacity, he conducts monthly workshops where he has helped several thousand Harris County residents become United States citizens.[2]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Zhou, May. "Gene Wu: Changing the Stereotypes". China Daily USA. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
- ^ a b "Rep. Wu, Gene District 137". Texas House of Representatives. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
- ^ "Gene Wu". Retrieved December 27, 2023.
- ^ a b "Meet Gene". Gene Wu - State Representative District 137. Retrieved 2016-07-13.
- ^ "Issues". Gene Wu - State Representative District 137. Retrieved 2016-07-13.
- ^ "Rep. Gene Wu Response to Abbott's Support for Chinese Immigrant Community in Texas". KIAH. 2024-11-20. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
- ^ Barragán, James (2024-11-18). "Gov. Greg Abbott issues executive order targeting Chinese government operatives in Texas". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved 2024-11-19.