The Galveston County Daily News

After 15 years in the state legislature, the practice of passing laws is pretty routine stuff for state Rep. Craig Eiland. Hurricane Ike changed that.

“It cranked it up about 10 levels and made it very serious where failure is not an option — because failure will change people’s lives,” Eiland, D-Galveston, said.

Elected officials often say their work has lasting effects on people’s lives. The hurricane that devastated Galveston Island, the Bolivar Peninsula and large parts of Galveston County brought that claim into focus for The Daily News’ Citizen of the Year.

At the heart of Eiland’s efforts to help the county recover from the storm is legislation that would provide funds to help restore the University of Texas Medical Branch, renovate John Sealy Hospital and build a new surgical tower on the island campus.

The medical branch incurred more than $700

million in storm damage, lost revenue and unbudgeted expenses because of Ike. More than 2,000 people lost their jobs, and after 118 years, the medical branch’s future appeared in doubt.

Save UTMB

“It was the difference between what our town and county were going to look like if we don’t restore UTMB to its pre-Ike status,” Eiland said. “The ripple effect throughout the county would be devastating. It controls where people live. Many people would not live in our county, in addition to the health care for people, and that’s critical enough.

“It’s critical on multiple levels.”

The floodwaters barely had receded when Eiland started work to revive the medical branch and Galveston.

“From the moment Ike struck Galveston until now, Craig Eiland has devoted his time, energy and exceptional ability to helping this city recover,” Galveston Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas said. “He’s worked to find a legislative solution to UTMB’s financial difficulties.

“He has proven himself an indispensable ally and public servant.”

Tour Guide

Three months before the state legislature was to convene, Eiland was serving as a legislative tour guide for the speaker of the House (then Tom Craddick, R-Midland), key legislative committee chairmen and Gov. Rick Perry to show them what Ike had wrought.

Galveston County’s problems and those of the medical branch in particular were no longer just words. Eiland said he wanted to ensure those with votes in Austin saw the problems.

The personal contacts paid off.

U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, who at one time was under consideration to be President Barack Obama’s vice president, came to the island. U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee worked with Eiland on America Recovery Act issues. Eiland also was in constant contact with the office of U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, a Galveston County native.

“The good thing is that I have good relations with powerful congressmen,” Eiland said.

‘Masterful’ In His Efforts

Galveston County Judge Jim Yarbrough was an Eiland fan before Hurricane Ike.

“It’s been nothing short of — I am not sure of the proper adjective — but amazing,” Yarbrough said. “It’s been masterful.

“I have watched him for seven sessions, and he’s pulled a rabbit out of his hat in the past for windstorm insurance issues or funding for the elderly health care, but watching what he has been doing for UTMB? That’s been masterful. That’s all I can say.”

Yarbrough said Eiland proved to be a key advocate in Austin in the first days after the storm.

“When I would ask for something, he’d tell me he was on the way to the governor’s office,” Yarbrough said. “He was very helpful in getting access by ferry early on and getting resources to search Bolivar. There were dozens of things he did behind the scenes that never were seen as newsworthy but essential.”

Eiland said he learned a thing or two.

“It struck me after the storm that there is no legislator’s guide or playbook about here’s what you do,” Eiland said. “It’s not like we have a huge professional staff. Just figuring out who is responsible for debris removal was a big deal.”

There was, for example, the question of who was responsible for cattle carcasses.

“In Chambers County, we had cows running around or dead,” Eiland said. “What do you do with all the dead carcasses?”

It turned out that was a federal responsibility.

“I learned something new every day,” Eiland said.

No Time For ‘Pity Parties’

Eiland was more than just the area’s state representative. He was also one of the storm’s victims. Hurricane Ike’s storm surge flooded his house in the Cedar Lawn neighborhood and caused more than $40,000 in damage.

The hurricane also took two cars and wrecked his downtown Galveston law offices. Like many others, he has battled insurance companies to be able to rebuild. He sued the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association over the claim for his office, which is ironic since Eiland serves on the House Insurance Committee.

“Really, we were lucky,” Eiland said. “Col. W.L. Moody built (the house) for his daughter and I think all the water drained to the neighbors. We fared better than most. I am in a situation I have been able to focus on other people’s problems and not mine.”

Knowing that the demands of this legislative session and of restoring his house would be too much for his family, Eiland moved his wife and four children to Austin.

“Moving my family, having to put my kids in different schools away from friends, has been rough,” he said. “There is just not time for any pity parties. There is no time to be tired.

“I can be tired in June (when the session ends).”

Still, there have been some moments that were almost overwhelming. Eiland told a story of the daughter of a Galveston doctor who works in Austin.

“She thanked me for everything I am doing, and we both just started tearing up,” Eiland said. “When you realize what everybody’s gone through and the uncertainty out there, it hits you.”

A Change In Leadership

When the state legislature was gaveled into session in January, Eiland said he could tell things would be different. There was a new speaker of the House — Joe Strauss, R-San Antonio. The legislature seemed more focused on the state’s budget and storm recovery than on partisan issues that had gridlocked past sessions.

From the start, the new speaker seemed to want to send a dual message. First, the days of Craddick’s iron-fisted rule were over. Second, recovery from Hurricane Ike was a priority.

Strauss reached across the political aisle and tapped Eiland to be the speaker pro tem, the second highest post in the Texas House.

In his new role, Eiland has had to balance his passion for restoring the medical branch and Galveston County with helping other state representatives achieve their goals.

“As speaker pro tem, you try to maintain civility and balance and make sure members get a fair shot at what they really need or want,” Eiland said.

Improved Relationship

It might have taken a hurricane to do it, but Eiland said he finally has a good working relationship with Gov. Rick Perry. The governor took office nine years ago.

Eiland said the governor’s office had been “very supportive” of his bill to restore the medical branch and that cooperation “has spread to other bills and issues now.”

“It’s not been adversarial at all,” Eiland said.

“Used to be, when his office would call and say, ‘We don’t like this bill,’ I would say, ‘Well, go stick it, then.’ Whereas now, I go and talk about their issues and we have been able to resolve them.”

Eiland jokes he found out where Perry goes to church, just so he could lobby a little on recovery issues on Sundays.

Working Behind The Scenes

Eiland’s new relationship with Perry and his leadership role were evident when he brought the provisions within House Bill 6 — known in Austin as the Save UTMB Bill — to a vote on the House floor.

While legislators from both sides of the aisle voiced support for Eiland’s bill, Republicans — including the speaker and the governor — balked at dipping into the state’s rainy day fund. Eiland asked his friend and House floor desk mate Rep. Brian McCall, R-Plano, the chairman of the committee that schedules when bills are voted on, to put a hold on House Bill 6.

Eiland then did some old-fashioned arm-twisting and hallway negotiating. His legislation admittedly had a hefty price tag: more than $225 million for the medical branch, as well as funds for Galveston College, Texas A&M University at Galveston and College of the Mainland.

Late on the evening of April 1, Eiland struck a deal with the governor and key Republicans that rolled most of the Save UTMB Bill’s provisions into the House appropriations bill. That meant the funding would come from the state’s general fund budget.

“As speaker pro tem, Craig Eiland continues his effective service in the Texas House,” Strauss said. “His important work in fighting to rebuild the coast following Hurricane Ike has gained him the respect of his House colleagues and constituents.”

Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, the other half of the Galveston County delegation in the state House, also praised Eiland.

“He has worked tirelessly to represent UTMB and the island’s Hurricane Ike recovery efforts,” Taylor said.

“He is a very effective advocate for his constituents, and I congratulate him for this outstanding recognition by the community.”

Finding Purpose, Inspiration

When Eiland first arrived in Austin as one of the county’s representatives 15 years ago, he admits he was “green and naive.”

“I didn’t have specific issues,” he said. “I figured (former state Rep.) Mike Martin was leaving, and I figured I could do as good a job as anybody.”

The needs of his constituents have dictated what his priorities would be, he said. That holds true now as he battles for the medical branch.

Eiland also said he finds inspiration from the people he represents.

He said he drew inspiration and strength from seeing people like Galveston City Manager Steve LeBlanc, Yarbrough and the dozens of Galveston police officers and other emergency service providers who stayed on duty to serve others even after losing their homes to the storm.

“Throughout it all, I thought what was amazing is that a lot of people from the city of Galveston, Galveston County and Chambers County who had their own problems, lost their own houses, but they devoted themselves to helping other people with their problems,” Eiland said.