Al Edwards

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For the American football player, see Al Edwards (football player).

Al Edwards (born 19 March 1937) was a member of the 78th and 79th Texas Legislature representing District 146.

Edwards graduated from Wheatley High School in Houston.^[1]

Edwards is most known for sponsoring a bill to ban the use of suggestive clothing by high school cheerleaders.^[2] ^[3]

In 1989, Edwards also sponsored a bill to punish drug dealers by having their fingers cut off.^[4]^[5]

Edwards is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African Americans.

Al Edwards stirred controversy in his heavily Democratic Houston district by voting with Republicans on a number of issues.^[6] One issue which he proposed legislation was a 'booty bill' which went after high school cheerleaders. This led to Edwards being challenged by two candidates in the 2006 Democratic primary election, where his Democratic primary opponents - Al Bennett and Borris Miles - cited the issue of Rep. Edwards being out of touch with his legislative district (Miles used a comment where Edwards' district office has a rusted padlock). Edwards led the March 2006 Democratic primary election, but he received less than 50% of the vote, forcing an April run-off. Edwards was defeated in the 2006 Democratic primary run-off election by Borris Miles, who went on to win election to the seat.^[7]

Edwards, remembered for failing to take any substantive measure to block the Republican redistricting plan in 2003, also voted for the antigay "gay marriage ban," angering many in his district. Edwards stirred further controversy while in office by attempting to erect a black history statue at the state capitol that colleagues opposed because it included Edwards' own likeness. ^[8]