+ − Contact Information
Phone: (512) 463-0101
Fax: (512) 475-3751
Office Address:
P.O. Box 12068, Capitol Station
Austin, TX 78711
+ − Biography
Kevin P. Eltife was sworn in on March 5, 2004, to represent the citizens of Senate District 1. Previously Senator Eltife served on the Tyler City Council for three terms before serving as Mayor of Tyler for an additional three terms. During his tenure as Mayor, he put the city on a "pay-as-you-go" plan to reduce general obligation bond debt while cutting the city property tax rate by 50 percent.
In 1997 Eltife was appointed by Governor George Bush to serve on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Among the recognitions he has received for public service, the Texas Junior Chamber of Commerce selected him as one of Five Outstanding Young Texans in 1998. Active in his community, he has volunteered his time and energy to a variety of organizations including the East Texas Food Bank Board, Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce and Hospice of East Texas.
In 2010 Lt. Governor David Dewhurst appointed Senator Eltife to serve as Chair of the Senate Administration Committee, in addition to serving on the Senate Business and Commerce, Economic Development, Finance, and Natural Resources Committees. Senator Eltife was also chosen to serve on two Select Committees, Redistricting and Open Government, and serves on the State Preservation Board. In prior Legislative Sessions, Senator Eltife was appointed to the Senate Administration, Government Organization, Health and Human Services, and International Relations and Trade Committees.
Senator Eltife has received the "Freedom to Teach" award by the Association of Texas Professional Educators and was named a "Champion for Free Enterprise" by the Texas Association of Business. In 2007, the Texas Municipal League named him "Legislator of the Year." The Texas Association of Realtors gave him a "Hall of Fame" award in 2011. Also in 2011, he received an "Honorable Mention" from Texas Monthly magazine, which also recognized him in 2007 for being "tough, pragmatic, independent . . . (and) a problem solver." In 2014, the Texas Press Association gave Senator Eltife the "Friend of the First Amendment" award.
A Tyler native, Senator Eltife is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He is the owner of Eltife Properties and resides in Tyler with his wife, Kelly, and sons, Walker and Jack.