Chris Paddie was born in Center, Texas and raised in Carthage. He graduated from Carthage High School and went on to graduate from Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Distribution.

After graduation, Chris moved to Houston where he worked selling safety equipment and industrial products. Chris worked with numerous businesses, ranging from small businesses to national corporations, to provide efficient and affordable solutions for construction projects. While in Houston, Chris married Brooke Hanszen, his high school sweetheart.

Chris and Brooke returned home to East Texas and settled in Marshall, where Chris became the general manager of the KMHT radio station.

Chris was elected to the Marshall City Commission in 2008. Chris was selected by his colleagues to be Mayor of Marshall. On the Commission and as Mayor, Chris was known for his honesty, steadfast leadership and his strong conservative values, as well as his ability to work with all parties.

Chris was first elected to the Texas House, District 9, in November 2012 and was reelected to a second term in November 2014 . Chris has earned the support of a wide range of groups including Texas Alliance for Life, Texas Medical Association, Texas Association of Manufacturers, Association of Texas Professional Educators, Texas Association of Realtors, the Combined Law Enforcement Agencies of Texas, and Texas Parent PAC, amongst others.

In his freshman session, Chris has been appointed to serve on the House Energy Resources Committee and the House Land and Resource Management Committee. On these committees, Chris worked hard to make sure that we maintained Texas’ business friendly environment and our fair, predictable regulatory system in order to keep the Texas economy leading the nation. He is also the House of Representatives appointee to the Texas Bioenergy Policy Counsel.

Chris has also been appointed to the Joint Committee on Coastal Barrier Systems, the House Energy Subcommittee on Seismic Activity, and the Select Committee on Health Care Education and Training.

Chris is a member of the Texas Conservative Coalition, a vice-chair of the Texas Energy Caucus, vice-chair of the Young Texans Legislative Caucus, a member of the TEA Party Caucus, the Texas Tourism Caucus and the Fine Arts Caucus.

For his work in the 83rd Legislative session, Chris was honored as a Courageous Conservative by the Texas Conservative Coalition and as a Lone Star Conservative Leader by the Texas Conservative Roundtable. He was also named as a Champion of Free Enterprise by the Texas Association of Business and one of the Best in the House by the Combined Law Enforcement Agencies of Texas.

Chris currently serves as the Chairman of the Texas Association of Broadcasters. He has previously served as the Chairman of the Greater Marshall Chamber of Commerce and on the board of directors for the Marshall Harrison County Literacy Council, the Boys & Girls Club of the Big Pines (past president), and Junior Achievement for East Texas.

Chris and Brooke have two sons, Christopher, 13, and Noah, 10. Chris and his family attend the Immanuel Baptist Church in Marshall.