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Sheila Jackson Lee (born January 12, 1950), American politician, has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1995, representing the 18th District of Texas. Nicknamed Hurricane Sheila by her critics.
Born in Queens, New York, she graduated from Jamaica High School and earned a B.A. in political science from Yale University in 1972 and a J.D. from the University of Virginia Law School in 1975. Jackson-Lee was a Houston, Texas municipal judge from 1987-90 and was a member of the Houston city council from 1990-94.
Congresswoman Jackson Lee is married to Dr. Elwyn C. Lee, Vice Chancellor of the University of Houston System.
Controversy
To her critics, Jackson Lee is well known in Houston and on the national scene for her reputation as a publicity hound - a reference to her tendency to volunteer unsolicited on-camera commentary and press statements on virtually all common and sometimes bizarre political issues such as a 2003 request to use more African American-sounding names when naming hurricanes and tropical storms, hence her nickname. Jackson Lee's penchant for misspeaking has also made her the object of ridicule from the political right, especially over a well publicized episode in which she reportedly asked NASA scientists to direct the Mars Pathfinder robot probe to the location of the 1969 Moon Landing. More recently, conservative talk radio heckled Jackson Lee's claim "I came here as a slave, and I deserve to vote" during the 2004 challenge of the electoral votes from Ohio.
Jackson Lee volunteered herself as an unsolicited advocate for the father of Elian Gonzales in the international custody controversy and reportedly spends hours seeking out prime seating locations in the House of Representatives chamber to increase her camera visibility for special events such as the State of the Union address. According to the gossip column of the Houston Press, Jackson Lee has also reportedly been involved in several altercations with airline flight personel over her requests for a complimentary upgrade to first class based on her celebrity. The Press reports one altercation, which Jackson Lee later denied, she loudly derided a staffer over her travel arrangements:
- "You don't understand. I am a queen, and I demand to be treated like a queen"
The Press further reports that Jackson Lee has a reputation on capitol hill as a "high-maintenance" employer and has exhibited one of the largest staff turnover rates for years . Several former employees have cited her demeanor and incidents such as the travel arrangement altercations as a major reason why so many staffers leave her office.
Adding to her reputation as an elitist, she was criticized after an investigative reporter from a conservative magazine photographed her using a chaffeur to travel the distance of approximately one block from her congressional office to the U.S. Capitol Building entrance.
External links
- Official website
- Driving Miss Sheila in the Houston Press'