Power Players features state lawmakers rising through the ranks or making a notable mark on the 87th Texas legislative session. Each week, Capital Tonight will feature an elected official to give you a chance to get to know the person behind the powerful position.
AUSTIN, Texas — She likes to say she is living “the American dream, Texas-style.” Before calling Texas home, Rep. Angie Chen Button, R-Richardson, was bored and raised in Taiwan. She told the story of how in Taiwan, her family of seven lived in a 300-square foot space.
“I always say I was a poor and a lonely student. I came to this great state, this great country, and the community gave me so much. You got all the opportunities in the world to pursue,” Rep. Button told Spectrum News 1.
She immigrated to the United States to attend graduate school and study public finance and management services at the University of Texas at Dallas.
“It’s pretty similar to Taiwan, except for here it’s a little bit drier,” she said.
Graduate school is where she met her then-classmate and now-husband Darcy Button. They have a son and two grandchildren. Button’s husband is the inspiration for the one movie she can watch over and over again: “My Fair Lady.”
“We joke about that. He's my Professor Higgins,” she said.
Her other favorite film is about an old adage for life featuring her American hero.
“You got to overcome all the barriers in life,” she said holding a picture of actor John Wayne in her Capitol office. “Being persistent to pursue whatever you want to pursue, you got to have the true grit.”
The Republican representative has served House District 112 since 2009, all in part, because former State Senator Florence Shapiro called her up and suggested she run.
“She wanted me to run, then I laughed I said, ‘I appreciate this kind invitation, but are you sure people in this region are ready to vote for Asian-American woman with funny English?’ and she laughed, she said ‘Yes and you're going to win,’” Button said.
The certified public accountant, former employee of Texas Instruments, and former member of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Board celebrates the vibrancy and diversity of her district, which includes portions of Garland, Richardson, Rowlett, Sachse, and Dallas.
“Garland downtown, we have a revitalized the entire area. It is so wonderful,” she said when asked what is the gem of her district. “Then on the Richardson side, the Eisemann Center, which have a lot of real good shows.”
Her favorite restaurant is Jeng Chi in Richardson.
“We go over there all the time,” Button said. “You've probably figured out I was going to say the Chinese food.”
This legislative session, Button is chair of the International Relations and Economic Development Committee and a member of the newly-formed Early Childhood Caucus, an issue she believes is vital to recovery amid the pandemic.
“Childcare is such an important issue. It's more than a family issue is more than education issue is also a workforce issue. And also definitely economic recovery issue,” she said.
Button is a state representative fighting for economic prosperity, thankful she’s living the dream.