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Vince Ryan - A life of Public Service
Vince Ryan brings a history of experience, dedication and service to his candidacy for the Office of Harris County Attorney, including seven years as a lawyer in the County Attorney’s office. As the First Assistant County Attorney for more than four years, Vince was the immediate subordinate of County Attorney Mike Driscoll and supervisor of the entire office.
Native Son
Born in Houston, Vince was raised by loving parents who instilled within him and his three siblings a sense of service to others. After his father encountered financial difficulties following Vince's first year of college, Vince worked his way through college, law school and later graduate school.
Distinguished Military Leader
As the Vietnam War raged, a 19-year-old Vince joined ROTC at the University of Houston and upon graduation became an active duty officer in the United States Army, first serving in Europe and then volunteering for service in Vietnam.
After his return from Vietnam, Vince remained in the Active Army Reserve for 28 years and saw combat zone service once more in Operation Just Cause, which ousted Manuel Noriega as the dictator of Panama. He is now a retired Lieutenant Colonel.
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"...Vince's candidacy for the Office of Harris County Attorney seeks to continue his service to the public. His seven years of experience in the office when I was County Attorney, as a Houston City Council member, at the federal level both in the military and on the Panama Canal Commission, and his myriad public service efforts have ideally equipped him to be the next Harris County Attorney."
Mike Driscoll Harris County Attorney from 1981 to 1997 |
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Experienced Public Servant
After his service in Vietnam, Vince left active duty and attended the University of Houston Law School. Soon he became active in the Neartown Association, the umbrella civic group for the Montrose area. While practicing law, Vince attended Rice University and received a Master's Degree.
In January1981, Vince became an Assistant Harris County Attorney for the newly elected County Attorney, Mike Driscoll. As the Chief of the Commissioner's Court Division, he was responsible for attending Commissioners Court meetings, and became the direct liaison with key elected and appointed county officials. In 1983, Mike appointed Vince his First Assistant in charge of all aspects of the office.
In 1987, Vince, with the support and help of many grassroots activists, scored a tremendous upset over the sitting Houston Independent School Board president to win a seat on the Houston City Council for District C. He was reelected to two more terms. When term limits were enacted, Vince was the only council member who did not attempt to remain on the ballot via a petition process, voluntarily leaving council after six years.
In 1994, Vince was the Democratic nominee for Harris County Judge. Despite a well-fought campaign, Vince lost in the same year during which Governor Ann Richards lost in an upset to George W. Bush and all Democrats in Harris County lost their election bids.
But one of Vince's campaign themes in 1994 was to make Houston, Harris County and the region the primary gateway for trade with Latin America. And because of his military service during Operation Just Cause, subsequent trade missions to Panama and his campaign efforts on behalf of our region, Vince was appointed by the President, and later unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate, to serve on the Board of the Panama Canal Commission. This bi-national board oversaw the Canal and its historic transition to Panama on December 31, 1999.
Dedicated Family Man
While 1994 was a year of political defeat for Vince, it also marked the beginning of the greatest and most fulfilling events of his life. On December 4, 1994, Vince married Teresa Pamela (Pam) Rodriguez, originally from San Antonio. Together, they have three sons, twins Andrew and Reed and younger brother Colin Scott,
Although his formal public service ended on December 31, 1999, Vince has continued his community involvement. In the last decade, he has served on various boards and is a founding board member of the Houston Tampico Sister City Association and the Houston Democratic Lawyers Association. He was an active member of the Mark Twain PTO while his sons attended school there and is now active in the Pershing Middle School PTO as his sons continue to move through our public school system.
Vince has also been involved in businesses that have sought to improve public education and to build affordable housing.
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