Congressman Moran opens office in Texarkana

Congressman Nathaniel Moran’s officially opened his Texarkana Office with a grand opening on Wednesday, January 18, on the Texarkana College Campus.

Moran met informally with local leaders and residents to welcome the community to his new office.

Moran, who recently took over the office from longtime Rep. Louie Gohmert in the new redistricted Congressional District seat that will cover areas as far west as Longview and Tyler, north as far as Texarkana and south as far as Nacogdoches and Lufkin.

The congressman has had his roots in the district pretty much all of his life where Moran grew up on a Bible college campus outside Whitehouse, Texas. On his website, Moran notes that he “is proud of his East Texas roots. A native of Whitehouse and graduate of Whitehouse High School, he continued his education at the U. S. Military Academy and Texas Tech University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in Russian, an MBA, and his law degree. He is an attorney who has wide-ranging experience, including business and commercial litigation and transaction work. He is the son of a small businessman and is the owner of two small businesses – a law firm and a staffing company that puts hundreds of East Texans to work every day.”

Moran was originally born in Arizona where his parents were involved in a Bible college.

His family moved with a number of families to help start a Bible College here in Northeast Texas in 1976 before his second birthday. He lived on the campus until he was ten.

He has three brothers, all having different callings in life. Moran said his parents encouraged all of their kids to use what ever trade they pursued as a ministry, fulfilling the Mathew 22 commandment to love man and God, which Moran said is done by service to others.

Moran has four kids; he and his wife have been married for 22 years. They met at Texas Tech University at a bible study.

They got married one week before law school which he does not recommend doing, muses Moran.

They spent the next three years surviving as his wife finished her education and his law school degree.

They then moved back to the area where he grew up, where she became a teacher, and he practiced law.

Shortly thereafter after, once they had children his wife became a stayat- home mom to take care of their special needs child who was deaf and a girl born two years later. As a result of the challenges, they took a break from having children and waited till recently now having a six and a sevenyear- old.

Moran says his free time revolves around his “kiddos” and whatever activities they are involved in including the scouts early on and now band, where his daughter was involved in all regional band.

Also coached his kids in basketball. His other kids are involved in soccer and dance and cheer.

His introduction to politics happened because of his father’s interest in world events and news.

His first recollection of interest happened in fourth grade in 1984 during Ronald Regan’s second run for office.

His dad walked him through the reelection bid process, piquing his interest in the world of politics.

“That’s when a light was lit in my heart and mind to follow after Ronald Regan, and get involved in the pollical world, by making the community better through service. My mom and dad were always great examples of service while growing up on the Bible Campus. We learned from an early age, even if you didn’t have much that we were put on this earth to give to others and serve others. Watching my parents model that, really instilled a lot of service in my heart. That’s where I am today taking that mindset of service and combining it with good solid evangelical conservative policy making.”

In 2005 Moran was elected to his first office, the City Council of Tyler. After spending about four years there he decided to take a break for his family and move to Houston so he could enroll his son who is deaf in a special school for the hearing impaired.

Moran says he went down to the school where his son couldn’t speak at all to being able to complete full sentences.

He moved back in 2012 where his son finished the school for the deaf. At that point, he got back involved in the community and started a non-profit education foundation, along with other community activities and church.

In 2016 Moran was appointed a Smith County Judge, then won the election in 2018.

Moran notes that he is not a career politician, even though he has made it his mission to serve others.

“When I was elected to congress, I was 48 years old, I only had six years of paid public service up to that point.” The rest of the time says Moran, he served as a Lawyer for 20 years and owned recently owned a staffing agency. Recently sold the staffing company to make room to devote his time to congress.

Moran traces his desire to run for congress to a prayer retreat in 2020. During a three-day time, he came out of it with a sense of purpose and was called to run for office.

Next week we will delve more into the congressman’s political views and the things he hopes to accomplish in congress.