Fomer Texas AG Mattox Dies

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – Former Texas congressman and Attorney General Jim Mattox has died.

He died at his Dripping Springs home, his sister Janice Mattox said Thursday. She did not know the cause of death.

Mattox, who was 65, was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976 and remained in office until 1982. He was elected attorney general in 1982 and re-elected in 1986. He ran unsuccessfully for governor in the 1990 Democratic primary.

Mattox started his career as the assistant district attorney in Dallas and later ran for the state Legislature to represent east Dallas. While in the Texas House, he took an interest in ethics reform and open government legislation.

In Congress, he was the only freshman elected to the powerful House Budget Committee and later chaired that committee’s Task Force on National Security and Veterans Affairs, as well as the Banking Committee.

He is survived by his wife Marta and their two children, Jim and Cissy.

By APRIL CASTRO, Associated Press Writer

Associated Press Writer Paul J. Weber in Dallas contributed to this report.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)