PROFILE

Jason McElvaney, the principal of McElvaney Public Affairs, has more than twenty-five years' experience in local, state, national, and international politics; government and regulatory affairs; public relations; community outreach; and grassroots organization. He has played a pivotal role in numerous high-profile, politically sensitive legislative and policy campaigns across all levels of government.

Before establishing McElvaney Public Affairs in 2012, Jason spent nine years as director of government affairs for the Texas County & District Retirement System, a defined benefit pension plan serving more than 280,000 Texans. In this role, he represented the organization before local, state, and federal government bodies. Over four sessions spanning a decade, he achieved success with every TCDRS legislative effort.

Jason's involvement in government affairs began in college, when he worked for the Texas General Land Office and started learning about the state's regulatory mechanisms and environment. After graduating in 1993, he spent ten years in Washington DC, representing state and local agencies, associations, and a Fortune 500 company on Capitol Hill on issues related to the environment, transportation, NAFTA, HMO/Medicaid, livable communities and smart growth, wastewater, housing, and taxes. As federal government relations representative for J.C. Penney, Jason lobbied Congress on Internet taxation, international trade, transportation, and privacy legislation. He also was the company's liaison to the National Retail Federation, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the Business Roundtable to address the growing interest in privacy issues among consumers, government officials, and the media. Jason additionally has experience facilitating Free International Trade.
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In 2002, Jason moved home to Austin and went to work in the Texas House, where he advised a state representative on legislative matters, drafted bills, negotiated compromises, and helped secure passage of key legislation. He left this role in 2003, when he was recruited by TDCRS.

A native Austinite, Jason earned a bachelor of arts degree in government from The University of Texas in 1993 and a master of business administration from the Hankamer School of Business at Baylor University in 2011. He lives in Austin with his wife and two children.