While still in college, Ben Barnes won a seat in the Texas House of Representatives. By 1962, on a congressman's recommendation, he was a top lieutenant to a little-known gubernatorial candidate who went on to win - John Connally. By 1965, Barnes was House speaker. At 26 he was the youngest speaker in state history. Three years later democrat Barnes catapulted himself to Lieutenant Governor of Texas - again the youngest ever. Rapidly rising politician Ben Barnes won the election in a landslide by garnering the most votes ever for a statewide office.

• 1960: Elected State Representative for four counties in West-Central Texas
• 1965: Elected Speaker of the House 2004
• 1969: Elected Lieutenant Governor of Texas
• 1969-1973: Tenure of Lieutenant Governorship
• 2004: Vice Chair of John Kerry Presidential Campaign

• Founder & Principal -- The Ben Barnes Group -- business consulting and lobbying firm -- Austin, Washington, D.C.
• Board of Directors -- Pendaries Petroleum – Houston
• Board of Directors -- Techxas Ventures - Austin
• Consultant -- American Airlines – Dallas
• Consultant -- Huntsman Corporation – Salt Lake City & Houston
• Consultant -- Laredo National Bank
• Consultant -- Longhorn Partners Pipeline
• Consultant -- Eagle Global Logistics
• Consultant -- Boundless Corporation
• Consultant -- SBC
• Consultant -- Several Texas Law Firms

Despite his name recently being attached with George Bush's, non-republican Ben Barnes supports the Democrat Party as evidenced by the $500,000 Barnes raised for the John Kerry Presidential Campaign

In his new book, Barn Burning, Barn Building, former Texas politician Ben Barnes reveals an insider's look at the American political scene in the 1960s, when Democrats held a firm grasp on the nation's politics. A pupil of President Lyndon B. Johnson, Ben Barnes had an up-close and personal view of the nation's inner political workings. Barn Burning, Barn Building demonstrates how Texas, a state formerly dominated by Democrats, became a state controlled by Republicans and Barnes presents a plan of action to combat this growing trend.

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