Darla Morgan

Darla Morgan, an award-winning newspaper and magazine reporter, draws upon her considerable writing and researching skills as a Senior Researcher for SPI. As a former aide to two Texas Senators and a member of the Texas House of Representatives, as well as a former media liaison for two state agencies, Darla is well acquainted with state government operations.

Darla began her career in daily newspaper journalism, working first for the Pasadena Citizen and then the Galveston Daily News. At the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, Darla won the coveted Associated Press Community Service Award for an investigative series of stories on alleged financial irregularities at the Nueces County Sheriff's Department.

After working for Texas Lawyer and TIME Magazine, Darla joined the staff of State Sen. Judith Zaffirini in June 1990. She later worked for State Rep. Hugo Berlanga, focusing on health care legislation and writing news releases and newsletters.

From 1994 to 1999, Darla served as an information specialist at the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission, writing and editing internal and external newsletters and reports. Next, she served in the Texas Department of Health's Office of Government Relations, tracking and analyzing legislation and assisting lawmakers with constituent casework.

Darla later went to work for State Sen. Carlos Truan as a legislative aide and policy analyst, writing newsletters and speeches, analyzing legislation and assisting with Senate Human Resources committee hearings.