Vatra Solomon
Characterized by her keen political insight, organizational skills, and management, Vatra Solomon has navigated through the realms of education, insurance, and politics to establish a storied reputation. As the most recent addition to Eric Wright and Associates, Solomon will bolster the firm with her ability to organize and lead businesses, associations, and coalitions through the political process. Residing in Mt. Pleasant, Texas, Solomon will serve as a consultant for the firm’s clients and interests in the Northeast Texas area.
After five years of teaching first grade education in the Dallas and Mount Vernon School Districts, Solomon organized the first public kindergarten in the Mount Vernon school system where she taught for an additional year. In subsequent years, Solomon consulted for the Texas Future Teachers Association and coordinated the annual convention of 5,000 high school delegates in major cities across Texas.
After a decade of loyal service to the Texas State Teachers Association, Solomon exited the educational domain and ventured into the insurance arena with her ownership and management of the successful Solomon Insurance Agency in Mount Pleasant. Her five year tenure in the insurance industry ended with the sale of Solomon Insurance Agency in 1988, which initiated her interest in political consultancy.
In 1989, Solomon served as a campaign consultant for the “Bill Ratliff for Senate Campaign” and organized “Democrats for Ratliff” where she scheduled meetings and activities, and implemented innovative tactical strategies for the campaign. After Ratliff’s successful election into the Texas Senate, Solomon assumed the position of Executive Assistant for the Senator’s Mount Pleasant and Austin offices where she was responsible for scheduling, constituent casework, lobby relations, press relations, and staff screening and hiring for the Capitol and Committee offices. Solomon continued in the role of executive assistant through Ratliff’s entire term as Texas Senator, including the two years he served as Lieutenant Governor. Following the consummation of the 77th Legislative Session, Solomon was awarded the first ever “Betty King Award for Legislative Staff Service.”
After 16 years of service to Lieutenant Governor Bill Ratliff, Solomon joined Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Carol Keeton Strayhorn in February of 2004 as the East Texas Public Outreach Coordinator. As a member of the Legislative Analysis Group for the Comptroller’s office in Austin, Solomon operated out of her home in Mount Pleasant to serve the Comptroller’s constituents in Northeast Texas.
Born in Commerce, Texas, Solomon graduated from East Texas State University with a degree in elementary education and music in 1968. The oldest of three siblings, Solomon is the daughter of the late State Representative and Mrs. Neal Solomon of Mount Vernon.