Donna Garcia Davidson
Donna Davidson knows her way through the election process and around the halls of the state capitol.
Known for her expertise in ethics, election law, public information issues and governmental affairs, Donna has built her practice from the ground up through campaigns and public service.
She has served as lead counsel on several election ballot challenges and litigated several high profile election law cases. Donna has also led several ballot challenges and recounts for state representative seats, including legal proceedings before the House of Representatives.
Donna was the General Counsel to the Republican Party of Texas and was a elected as delegate from Texas to the 2012 Republican Party National Convention in Tampa and an alternate delegate to the 2008 national convention in Minneapolis. She has attended many state and district conventions since 1982 and chaired several major convention committees. She has also delivered the keynote speech to a local county convention.
Donna was the ethics advisor to Governor George W. Bush and assistant general counsel to Al Gonzales in that office.
She was the general counsel to Lieutenant Governor Rick Perry and an assistant general counsel for the Texas Department of Agriculture under Commissioner Rick Perry. Donna was a legislative staffer for several members of the Texas House of Representatives.
Donna currently advises clients on campaign, ethics, open meetings and public information issues. Her client list includes many present and former members of the Texas legislature and other elected officials.
Donna is a founding member of the Texas State Bar Association section on Legislative and Campaign Law. She currently sits on the section board and oversees the presentations and updates to state bar members.
Donna serves as a board member for the Texas Election and Campaign Law Institute (TECLI), a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization established to promote education on election law and related ethics issues for candidates, officeholders, and other interested individuals. TECLI's mission is to educate those involved in the election process provides the necessary tools to highlight relevant campaign issues. By being up-to-date on election law and related ethics issues, a campaign or service will not be damaged or questioned due to non- compliance with election or ethics laws. Donna is Board Certified in Legislative and Campaign Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Donna has been active in the local community. She has volunteered with the Faith Food Pantry, the Foundation for the Homeless, the National Day of Prayer and Prison Fellowship. She is a member of CrossPointe Presbyterian Church in Austin.
Donna has been married to Greg Davidson for 33 years. Greg is a former member of the State Republican Executive Committee and served as a presidential elector from Texas in the 1996 election. Greg is also an ordained pastor in the Presbyterian Church of America and currently works for an elected public official in the executive branch of government.
Donna and Greg have a daughter and a black lab named Lucy. They all reside in Austin.
Eric Opiela
Eric Opiela is a 5th generation Texan, rancher, and attorney.
Eric served as the Executive Director of the Republican Party of Texas from 2008-2009, and most recently was its Associate General Counsel from 2010-2017. He was Chairman of the Karnes County Republican Party for four years, represented Senate District 21 on the Texas State Republican Executive Committee for two terms, and represented Texas on the Credentials Committee of the last two Republican National Conventions. In addition to his volunteer service as an elected party official, he has represented numerous federal, state, and local candidates and political committees in campaign finance and election law matters, from election contests in state district court to authoring amici briefs for clients before the United States Supreme Court.
He is also active in his community, serving as founding President of the Karnes City Independent School District Education Foundation, where he remains as a director, raising over a quarter of a million dollars annually for the rural schools of Karnes County, as Treasurer of the Catholic Community Foundation of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, and as a trustee of the Catholic Fraternity Fund, which provides investment opportunities for catholic charitable organizations in the Archdiocese and beyond.
Eric graduated with honors from the University of Texas at Austin and earned his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law. After law school, he clerked for The Honorable Mary Ellen Coster Williams, on the United States Court of Federal Claims in Washington, DC. He is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas. Eric is Board Certified in Legislative and Campaign Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Eric and his wife, Lara, split time between Karnes City and Austin with their two children, Natalie and Ryan.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please Call (512.791.6336) or Email (eopiela@ericopiela.com or donna@dgdlawfirm.com).