Farmers Appoints Galitski to Director of Government Affairs Post for Texas

Veteran Texas business and insurance lobbyist Frank V. Galitski, of Austin, has been appointed director of Government Affairs for Farmers Insurance Co. Farmers said the appointment is effective March 31, 2004.

Galitski will office in Farmers’ Austin Service Center.

As Farmers’ Texas-based director of Government Affairs, Galitski will lead the legislative and regulatory grassroots activities of the Texas Government Affairs Team. Galitski will report to Mark Toohey, assistant vice president of Legislative & Regulatory Affairs, in the Farmers Insurance’s Los Angeles, Calif. home office.

Galitski has worked the last two years as executive director for the Texas Alliance for Patient Access (TAPA). Under Galitski’s leadership, the TAPA was instrumental in advocating passage of Texas medical liability reform during the 2003 legislative session. He also served as a key supporter for the successful “Yes on 12” constitutional amendment campaign last fall. The “Yes on 12” campaign authorized the Texas Legislature to place limits on non-economic damages in medical liability cases.

During his career, Galitski also worked as the Austin-based, regional government affairs manager for the Alliance of American Insurers, a national insurance trade association. In that position, Galitski was responsible for managing insurance legislative and regulatory activities in 5 states, including Texas. Additionally, he has worked for former Texas State Representatives Mike Toomey and Steve Holzheauser analyzing and advocating pro-business legislation during the 2001 Texas legislative session.

Galitski was raised in Amarillo and began his legislative career at the Texas State Capitol in 1989 and worked from 1993-1997 as Chief Committee Clerk for the Texas House Insurance Committee. During that time, he also served as Chief of Staff for the Chairman of the House Insurance Committee. Galitski also has worked on several Texas political campaigns.