My Thanks To All Our Supporters

I'm off for a short vacation with the family before we once again roll up our sleeves and get about the people's business in preparation for the 81st Legislative Session some nine months away. As I leave you with some appropriate Elton John music from the 80's let me take a moment to thank the hundreds of volunteers that supported us in our successful re-election effort.

As I noted in The Monitor newspaper this election proved that a well entrenched, heavily financed, boss and patronage system of the past could be beat with a real grassroots effort that appealed directly to the voters. Well funded politiqueras (vote brokers) and power brokers overwhelmingly sided against us and yet we prevailed. They don't know it but their days are waning as a more intelligent and independent voter from South Texas demands more from the local political system and their leaders.

Those independent minded voters gave us the strong Primary Election Day 60 plus percentages in Edinburg and in the western part of the district that pushed us past the heavy machine and carried voter that were brought to the polls in the early voting period. I was particularly pleased that my grandfather's old precinct in the City of Elsa helped carry us to victory on Primary Election Day.

My thanks to the nearly unanimous support from professional associations from across Texas. Your voices help to diminish the spin from the increasingly desperate and deceptive campaign of my challenger. Lastly let me thank the voters who remained consistent in their support. People like Doila Gonzalez who repeatedly called me to tell me that she was praying for me when incoming personal attacks increased in number and frequency.

With the election behind us we must now collectively re-focus our efforts on the prize. The needs of our community, the growth and challenges that surely confronts us must be intelligently addressed. I invite friend and foe alike to join us in that effort.

Thank you again and may God bless.