Each one of us, as a citizen of Texas and of the United States of America, has certain responsibilities and tasks to accomplish. Included in such tasks are the roles we are given and those we choose: the role of a father, an aunt, a doctor, or an elected official.
In the role of an elected official, one has minimum standards of conduct and performance to adhere to–they are the basis of what one is judged by when it comes down to election time.
One of the Texas state representatives is Roberto Gutierrez. Gutierrez represents district 41 in the state of Texas. This district consists of the southwest portion of Hidalgo count, representing such cities as McAllen, Mission, and Pharr.
Gutierrez has been a state representative since January, 1991. He was born and raised in Mission, Texas and has spent a large part of his life living in the Rio Grande Valley. He attended the University of Texas Pan-American. Before being elected as a state representative, Gutierrez was a secondary school teacher.
As a state representative, Gutierrez serves on the Committees of Apportionment, Local and Consent Calenders, and Public Safety.
One of the United States representatives from Texas is Ruben Hinojosa. Hinojosa, representative for Texas’15th district, has been in office since 1996. He was born in Edcouch, Texas and lives in Mercedes, TX. Hinojosa received his BBA from the University of Texas at Austin and his MBA from the University of Texas– Pan American. Before being elected as a representative, he worked at the Chief Financial Officer of H&H Foods, his family’s business.
As United States Representative from Texas, Hinojosa has served on the Small Business Committee, and the Committee for Education and the Workforce.
A representative is a person elected by a group of people, such as a city or county, so that they (the group) will have a voice in the decisions that are going to be made that effect them. To be a representative, one must be close to their constituents. It helps to be from the same town, city, or state of the people that they hope to represent. A effective representative should have extensive experience within their district. This means living and working in the area that they represent. By doing this, they have a first hand knowledge of the area, the people, and the culture. This insures that the people’s needs will not be ignored.
Roberto Gutierrez was born and raised in Mission, Texas, and he has spent his life in the Rio Grande Valley, the area that he represents. He is an effective representative because he is familiar with the people and their concerns. Gutierrez invests his time with civic entities such as Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church. He has been a member of the McAllen Palm City Lions Club, the McAllen and Pharr Rotary Clubs, Parent Teacher Association, and he also served as former vice-president of the governing board of the McAllen Medical Center.
His efforts as a member of these organizations has brought Gutierrez widespread recognition. He has been recognized by various public and private organizations, including The Friends of the UT-Pan American Library, and Amigos de Bomberos.
Ruben Hinojosa was born in Edcouch, Texas. He also attended public school in the Rio Grande Valley. As an executive and owner of H&H Foods, Hinojosa has helped to provide his community over 300 jobs. He has served on the Board of Directors for the South Texas High School for Health Professions and was very instrumental in the success of that school.
Hinojosa is an effective representative because he has been the Rio Grande Valley. He has grown up there and has been surrounded by its’ people. Since being elected, Hinojosa has helped with the creation of The Women’s Empowerment Business Center at UTPA. This center is accessible to all women who wish to start up a business and want information on different types of businesses, assistance with a business plan, or help with identifying financing alternatives. He has also helped increase access to capital and loans to small businesses as well as lessening the tax and regulatory burdens these businesses encounter. He has been a strong force in business growth promotion in the economically depressed areas of the Rio Grande Valley.
Being involved in such programs has brought Hinojosa recognition from notable government agencies. In 1999, he was selected as the Minority Business Advocate of the Year by the Minority Business Development Agency and the Small Business Administration. He was also awared the Annual Champion for Children Award from the HOSTS Corporation.
One of the main things that help in reelection is incumbency. The fact the they, Hinojosa and Gutierrez, have been in office consecutively for a few years heightens their chance for reelection. They are known within their counties and cities. They have established a rapport with the voting population. Within their years of being an elected official, they have established programs that benefit their respective districts.
Hinojosa and Gutierrez both have a great chance for reelection. For the reasons that I have stated above, their chances for reelections and almost ensured. They are very representative of their constituents, and they are able to meet their needs. This is proven by their number of years in office.
Gutierrez is one of 28 Hispanics serving in the House, compared to 108 Anglo- Saxon representatives and 14 African-Americans. He is also one of 121 males, and as a career, he was worked in the Petroleum industry. As a Texas Representative, Gutierrez earns $7,200 per year.
Hinojosa, also a Hispanic representative, is one of 211 Democrats. He earns $136,673 per year as a congressional representative.
Congressman Ruben Hinojosa. U.S. House of Representatives. *http://www.house.gov/hinojosa*
Current Congressional Profile. Office of the Clerk. *http://clerkweb.house.gov/mbrcmtee/statsanswers.htm*
House Membership Profile. Texas House of Representatives. *http://www.house.state.tx.us/common/profile.htm*
Representative Roberto Gutierrez. Texas House of Representatives. *http://www.house.state.tx.us/house/dist41/dist41.htm*
State Representative Roberto Gutierrez. Texas House of Representatives. *http://www.house.state.tx.us/house/bios/dist41b.htm*
The Texas Constitution–Article 3. The Texas Constitution. *http://capitol.tlc.state.tx.us/txconst/sections/cn000300-000700.html*
