Pete Gallego Shows Up in the Big City
By Andrew Dobbs
I have no idea whether or not this will actually be seen by anybody, because this whole "rebuilding" thing confuses and scares me, but I'll give it a shot anyways.
Many people are paying close attention to Southwest Texas right now, as longtime State Senator Frank Madla has worn out his welcome with many. His district, anchored in San Antonio, cuts a huge gerrymandered swath across the Big Bend area of West Texas. Madla has served for years, but many are tired of his status as "furniture" and his bad votes on some key Democratic issues. State Representatives Carlos Uresti and Robert Puente (both key members of Craddick's leadership team) are taking a look at the race, but all the oxygen in the political scene is taken up by one man: State Representative Pete Gallego.
Gallego was first elected to his seat in 1990 and has served with distinction. The immediate past chair of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, he also served as Democratic Caucus Leader for a spell. His face is among the most familiar for Texas Democrats who watch the legislature-- he, Garnet Coleman, Jim Dunnam and Scott Hochberg form the core of Democratic leadership in the House. He is eloquent, driven and progressive. And he would immediately make a phenomenal Senator. Many expect him to run for statewide office, most expect that he would do very well. A State Senate seat would be a strong first step in the right direction.
The problem is that Gallego is from West Texas (one of the few remaining West Texas Democratic officials) and the district is dominated by the corner of San Antonio that it takes in. To win he would have to do well in SA. Last night he held a reception in San Antonio where he took down the house. A friend of mine (who asked not to be named, due to the fact that he works in the Capitol) told me that "Gallego was fantastic... I love it when a pol has the balls to walk into the room and call it like it is." I couldn't agree more.
Gallego is starting to look better and better for this race. Let's hope some smart people start pushing him in the right direction.
Posted by Andrew Dobbs at June 16, 2005 10:16 AM
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While I certainly want to see Pete run for state senate, I'm sure professional courtesy precludes him from doing so until Frank decides to retire.
Your characterization of Sen. Madla is quite unfair. He has earned the support and respect of many Far West Texans in his unabashed opposition to the horrible plan by a group of Midland oilmen to mine water in parched West Texas.
The architect Frank Lloyd Wright did his best work in his 80s and 90s.
And yes, Pete would make a great senator, which I'm hoping becomes an eventual stepping stone for statewide office.
