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Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 06:39 PM CDT
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State Senator Mario Gallegos passed away today at age 62 from complications associated with a 2007 liver transplant. Senator Gallegos served in the Legislature for 22 years. The first Hispanic Senator elected from Harris County, he was a staunch advocate for issues that impact the Hispanic community, as well as education and criminal justice.
In 2007, Senator Gallegos returned to the Capitol shortly after a liver transplant, so that he could cast his vote as the 11th Senator against the Republicans' Photo Voter ID bill that session.
The Houston Chronicle blogged at the time:
Doctors wanted Gallegos to stay in Houston. But doing so would have given Republicans enough votes to pass a voter identification bill.
Gallegos and every Democrat oppose the legislation, contending that it's part of an orchestrated campaign to suppress voting of low-income and elderly citizens.
Gallegos was a champion of Democratic and progressive causes. This is a sad day for Texas, who have lost a leader who fought for the people to the very end.
Our condolences to his family, friends, staff, and colleagues in this sad time. |
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