| Tina Torres is the best candidate to serve the people of HD-117, and the strongest candidate to reclaim this seat from the Republicans this November and keep it in 2014. We unanimously and enthusiastically endorse her in the runoff.
 Torres has a long history of public service to the people of San Antonio. An attorney, part of her practice includes family law. She has served on the boards of non-profits that advocate for families and children, and volunteers with CASA, a non-profit that trains volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children who are under the protection of the court. This experience will make her a forceful advocate for the needs of women and children in her district, especially as Republicans fight to take away programs that help families succeed.
Public service appears to run in the Torres DNA -- her mother was a teacher and the first Hispanic woman elected to the State Board of Education, and her father was a San Antonio city council member. Nevertheless, when Torres entered the race, some political operatives expressed the sentiment that it wasn't "her turn." As we wrote in May, "real leaders don't always wait their turn." Torres was then and is now the best candidate to serve the people of HD-117.
Torres is facing former San Antonio city council member Phillip Cortez in the run-off. Cortez has a checkered past that includes misleading constituents about his military duties, securing an appointment for his girlfriend to the City Council, and now hiring a private eye to essentially stalk Torres in her home.
The winner faces incumbent Republican John Garza in a swing district that may go Democrat this year but will be a challenge for us in 2014. Torres is the vastly superior fundraiser and campaigner, and with the backing of Annie's List and other progressive institutions, will take a harder fight to Garza come November. We need to win this seat, and Torres is the superior candidate to do it.
We unanimously and enthusiastically encourage voters to choose Torres in the HD-117 runoff.
Early Voting in the primary run-off is Monday July 23 through Friday July 27. Election Day is Tuesday, July 31.
Endorsements are made based on a weighted consensus of the staff, which guides the type and tone of endorsement. Members of the Burnt Orange Report staff employed by campaigns abstain from voting on those races. |
