Pete Gallego
Encyclopedia
Pete P. Gallego is a Democratic
member of the Texas House of Representatives
, representing the 74th District since his election in 1990.
He serves as on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO) and is a former Chairman of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus (MALC) in the Texas House of Representatives. He was the first ethnic minority member ever elected as Chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, a post he held from January 1995 to January 2001.
to represent this vast border district. In 1991, he became the first freshman member and the first ethnic minority member ever elected as chair of the House Democratic Caucus, a post he held until January 2001.
In January 2001, Representative Gallego was unanimously elected by his colleagues to serve as Chairman of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus
(MALC), a group of 43 House members who are of Mexican-American descent or who serve a significant Mexican-American constituency. Representative Gallego was re-elected as Chairman of MALC for the fourth time in December 2006.
Representative Gallego's career has included chairmanships of the General Investigating Committee and several select and subcommittees. He has also served as a member of the Sunset Commission and the Committees on Appropriations, Calendars, Criminal Jurisprudence, Higher Education, and Elections.
in 1982 with a bachelor’s degree in political science. In 1985, he earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Texas School of Law
. Representative Gallego is a member of the Sul Ross State University Hall of Fame as an outstanding booster, and has been named a Distinguished Alumnus by the SRSU Ex-Student Association.
In the Legislature, Representative Gallego is an expert in appropriations, law enforcement, criminal justice, campaign finance and victims’ rights. He served on the joint House/Senate conference committee on the state budget for five consecutive sessions from 1993 to 2001 and has received numerous awards, including the Advocate for Justice award from a coalition of Texas victims’ groups and the Star of Texas public service award by Common Cause
of Texas.
A supporter of both public and higher education, Representative Gallego was honored by the Eagle Pass Independent School District in 2000 with the naming and dedication of the Pete Gallego Elementary School. He has also been honored by the Texas State University System
, The University of Texas System, and the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas in appreciation for his support of higher education.
Following the 1999 session, he was selected as one of Texas Monthly
’s Ten Best legislators. Most recently, Representative Gallego received the prestigious OHTLI Award from Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for his contributions to the betterment of the Mexican community in Texas.
The national Council of State Governments awarded Gallego a prestigious Henry Toll Fellowship, recognizing him as one of the outstanding young leaders in the nation. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Texas Equal Access to Justice Foundation and was recently named to the Board of Directors of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO). Representative Gallego is also a past chair of the Texas Lyceum, an organization of individuals under the age of 45 who have demonstrated leadership abilities throughout the State.
, where he was born and raised. He is currently of counsel to the law firm of Brown McCarroll, LLP which has offices in Austin, Houston, Dallas, and Alpine. In addition, he and his wife own several properties.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the Texas House of Representatives
Texas House of Representatives
The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits...
, representing the 74th District since his election in 1990.
He serves as on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO) and is a former Chairman of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus (MALC) in the Texas House of Representatives. He was the first ethnic minority member ever elected as Chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, a post he held from January 1995 to January 2001.
District
Texas House District 74 includes Brewster, Culberson, Edwards, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Loving, Pecos, Presidio, Reeves, Terrell, Uvalde, Val Verde, and Ward counties, and is the largest House district in Texas and the largest Texas U.S.-Mexico border district in the nation, stretching nearly 39000 square miles (101,009.5 km²) and containing over half of the Texas-Mexico border.Background
Elected in 1990, Representative Gallego is the first HispanicHispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
to represent this vast border district. In 1991, he became the first freshman member and the first ethnic minority member ever elected as chair of the House Democratic Caucus, a post he held until January 2001.
In January 2001, Representative Gallego was unanimously elected by his colleagues to serve as Chairman of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus
Mexican American Legislative Caucus
The Mexican American Legislative Caucus is a 501 non-profit, non-partisan organization composed of members of the Texas House of Representatives committed to addressing issues of particular importance to Latinos across the state.-History:...
(MALC), a group of 43 House members who are of Mexican-American descent or who serve a significant Mexican-American constituency. Representative Gallego was re-elected as Chairman of MALC for the fourth time in December 2006.
Representative Gallego's career has included chairmanships of the General Investigating Committee and several select and subcommittees. He has also served as a member of the Sunset Commission and the Committees on Appropriations, Calendars, Criminal Jurisprudence, Higher Education, and Elections.
Education
An Alpine native, Gallego graduated from Sul Ross State UniversitySul Ross State University
Sul Ross State University , a public university in Alpine, Texas, is named for former Texas governor, Civil War general Lawrence Sullivan Ross. It was founded in 1917 as Sul Ross Normal College and was made a university in 1969....
in 1982 with a bachelor’s degree in political science. In 1985, he earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Texas School of Law
University of Texas School of Law
The University of Texas School of Law, also known as UT Law, is an ABA-certified American law school located on the University of Texas at Austin campus. The law school has been in operation since the founding of the University in 1883. It was one of only two schools at the University when it was...
. Representative Gallego is a member of the Sul Ross State University Hall of Fame as an outstanding booster, and has been named a Distinguished Alumnus by the SRSU Ex-Student Association.
Accolades and Accomplishments
Common Cause
Common Cause is a self-described nonpartisan, nonprofit lobby and advocacy organization. It was founded in 1970 by John W. Gardner, a Republican former cabinet secretary under Lyndon Johnson, as a "citizens' lobby" with a mission focused on making U.S. political institutions more open and...
of Texas.
A supporter of both public and higher education, Representative Gallego was honored by the Eagle Pass Independent School District in 2000 with the naming and dedication of the Pete Gallego Elementary School. He has also been honored by the Texas State University System
Texas State University System
The Texas State University System was created in 1911 to oversee the state's normal schools. Since its creation it has broadened its focus and comprises institutions of many different scopes. It is the oldest multi-system University System in Texas...
, The University of Texas System, and the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas in appreciation for his support of higher education.
Following the 1999 session, he was selected as one of Texas Monthly
Texas Monthly
Texas Monthly is a monthly American magazine headquartered in Austin, Texas. Texas Monthly is published by Emmis Publishing, L.P. and was founded in 1973 by Michael R. Levy, Texas Monthly chronicles life in contemporary Texas, writing on politics, the environment, industry, and education...
’s Ten Best legislators. Most recently, Representative Gallego received the prestigious OHTLI Award from Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for his contributions to the betterment of the Mexican community in Texas.
The national Council of State Governments awarded Gallego a prestigious Henry Toll Fellowship, recognizing him as one of the outstanding young leaders in the nation. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Texas Equal Access to Justice Foundation and was recently named to the Board of Directors of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO). Representative Gallego is also a past chair of the Texas Lyceum, an organization of individuals under the age of 45 who have demonstrated leadership abilities throughout the State.
At Present
Representative Gallego still lives in AlpineAlpine, Texas
Alpine is a city in and the county seat of Brewster County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,786 people at the 2000 census, and had increased to 5,905 by 2010.-History:...
, where he was born and raised. He is currently of counsel to the law firm of Brown McCarroll, LLP which has offices in Austin, Houston, Dallas, and Alpine. In addition, he and his wife own several properties.
External links
- Texas House of Representatives - Pete Gallego official TX House website
- Pete P. Gallego Pete P. Gallego Campaign website
- Project Vote Smart - Representative Pete Gallego (TX) profile
- http://www.malc.org *"Mexican American Legislative Caucus"
- National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO)
- Follow the Money - Pete Gallego