Rodolfo Torre Cantú
Encyclopedia
Rodolfo Torre Cantú was a Mexican
physician and politician. He held a number of public offices, such as Federal deputy, Secretary of Health of Tamaulipas
and Director-general
of the DIF (National System for Integral Family Development) in Ciudad Victoria
. While running for governor of Tamaulipas as the candidate of the PRI
, he was assassinated, presumably by agents of a drug cartel
. Torre was murdered alongside a Tamaulipas lawmaker, Enrique Blackmore, on 2010 near Ciudad Victoria, which is approximately three hours south of Brownsville, Texas
. Felipe Calderón
promised a full investigation, saying, "the fight against drug cartels
must continue". He further stated, "This was an act not only against a candidate of a political party but against democratic institutions, and it requires a united and firm response from all those who work for democracy." Torre's assassination is the "highest-profile case of political violence" in Mexico since the murder of Luis Donaldo Colosio
.
in Matamoros
, gaining the title of surgeon, and served as a professor at the same institution.
(PRI) beginning in 1980, when he joined the National Movement of Revolutionary Youth. Within the party he participated in electoral campaigns at every level – from presidential elections to mayoral and local elections.
In 2009 Torre was elected to the 61st legislature
of the Chamber of Deputies for the fifth district headquartered in Ciudad Victoria, a district that encompasses the municipalities of Hidalgo, Güemez, Mainero, Padilla, San Carlos, San Nicolás y Villagrán. He received the second highest number of votes in the election.
He served as coordinator of PRI deputies from Tamaulipas and was a member of the health commission.
He proposed a reform to Article 9 of the General Law on Education with the aim of improving national educational models, pointing to Tamaulipas as a national model for the teaching of English
in all primary schools.
(PVEM), and the New Alliance Party
(PANAL).
, for a campaign event, Torre was murdered along with six of those in his entourage.
Mexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
physician and politician. He held a number of public offices, such as Federal deputy, Secretary of Health of Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Tamaulipas is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 43 municipalities and its capital city is Ciudad Victoria. The capital city was named after Guadalupe Victoria, the...
and Director-general
Director-general
The term director-general is a title given the highest executive officer within a governmental, statutory, NGO, third sector or not-for-profit institution.-European Union:...
of the DIF (National System for Integral Family Development) in Ciudad Victoria
Ciudad Victoria
Ciudad Victoria , is the capital city of the Mexican state ofTamaulipas. It is located in the western-central region of the state. Ciudad Victoria is also the municipal seat of the surrounding Victoria Municipality, which covers an area of 1,638 km²...
. While running for governor of Tamaulipas as the candidate of the PRI
Institutional Revolutionary Party
The Institutional Revolutionary Party is a Mexican political party that held power in the country—under a succession of names—for more than 70 years. The PRI is a member of the Socialist International, as is the rival Party of the Democratic Revolution , making Mexico one of the few...
, he was assassinated, presumably by agents of a drug cartel
Drug cartel
Drug cartels are criminal organizations developed with the primary purpose of promoting and controlling drug trafficking operations. They range from loosely managed agreements among various drug traffickers to formalized commercial enterprises. The term was applied when the largest trafficking...
. Torre was murdered alongside a Tamaulipas lawmaker, Enrique Blackmore, on 2010 near Ciudad Victoria, which is approximately three hours south of Brownsville, Texas
Brownsville, Texas
Brownsville is a city in the southernmost tip of the state of Texas, in the United States. It is located on the northern bank of the Rio Grande, directly north and across the border from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Brownsville is the 16th largest city in the state of Texas with a population of...
. Felipe Calderón
Felipe Calderón
Felipe de Jesús Calderón Hinojosa is the current President of Mexico. He assumed office on December 1, 2006, and was elected for a single six-year term through 2012...
promised a full investigation, saying, "the fight against drug cartels
Mexican Drug War
The Mexican Drug War is an ongoing armed conflict taking place among rival drug cartels who fight each other for regional control, and Mexican government forces who seek to combat drug trafficking. However, the government's principal goal has been to put down the drug-related violence that was...
must continue". He further stated, "This was an act not only against a candidate of a political party but against democratic institutions, and it requires a united and firm response from all those who work for democracy." Torre's assassination is the "highest-profile case of political violence" in Mexico since the murder of Luis Donaldo Colosio
Luis Donaldo Colosio
Luis Donaldo Colosio Murrieta was a Mexican politician, and PRI presidential candidate, who was assassinated at a campaign rally in Tijuana during the Mexican Presidential campaign of 1994.-Political history:...
.
Personal life
Rodolfo Torre Cantú was born in Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, the fourth of five children of Ana María Cantú and Dr. Egidio Torre López, a distinguished public servant and PRI activist. He was married to Laura Graciela de la Garza Montoto, with whom he had three children: Laura, Rodolfo, and Paulina.Education
Torre studied exclusively in institutions in his native Tamaulipas. He attended primary, secondary, and preparatory schools in Ciudad Victoria and in 1987 graduated from the school of medicine at the Autonomous University of TamaulipasAutonomous University of Tamaulipas
The Autonomous University of Tamaulipas is a Mexican public university based in Victoria, Tamaulipas...
in Matamoros
Matamoros, Tamaulipas
Matamoros, officially known as Heroica Matamoros, is a city in the northeastern part of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located on the southern bank of the Rio Grande, directly across the border from Brownsville, Texas, in the United States. Matamoros is the second largest and second...
, gaining the title of surgeon, and served as a professor at the same institution.
PRI activism
Torre was an activist of the Institutional Revolutionary PartyInstitutional Revolutionary Party
The Institutional Revolutionary Party is a Mexican political party that held power in the country—under a succession of names—for more than 70 years. The PRI is a member of the Socialist International, as is the rival Party of the Democratic Revolution , making Mexico one of the few...
(PRI) beginning in 1980, when he joined the National Movement of Revolutionary Youth. Within the party he participated in electoral campaigns at every level – from presidential elections to mayoral and local elections.
Political career
Torre began his public service career in 1989 as medical coordinator of Banrural in Ciudad Victoria, subsequently becoming regional coordinator for medical services in San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas. In 1999 he became director general of the municipal DIF system (integral family development) in Ciudad Victoria. In 2004 he was elected a local deputy for the fourteenth district. From 2005 to 2009 he served as secretary of health of the state of Tamaulipas, and oversaw the construction of new, modern health centers. He participated in numerous health campaigns directed at both children and adults, notably a nutritional program aimed at families of limited means.In 2009 Torre was elected to the 61st legislature
LXI Legislature of the Mexican Congress
The LXI Legislature of the Congress of Mexico meets from September 1, 2009, to August 31, 2012. Members of the upper house of the Congress were selected in the elections of July 2006 while members of the lower house of the Congress were selected in the elections of July 2009....
of the Chamber of Deputies for the fifth district headquartered in Ciudad Victoria, a district that encompasses the municipalities of Hidalgo, Güemez, Mainero, Padilla, San Carlos, San Nicolás y Villagrán. He received the second highest number of votes in the election.
He served as coordinator of PRI deputies from Tamaulipas and was a member of the health commission.
He proposed a reform to Article 9 of the General Law on Education with the aim of improving national educational models, pointing to Tamaulipas as a national model for the teaching of English
ESL
ESL is a common abbreviation for English as a Second Language, see English language learning and teaching.ESL may also refer to:-Companies:...
in all primary schools.
Candidacy for governor of Tamaulipas
On March 14 Torres was named PRI candidate for the governorship of Tamaulipas. On April 10 he was named candidate of Todos Tamaulipas, an electoral alliance comprising the PRI, the Ecologist Green Party of MexicoEcologist Green Party of Mexico
The Ecologist Green Party of Mexico is one of the six political parties to have representation in the Mexican Congress. The party's congressional strength currently stands at 17 deputies and five senators .-Elections 2000:...
(PVEM), and the New Alliance Party
New Alliance Party (Mexico)
The New Alliance Party is one of the newest political parties in Mexico.Its creation was proposed by the Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educación , the largest trade union in Latin America, led by Elba Esther Gordillo, the controversial former general secretary of the Institutional...
(PANAL).
Assassination
On the morning of June 28, 2010, while traveling to General Pedro J. Méndez International Airport to catch a flight to the city of Valle Hermoso, TamaulipasValle Hermoso, Tamaulipas
Valle Hermoso is a city in Valle Hermoso Municipality in the northeastern part of the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. The city serves as the municipal seat of the municipality, which is bordered by the municipalities of Matamoros and Río Bravo...
, for a campaign event, Torre was murdered along with six of those in his entourage.