Ciro Rodriguez

Ciro D. Rodriguez, a Democrat, has represented the Twenty-Third Congressional District of Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2007.

Iraq War
Rodriguez voted against the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 that started the Iraq War.

Environmental record
For more information on environmental legislation, see the Energy and Environment Policy Portal

Biography
Rodriguez was born in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, but was raised and received his education in San Antonio, Texas. He graduated from Harlandale High School and briefly attended San Antonio College, but subsequently graduated from St. Mary’s University with a B.A. in Political science. He received his Master of Social Work from Our Lady of the Lake University. 

From 1975 to 1987, Rodriguez served as a board member of the Harlandale Independent School District, working as an educational consultant for the Intercultural Development Research Association and served as a caseworker with the Department of Mental Health & Mental Retardation. From 1987 to 1996, he taught at Our Lady of the Lake University. 

Congressional career
In January 1997 the 28th district's congressman Frank Tejeda died at the start of his third term. A special election to fill the remainder of his service was held in April, resulting in Rodriguez defeating his nearest rival Juan F. Solis III with 66.7%.

After being sworn in on April 12, Rodriguez served as a member of the Armed Services, Veterans' Affairs and Resources Committees. He was also the ranking member of the VA Subcommittee on Health. Additionally, he led the Congressional Hispanic Caucus as chairman from 2003-04 after four years as its Health Care Task Force Chairman.

In 2003, Republican-led redistricting forced Rodriguez into the 28th Congressional District, then held by Democrat Henry Cuellar. Cuellar won the 2004 primary to represent the full district.

2006 elections
In 2006, Rodriguez once again declared for the Democratic primary, but again lost to Cuellar. In June, however, the Supreme Court declared that a 2003 Republican-backed redrawing of the 23rd Congressional District was unconstitutional in the way that it minimized Hispanic voting power and ordered the lines of the district redrawn. The new district contained Rodriguez's home and Democrats fielded him and five other candidates to face sitting Rep. Henry Bonilla in his November 2006 bid for reelection. Because the decision was made after the primary election had taken place, the November 7th general election became a special election, with a candidate needing over 50% of votes cast to claim the seat. Bonilla received 48% of the vote in the election, thus falling short of the mark needed to prevent a run-off between Bonilla and the second-highest vote-getter, Rodriguez, who won roughly half of Bonilla's total. In the runoff, however, Rodriguez defeated Bonilla 55%-45% to take possession of the seat. 


 * See the main Congresspedia article on the 2003 Texas congressional redistricting for more details.

2008 superdelegate

 * Dem Con Watch
 * Rodriguez' campaign accepted $5,000 from the Obama campaign.

Money in politics
cid=N00006067&cycle=2008

Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

 * House Committee on Veterans' Affairs
 * Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs
 * Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
 * House Committee on Appropriations
 * Subcommittee on Homeland Security
 * Subcommittee on Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development

District Office
No information on web site yet

Articles

 * Elizabeth White, "Texans Vote in Congressional Runoff Between Democratic Ex-Congressman, 7-Term Republican," ABC News, December 12, 2006.
 * Greg Jefferson, "Rodriguez upsets incumbent Bonilla," San Antonio Express-News, December 13, 2006. re Henry Bonilla
 * "Texas Republican Ousted As Last House Seat Filled," Washington Post, December 13, 2006.

Resources

 * Rodriguez for Congress, official campaign site

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Fort Bend Democrats
 * South Texas Chism
 * Burnt Orange Report