Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the dedication of Guadalupe County Commissioner Judy Cope for her civic service.

Judy Cope graduated from MacArthur High in San Antonio, and went on to attend the College of the Mainland, receiving a degree in criminal justice. She has put her training to work as a special investigator, compliance officer, gang issues coordinator, and concealed handgun instructor.

Commissioner Cope's experience has not been limited to law enforcement; she has held positions in various different fields. Early in her career she worked as an accountant, owned a feed and tack store, assisted with operations at her husband's construction company, and held a state real estate license for 21 years.

She now puts this tremendous diversity of experience to work for the citizens of Guadalupe County. She is a strong believer in government transparency and accountability, and she has worked hard to help the public be more involved in county government.

Mr. Speaker, Guadalupe County Commissioner Judy Cope's efforts to enforce the law, forge community ties, and open government to the public are worthy of praise, and I am proud to have this opportunity to recognize her work publicly.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor County Judge Donald L. Schraub for his years of contribution to the Guadalupe County community as an educator, business professional and county judge.

Born in LaVernia, Texas, Judge Schraub graduated from LaVernia High School. He attended the University of Texas at Austin and earned a Bachelors Degree in Zoology and a Teaching Certificate.

Before becoming an elected official, Schraub committed years in education and business. Judge Schraub started as a biology teacher in Midland, Texas before returning to the Seguin Independent School District to teach Earth Science. After getting a Master's degree in Education, Schraub continued to serve the school district by becoming a school counselor.

Schraub then worked 12 years for the Wholesale Beverage Distribution Company. Following his retirement from business, Schraub returned to be a school counselor in the Nixon Independent School District.

As the current Guadalupe County Judge, Schraub has aimed to provide a stable, well balanced fiscal base for the county while insuring the needs of the taxpayer are met. In the Alamo Area Council of Governments, Judge Schraub serves on the Housing Finance, Planning and Program Development, and Rural Area Judges Committees.

In his spare time, Judge Schraub likes to hunt, fish, and go camping. Married to his wife Gloria for 16 years, Schraub and his family also enjoy attending the local Christ Lutheran Church. His family has attended the same Christ Lutheran Church for four generations.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to have this opportunity to recognize Judge Donald L. Schraub, and to thank him for his years of public service and positive influence on both the young and old of our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jan Kennady for a lifetime of dedicated public service.

Jan Kennady served on the New Braunfels City Council from 1993-1996, and as Mayor of New Braunfels from 1996-1999. Her energy and organizational skill were a tremendous boon to New Braunfels, and she was honored by the Texas State Legislature with a resolution expressing the State's appreciation.

She has also worked for years as a volunteer leader and organizer, and has been honored with multiple awards, including 1995 Citizen of the Year, the Chamber of Commerce President's Award, the Women of Distinction Award, and the 10 Outstanding Republican Women Award. In 1998, Governor Bush appointed her to a three-year term on the Texas Commission on Volunteer and Community Service. Her work on education, senior health, and other issues has earned her the thanks of a grateful community.

Jan Kennady is a model of initiative, commitment, and talent. She has made her city, her State, and her party stronger by her service. Today, she continues to serve her fellow Texans as Comal County Commissioner. I am honored to have this opportunity to recognize Jan Kennady, and to thank her for all she has done for those people whose lives she has touched.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to have had this opportunity to recognize the many achievements of Comal County Commissioner Jan Kennady.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the work of Guadalupe County Commissioner Roger Baenziger.

Roger Baenziger is one of Guadalupe County's most loyal and accomplished native sons. He was born and raised in Seguin, attended Seguin High School and received an accounting degree from Texas Lutheran University. He returned to the community to join his father's business, Model Market, which he helped his father run for the last 30 years.

As a lifelong small businessman, Roger is uniquely aware of the importance of small

business to the health of his community. He works to promote enterprise and innovation as a member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Farm Bureau, and continues to operate his own small ranch.

Roger is committed to using his position as Guadalupe County Commissioner to promote orderly growth and fiscal responsibility. As a public servant and a volunteer, he has given an enormous amount back to the community in which he was born and raised. I am proud to have this opportunity to honor his service, and to thank him for all he has done for the people of Guadalupe County.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to have had this opportunity to recognize the many achievements of Guadalupe County Commissioner Roger Baenziger.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the accomplishments of Commissioner Jack Dawson. Commissioner Dawson is a life-long resident of Texas and a pillar of the Comal County community.

From his first career as a computer programmer for Shell Oil to his current seat as a Comal County Commissioner, Jack Dawson has served his community with distinction.

Jack Dawson opened what is now Dawson Realty with his wife Bonnie, and he has also founded the local subdivisions first homeowners association.

Commissioner Dawson has spent his life in the service of the public. As the Board President of Canyon Lake Volunteer Fire Department, he helped to form new fire and emergency services districts for the community. He has consistently worked to improve the local communities of Comal County and the State of Texas.

Commissioner Jack Dawson has lived with his wife Bonnie Dawson in Comal County since 1976.

He is a man that understands community needs and the value of hard work.

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to recognize the accomplishments of Comal County Commissioner Jack Dawson.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Guadalupe County Commissioner Jim Wolverton for the important contributions he has made to his community.

Jim Wolverton is the son of a military family, and was born in Frankfurt, Germany. He moved to Texas at the age of two, and attended Samuel Clemens High School and San Antonio Junior College.

For nine years, Jim owned an electrical contracting business, and learned important lessons about leadership and organization. He has now put those lessons to work for the citizens of Guadalupe County, to great effect.

Under his supervision, Guadalupe County has passed legislation which greatly increased the amount of money available for health care for the indigent. He increased county services such as Fire, MES, and Libraries, and supervised the construction of a new, fourteen million dollar jail facility. He has worked with the municipalities in his district to establish quality, long-term business growth, and has worked with organizations outside the county government to ensure an adequate water supply for the residents of Guadalupe County. Jim Wolverton is an intelligent and committed public servant, and the citizens of Guadalupe County are better off as a result of his work.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have had this opportunity to honor the contributions of Guadalupe County Commissioner Jim Wolverton.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the accomplishments of Commissioner Gregory Parker. Commissioner Parker is not only the youngest Commissioner to win a seat in Comal County, he is also the first African American elected to this office.

Commissioner Parker is a military veteran who has served his country through hard work and commitment to his values.

Like many of us, Commissioner Parker had to work his way to the top. He spent 13 years working in the technology sector, eventually earning the title of Director of Software Development at Austin Data Systems.

Commissioner Parker founded Gregory Parker Consulting in 1999, where he serves as Senior Partner and Senior Policy Analyst. It was here that Commissioner Parker distinguished himself with his commitment to the issues important to Comal County and to the State of Texas. He is a man who believes that through dedicated community research, and traditional American values, we can provide the quality of policy that our citizens deserve.

Commissioner Gregory Parker, who resides in New Braunfels, is also the hard working single father of Jean Luc Parker.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have this opportunity to honor the past and future accomplishments of Commissioner Gregory Parker.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the dedicated public service of Comal County Judge Danny Scheel.

Judge Danny Scheel is an essential part of Comal County. He is a fifth-generation resident of the county, and has spent a distinguished career in the public sector, holding the positions of Comal County Constable and Comal County Commissioner.

He has also been active as an advocate for his community on the State level. He is a member of the Alamo Area Council of Governments, represents Comal County on the Texas Association of Regional Councils Service Board and Employee Health Benefits Board, and he is Co-Chairman of the Central Texas County Judges' Mobility Alliance.

He has been responsible for major improvements in Comal County's emergency management program. In response to the flood of 1998, he hired an Emergency Management Coordinator and established emergency procedures that helped the county cope with the flood of 2002.

Danny Scheel has been recognized as New Braunfels Citizen of the Year, A Friend of the 4-H, and was selected to interview with the Today Show during the 2002 floods.

Mr. Speaker, he has set a wonderful example of commitment to public service, and I am proud to have this opportunity to thank him.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Guadalupe County Commissioner Cesareo Guadarrama for his outstanding service to his community.

Commissioner Guadarrama is a native of Seguin, Texas. He is the owner of G3 Plumbing, and his experience in small business has given him the skill in leadership and organization that he uses on behalf of his district today.

Guadalupe County Commissioner Cesareo Guadarrama has a long history of civic volunteer activity. He has worked especially hard to help the youth and children of Seguin. He has been a part of many volunteer organizations, including Seguin Youth Services, the Guadalupe County Juvenile Citizens Advisory Council, and the Seguin Noon Lions Club. He served as Director of the Seguin Toys for Tots program, and was a member of the Seguin Independent School District Board of Trustees when it was recognized as the Outstanding School Board in the state of Texas, in 1990.

Cesareo Guadarrama's work has helped to create a brighter future for the youth of Seguin, and for all of the citizens of Guadalupe County. I applaud him for his spirit of service, and thank him for all he has done for his fellow Texans.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have had this opportunity to recognize the achievements of Guadalupe County Commissioner Cesareo Guadarrama.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the important achievements of United Independent School District Board Member Pat Campos in Laredo, TX in my Congressional District.

Pat Campos was elected to the United I.S.D. Board of Trustees, District 3 seat in May 2003. Campos is the Case Management Director at the Webb County Juvenile Department. She has worked with children and young adults for nearly 25 years.

Campos says her main reason for running for the U.I.S.D. Board of Trustees is to ensure safety in our schools. ``As a member of the law enforcement community specializing in juvenile law, I deal on a daily basis with the troubled youth of our community, many of whom come from U.I.S.D. It is time to seriously address violence in our schools,'' says Campos.

Campos says she hopes to ensure that all students receive the best quality education to prepare them for the future. She says this can only happen when schools are fully staffed with well-qualified and motivated teachers, ``I am working to see that teachers and staff have the facilities, supplies, and administrative support necessary to do their job.''

Campos says she will use her numerous years of juvenile justice expertise to ``promote an environment that is free of drugs, violence, and gang activity in our schools.'' She adds, ``I do not want today's youth to become my clients tomorrow.''

In 1982, Campos was named Detention Officer of the Year and in 1990, the Webb County Juvenile Board honored her with a resolution for introducing the first ``Operation Kick-It'' program to schools in United and Laredo Independent School Districts.

Pat Campos is a member of the Texas Gang Investigators Association, Texas Probation Association, Juvenile Justice Association of Texas, Texas Corrections Association, National Association of Female Executives, and the American Association of University Women, Community Action Agency Board, National Association of Latino Elected Officials, and Webb County Appraisal District Board of Directors, one of two representatives from U.I.S.D. Campos also serves on the school district's Student Expulsion Appeals Committee and is chairperson of the U.I.S.D. Instructional Committee.

Her community service activities include serving as a member of the U.I.S.D. Blue Ribbon Committee, a member of the U.I.S.D. Communications Advisory Committee, a member of the Laredo Safe School Coalition and a member of the Laredo Job Corps Advisory Board.

In years past, Campos has served as a Daisy Girl Scout Leader, Brownie Girl Scout Assistant Leader, and Youth Minister. She has also performed missionary work in Mexico and has served as a Board Member of the Diocese of Laredo Catholic Social Services.

Campos has a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Laredo State University and a Paralegal Certificate from Texas A & M International University.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have this opportunity to recognize contributions of United Independent School District Board Member Pat Campos.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the important contributions of United Independent School District Board Member Ricardo Molina in Laredo, TX, in my Congressional District.

Ricardo Molina is a Laredo native and Parliamentarian of the United I.S.D. Board of Trustees. He believes serving on the Board involves keeping in mind the interests of the people in the community. ``You have to look out for the taxpayers, students, and the people you serve.'' Molina's district is composed of the communities of Rio Bravo and El Cenizo.

Molina identifies with students of modest means who struggle for success. In his younger days, Molina was a member of his high school's chapter of the Distributive Education Club of America. ``I know what hard work is. To succeed you have to make the best of your situation.'' Throughout his life Molina has worked in a variety of jobs. He has labored in oil fields, machine shops, and as a field hand picking cotton. Molina is the Director of the Rio Bravo and El Cenizo Community Centers.

As a Trustee, Molina helped initiate the district's dropout recovery program. The program allows students who have left school to pursue a General Equivalency Diploma. Molina also knows the importance of providing educational opportunities for adults. He worked for the establishment of GED and adult education programs in his community.

Molina says he joined the Board because he wanted to do something for the community. ``We on the Board are like a family. We look out for the best opportunities for kids.'' Molina says United ISD has seen numerous changes in the last few years. ``We've seen better curriculum, an improvement in our bilingual education program, and lower dropout and teen pregnancy rates.'' Molina says the schools in his area are good facilities that are well built. ``We've been able to add new wings and cafeterias to our many schools.'' He adds, ``UISD is doing a great job of educating our children.'' He is particularly proud of the many accomplishments made by the schools in the south, especially all the great things happening at United South Magnet School. Molina says, ``I will continue to work for the children and taxpayers of United ISD. Nothing is too good for the kids. I wish I could do more.''

Molina, working with other board members, has been able to implement many positive changes for the benefit of children, parents, and taxpayers. These changes include increased security at elementary campuses and fighting the increase of gang involvement at schools. Gang Intervention Facilitators have been placed in high schools and their respective feeder campuses. Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselors have been hired to fight drug use by students. Zero tolerance policies and the establishment of k-9 patrols help keep schools drug free.

In addition, one-third of the UISD school bus fleet has been replaced with new school busses. Two-thirds of the school bus fleet has been retrofitted with air conditioning. The second phase of construction has been started at L.B. Johnson High School. There will be additions to Alexander and United South High Schools. A replacement building for United High School will be built and a new middle school will be constructed to relieve overcrowding at Los Obispos Middle School.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have this opportunity to recognize United Independent School District Board Member Ricardo Molina.

Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize all the efforts the San Marcos Mayor Susan Narvaiz has made to her community. Since she moved to San Marcos in 1995 she has worked for the strengthening of the community in a countless number of ways.

Susan Narvaiz has been very involved in the advancement of the workforce in San Marcos starting with her first major accomplishment to the community through her business Core Strategies, Inc. which provides employment and training to the people along Interstate 35. In 2000 she launched a similar business Sedona Staffing Industrial Development Center which offers free-of-charge training to citizens so they can find work. Both of these services helped a countless number of people receive the necessary training to successfully compete in the modern work force.

Mayor Narvaiz's presence extends for beyond the employment issues she has tackled; she is also an active participant in such organizations as the American Cancer Society and United Way of Hays County. It is also not out of the ordinary to find her supporting the San Marcos High School Basketball and Baseball Boosters Club at a high school function.

There is one role that San Marcos Mayor Susan Narvaiz plays in the community that trumps everything; she is married to Mr. Mike Narvaiz and the mother to six beautiful children. For all the ways she serves San Marcos, I would like to thank Mayor Narvaiz for committing her time and energy to the better of San Marcos.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the important contribution of United Independent School District Board Member Francisco Gonzalez in Laredo, TX in my Congressional District.

Francisco ``Pancho'' Gonzalez works for Webb County as the Center Director for the Larga Vista Community Center. Besides overseeing the center's operations, a large part of Gonzalez's job consists of meeting with the people in the community he serves and helping them solve a variety of problems. Gonzalez regularly intervenes on behalf of families having difficulties paying their utility bills, or buying food for their families. He is a man who goes out of his way to help others.

Gonzalez says, being on the United ISD Board gives him the chance to help the district move in a positive direction. Gonzalez likens the Board to an eight member team that must work together to realize its full potential. He also realizes that not all ideas come from the top. Gonzalez likes to listen to people's concerns and ideas. ``I'm open minded to suggestions. I don't mind giving credit where credit is due.''

Gonzalez, a Laredo native, earned a Bachelor in Business Administration degree from Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas. Despite his early business training, Gonzalez says he has always been attracted to social work. ``I'm going on 20 years in the social services field,'' Gonzalez said.

He has worked for the Housing Authority of Laredo as a Drug Elimination Program coordinator. In that position, he organized drug prevention workshops and anti-drug activities for housing development residents. He has helped prisoners get their G.E.D.s when he worked with Laredo Junior College while stationed at the Corrections Corporation of America. As an employee with the Laredo-Webb County Health Department, he counseled people and referred them to agencies that could help them with their transportation and medical needs. Gonzalez has worked for the Texas Department of Human Resources, and the Texas Employment Commission. He has also spent time in the private sector, purchasing materials and parts for his father's auto painting business.

He says he enjoys doing community service work. ``If it's for a good cause, I'll do it.'' He was a previous board member with the Gateway Community Health Center where he served as president of the finance committee. He serves as a board member for the Salvation Army and is a court appointed special advocate-CASA. He has also donated time to Cancer Patient Services, United I.S.D.'s anti-drug program, and the Bringing Everyone Special Together organization. Gonzalez says one of the best ways to put his knowledge to good use is to help others in need. ``One of my goals is to continue helping people. When I get tired, I seek guidance from the Lord.''

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have this opportunity to recognize the contributions of United Independent School District Board Member Francisco Gonzalez.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the important contribution of United Independent School District Board Member William (Bill) Johnson of my Congressional District.

The experience of being on a school board has taught Bill Johnson several things. ``Everyone runs with the idea that `I' can make a difference. But if you're only one vote out of seven it's not going to work. Being on the board has to be a team effort.'' Johnson says each board member brings a different view of education. ``A successful board can harness its members and get them to pull in one direction.''

Johnson has always been interested in education. He has taught banking and finance courses at the Laredo Community College and, for the last 10 years, he has taught business through Junior Achievement at United High School. ``I like being around educators and kids,'' Johnson said. In addition, he has served as a little league coach since 1981. ``It's a tough job, but I enjoy it.''

Johnson, a native of Laredo, has a wife and three children. He graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor's degree in political science. He is a first vice-president at Laredo National Bank.

Overall, Johnson says his experience on the board has been positive. ``It's been a good opportunity. You have to work with a lot of different people but it has taught me a lot.'' One of the lessons Johnson has learned is that being on the board takes a lot of preparation. With the thousands of pages of memos and reports that need to be looked at, Johnson says the board has to make time to study. ``When I first joined the board I figured all I had to do was go to about 24 meetings a year.'' In his first year Johnson had to attend 172 meetings.

``You quickly learn that you need at least four votes to get anything done.'' According to Johnson, the current United ISD school board may not always agree on everything, but they know how to work well together. The district has several Exemplary and Recognized campuses, whereas before there were none. The district also earned praise from former comptroller John Sharp for saving taxpayers millions of dollars.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have this opportunity to recognize the dedication of United Independent School District Board Member William Johnson.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the important achievements of Judith G. Gutierrez in Laredo, TX in my Congressional District.

Judith G. Gutierrez (Pct.2) was elected in 1986, she held the office for two consecutive terms. Re-elected in 1999 and again in 2002, she will begin her fourth term of office in January 2003. Throughout her tenure, Gutierrez has taken a hands-on approach to colonia issues.

Former Attorney General Dan Morales appointed Commissioner Gutierrez to the state's Colonia Task Force. Former Governor Ann Richards selected Gutierrez to chair the Regional Review Committee for scoring federally funded projects such as Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and colonia set-aside funds. She served in this capacity for four years.

Commissioner Gutierrez worked with State legislators in 1989 to pass Senate Bill 2, which created the first colonia legislation, implementing rules to limit unscrupulous development. Senate Bill 2 also authorized the mechanism needed to provide funding for water and sewer improvements. To ensure regulatory enforcement at the local level, she created the Webb County's first Planning Department. This department has been recognized by the Texas Attorney General's office under Generals Morales and Cornyn as the model for colonia regulation and enforcement.

Total grant funds for projects initiated in Webb County during Gutierrez' term in office exceeds $100 million. Since 1992, Commissioner Gutierrez has secured more than $25 million in colonia improvement funds for her precinct alone. Projects have ranged from infrastructure--water, storm drainage, and community centers to educational and health initiatives.

In 1994, Commissioner Gutierrez was Governor Ann Richards' appointee to the South Texas Regional Prosperity Plan and also served on the Environmental Transition Team organized to consolidate the Texas Air Quality Control Board, the Water Commission and selected divisions of the Texas Health Department. In 2003 Governor Rick Perry appointed Commissioner Judith Gutierrez to the South Texas Regional Review Committee.

She is a past President of the South Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association and currently serves as trustee for the Texas Association of Counties Health and Employees Benefits Pool. She has the distinction of being the only commissioner from Webb County to have ever served on the Intergovernmental Relations Steering Committee for the National Association of Counties, based in Washington, D.C.

She is the Secretary for the Texas Council Board of Directors and serves on the board of the Texas Council of Community Mental Health Retardation Centers, Inc. (MHMR). She chairs the County's Villa Antigua Committee, a historical preservation project, as well as the Committee to create the new Webb County Morgue. She was appointed by Judge Mercurio Martinez to serve on the Purchasing Board and to chair an Art Committee for the New Administration Building. She has also been elected in the year 2002 to be President of the Webb County HFC. Commissioner Gutierrez also serves on the Board of Texas Association of Counties 2003 and on the Texas Association of Counties Health and Employee Benefits Pool since 2001. She was recognized as one of the 2003 Tiger Legends for Martin High School. She was recently asked to join the Mercy Health Center Advisory Board for 2003 as well as the Border Area Nutrition Council.

Judith G. Gutierrez was born in Laredo, Texas to Sabino and Olga Garza. She attended Laredo schools and holds an Associate of Arts degree from Laredo Junior College. A successful businesswoman, for more than a decade Gutierrez owned and operated La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant. Commissioner Gutierrez has her Real Estate license and is in the process of securing a Real Estate Brokers license. She is the mother of four and has two grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have this opportunity to recognize Webb County Commissioner Judith Gutierrez.