Mario Gallegos Jr.

Mario Valentin Gallegos Jr. (September 8, 1950 – October 16, 2012)[1] was an American Democratic politician in the U.S. state of Texas. He was the senator from District 6 in the Texas Senate, which serves a portion of Harris County.

Mario Gallegos Jr.
Gallegos in 2012
Member of the Texas Senate
from the 6th district
In office
1995–2012
Preceded byDan Shelley
Succeeded bySylvia Garcia
Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from the 143rd district
In office
1991–1995
Preceded byAlbert Luna, III
Succeeded byGerard Torres
Personal details
Born
Mario Valentin Gallegos Jr.

(1950-09-08)September 8, 1950
DiedOctober 16, 2012(2012-10-16) (aged 62)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Resting placeForest Park Lawndale Cemetery
Houston, Texas
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceHouston, Texas
Alma materUniv. of Houston–Downtown
ProfessionFirefighter

Political career

Gallegos, who originated from the Magnolia Park community of Houston,[2] was a long-time firefighter with the Houston Fire Department[3] and retired as a Senior Captain after 22 years of service.[3] In 1990, he was elected to the 72nd Legislature in the Texas House of Representatives from District 143, where he served two terms, from 1991 to 1995.

In 1994, Representatives Gallegos and Yolanda Navarro Flores and former Representative Roman O. Martinez squared off in the Democratic primary for a recently redrawn Senate District 6. Martinez received a plurality of the votes and faced Gallegos in a runoff. Gallegos secured the endorsement of former opponent Flores and won, and with no other candidates for the Senate seat, Gallegos became the first Mexican American elected to that body from Harris County.

Gallegos faced no opposition in 1998 and was reelected to the Senate. In July 2001, Gallegos was named one of the worst legislators in Texas by Texas Monthly magazine in their biennial feature. The authors noted that Gallegos was "a retired firefighter who threw gasoline on every combustible issue," and noted his penchant for injecting race into seemingly innocuous legislation.[4]

Gallegos was unopposed in 2002. However, in 2004, Gallegos was again challenged by Yolanda Navarro Flores in the Democratic primary. Amidst two separate lawsuits challenging his residency within District 6 boundaries, and revelations (and another lawsuit) regarding a 17-year affair with former stripper Susan Delgado,[5] Gallegos won a close contest. In the 2004 general election, he faced Libertarian challenger Tony Deppenschmidt along with a write-in challenge from his former mistress, Delgado. Gallegos won handily with over 90% of the votes.

In July 2005, Gallegos was again named one of the worst legislators in Texas by Texas Monthly.[6] Nevertheless, Gallegos was sworn in as Governor for one day on May 5, 2007, in a Texas tradition honoring the Senate President Pro Tem.[7]

Personal life

Gallegos attended the University of Houston–Downtown (UHD) where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in social sciences in 2001.

On March 10, 2006, Gallegos released a statement acknowledging that he was in a one-month residential treatment program for his alcoholism.[8] On January 11, 2007, Gallegos announced that he was suffering from cirrhosis of the liver, and would require a liver transplant,[9] and on January 19, 2007, Gallegos received a liver transplant at the Texas Medical Center in Houston. His liver donor was 16-year-old Robby Joe Trevino Jr. of Fort Worth, Texas who died unexpectedly from cardiomyopathy. According to a statement from Gallegos prior to the surgery, he would miss about 18 days of the regular session of the 80th Legislature.[10]

Gallegos installed a hospital bed in the office of the sergeant-at-arms at the capitol building so that he could be nearby to prevent discussion of a bill requiring voter identification, against doctors' orders.[11]

In October 2012 Gallegos was hospitalized and later died.[12][13]

Electoral history

2004
Texas general election, 2004: Senate District 6[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Mario V. Gallegos Jr. 75,318 91.74 -8.24
Libertarian Tony Deppenschmidt 6,614 8.05 +8.05
Write-In Susan Delgado 160 0.19 +0.19
Majority 68,704 83.69 -16.31
Turnout 82,092 +51.65
Democratic hold
Democratic primary, 2004: Senate District 6[15]
Candidate Votes  % ±
✓ Mario V. Gallegos Jr. 6,484 53.92
Yolanda Navarro Flores 5,541 46.07
Turnout 12,025

2002
Texas general election, 2002: Senate District 6[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Mario V. Gallegos Jr. 54,130 100.00 0.00
Majority 54,130 100.00 +43.41
Turnout 54,130 +43.41
Democratic hold

1998
Texas general election, 1998: Senate District 6[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Mario V. Gallegos Jr. 37,746 100.00 0.00
Majority 37,746 100.00 -2.59
Turnout 37,746 -2.59
Democratic hold

1994
Texas general election, 1994: Senate District 6[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Mario V. Gallegos Jr. 38,749 100.00 +57.52
Majority 38,749 100.00 +69.20
Turnout 38,749 -74.55
Democratic gain from Republican
Democratic primary runoff, 1994: Senate District 6[19]
Candidate Votes  % ±
✓ Mario V. Gallegos Jr. 9,613 57.19
Roman O. Martinez 7,193 42.80
Turnout 16,806
Democratic primary, 1994: Senate District 6[20]
Candidate Votes  % ±
✓ Roman O. Martinez 9,026 37.91
✓ Mario V. Gallegos Jr. 5,990 25.15
Yolanda Navarro Flores 4,936 20.73
David Thomas McCullough 3,857 16.19
Turnout 23,809

1992
Texas general election, 1992: House District 143[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Mario V. Gallegos Jr. 15,939 100.00
Majority 15,939 100.00
Turnout 15,939
Democratic hold
Democratic primary, 1992: House District 143[22]
Candidate Votes  % ±
✓ Mario V. Gallegos Jr. 4,732 59.75
Don Jones 1,874 23.66
R.J. 'Reggie' Gonzales 1,313 16.58
Turnout 7,919

See also

References
  1. Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) (September 13, 2002). "State Senate Candidates for 2002 General Election". Archived from the original on February 13, 2008. Retrieved December 26, 2006.
  2. Hewitt, Paige. "Celebrating 100 years at Magnolia Park." Houston Chronicle. October 18, 2009. Retrieved July 24, 2010.
  3. Senator Mario Gallegos Jr.: District 6 Archived July 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Official State Senate Website
  4. Burka, Paul; Patricia Kilday Hart (July 2001). "The Best and Worst Legislators" (subscription required). Texas Monthly. Retrieved March 12, 2006.
  5. Williams, John (February 6, 2004). "Woman's lawsuit accuses Gallegos of emotional abuse". Houston Chronicle. p. A28. Retrieved March 12, 2006.
  6. Burka, Paul; Patricia Kilday Hart (July 2005). "The Best and Worst Legislators of 2005" (subscription required). Texas Monthly. Retrieved March 12, 2006.
  7. The Texas State Senate: District 6
  8. RodrIguez, Lori; Don Mason (March 11, 2006). "Gallegos receiving alcoholism treatment". Houston Chronicle. p. B1. Retrieved December 26, 2006.
  9. Mack, Kristen (January 12, 2007). "Gallegos tells Senate he needs new liver". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 16, 2007.
  10. Mack, Kristen (January 22, 2007). "Gallegos recovering after liver transplant surgery". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 22, 2007.
  11. "Monkey and other business". The Economist. May 31, 2007. Retrieved July 30, 2007.
  12. Connelly, Richard. "State Senator Mario Gallegos Hospitalized In "Grave Condition"." Houston Press. Friday October 12, 2012. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  13. Holley, Joe. "Mario Gallegos, Senate champion for Hispanics, dies at 62." Houston Chronicle. Tuesday October 16, 2012. Retrieved on October 18, 2012.
  14. "2004 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2006.
  15. "2004 Democratic Party Primary Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2006.
  16. "2002 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2006.
  17. "1998 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2006.
  18. "1994 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2006.
  19. "1994 Democratic Party Primary Runoff Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2006.
  20. "1994 Democratic Party Primary Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2006.
  21. "1992 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2006.
  22. "1992 Democratic Party Primary Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2006.
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