From Street Smarts to Office Smarts
Linda Chavez-Thompson may become the first female Lieutenant Governor of Texas if she wins the 2010 elections. Self-educated and fiercely outspoken, she has become the spokesperson for labor workers around the state.
Born and raised in Lorenzo, Texas as a second generation Mexican-American, she hoed and picked cotton at the age of ten until she was 19-years-old. Being one of ten children, she had to drop out of high school as a freshman to help support her family.
However, that did not stop her from teaching herself to read and write Spanish as well as learn public speaking skills. "I always yearned and literally craved an education. It was always something I wanted to do but was never able to do," says the politician.
Education and reforms to the current education system are the main platforms she pushes for. "The educational system is not what it should be. We are not dedicating the kind of monies that we need to change our children's education."
If elected, she plans to ensure that the money will not be cut from the education system because of the budget deficit. "They are planning to cut 3 to 5 percent, and that should be going into the education system, not taken out."
Unlike her opponent David Dewhurst, whose main focus is health care, Chavez-Thompson did not attend college. However, she began working at a labor union and discovered her love for helping others in public sector organizing.
From there, she became the first Hispanic woman to be elected Executive Vice-President of the National American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations. After that, she was elected to serve as Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee and in 1997 was appointed to President Bill Clinton’s Race Advisory Board.
When asked if she thought her lack of a college degree seemed a positive or negative for her voters, she replied, "A positive. I may not have a Bachelor of Science, but I do have a good BS degree. I have street smarts and I have been called every name in the book, but I never folded...Not for something I believed in. I've learned from people and I have felt what they felt."
With the possibility of becoming the first woman to hold the office of Texas Lieutenant Governor, Chavez-Thompson claims that being a woman has nothing to do with the kind of person you are. "I made it a point to men to never talk down to me as a woman. I had to develop a thicker skin, and yes there were difficult years but the only one that can tear those barriers down is you. In the end, all that matters is people's ability to connect with other people."
She has come from a humble background and managed to achieve goals that people with multiple Bachelor degrees never have. When asked how she feels about being considered a great leader, she says, "I have seen the humiliation others have suffered and worked the same labor fields. If I can prevent just one person from suffering the same humiliation and people consider that great leadership, then so be it."
A Town Named Progress in Regress
Ever since soldiers of the Mexican army were stationed at the border bridge of Nuevo Progreso, Tamaulipas, Mexico two years ago, there have been countless rumors and speculation as to why this peaceful tourist town is under heavy observance by the Mexican government. American tourists do not know what to make of these soldiers. Are they here to protect or to endanger? Will they protect American citizens or just the town natives? Is there a reason to be afraid to enter this border town? Are they involved with the infamous Mexican drug cartels? With so many unanswered questions, only one thing remains certain: The economy of this once thriving tourist town has plummeted drastically with the arrival of these soldiers.
Proposal
Growing up on the Mexican-American border, life was always peaceful and colorful. My parents as well as many other family members own businesses in this tourist town. However, lately this place looks more like a ghost town. Due to the increasing number of dangerous drug cartels, as well as the new law that requires passports, this busy tourist town is anything but. My parents and family have all been severely affected by this change. I want my story to be about how drug cartels have affected the economy on the Mexican-American border. This is important because people hear all kinds of stories about the dangers in these towns, but none have actually experienced it first hand like I have. People should know how drug cartels are affecting borders and people, no matter their nationality. I plan to add videos and photos of current shootings caught on tape as well as before and after photos of the population in this town. To start researching I will probably interview my parents and family and look up articles or videos on the incidents occurring here. Two open-ended questions would be, “How have these drug cartels affected your businesses?” and “Tell me about an encounter you had with one of these drug cartels personally?”
Veronica Lourdes "Music Luna-tic"
"Can't talk! I'm driving to Austin for a show, I'll contact you soon!"
Going, going, gone Greek
Believe in Change
"These struggles are the reason I ran for president..."
It comes as no surprise that President Barack Obama is a great orator. More important than that, however, were the contents of his State of the Union speech on January 27, 2010.



