Vicente Gonzalez (politician)

Vicente Gonzalez
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 15th district
Assumed office
January 3, 2017
Preceded by Rubén Hinojosa
Personal details
Born (1967-09-04) September 4, 1967
Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Lorena Saenz
Education Del Mar College
Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University (BA)
Texas Wesleyan University (JD)
Website House Website

Vicente Gonzalez (/vɪˈsɛnteɪ/; born September 4, 1967) is an American attorney and politician who is the United States Representative of Texas's 15th congressional district. He won the 2016 general election and took office on January 3, 2017.

Early life

Gonzalez was born in Corpus Christi in 1967.[1] Gonzalez grew up in a working class family, often working odd jobs and displaying entrepreneurial skills at a young age. He went to Roman Catholic School in Corpus Christi, Texas, for part of his young life and eventually dropped out of high school during his junior year. He went onto obtain a G.E.D. and returned to school by enrolling at Del Mar Junior College where he received an Associate’s Degree in Banking and Finance.[2][3]

He then received, in 1992, his Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Business Administration from the Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University on the Corpus Christi Naval Air Station. After high school and throughout college, Congressman Gonzalez traveled to almost 100 countries around the world.

In 1996, he then graduated from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law (now known as Texas A&M University School of Law,) where he obtained his Juris Doctor. While a law student, he interned for the United States Congress. González trained in Negotiation at Harvard Law School. He founded his law firm, V. Gonzalez & Associates, in 1997. He is a member of the bar associations of Texas and New York.[4]

As an attorney, Gonzalez recovered millions of dollars for businesses, homeowners and public schools throughout the country. Prior to his election to the U.S. House of Representatives, Gonzalez was a successful plaintiffs attorney in Texas and New York. He is eligible to practice law in Texas, New York and before the U.S. Supreme Court.

U.S. House of Representatives

2016 campaign

González declared his candidacy for the 2016 elections for the United States House of Representatives in Texas's 15th congressional district after Rubén Hinojosa, the incumbent representative, announced he would not run for reelection.[5] He won the Democratic Party nomination, defeating Sonny Palacios in the runoff election.[6][7][8] He defeated Republican Tim Westley in the November general election, winning 57.3% of the vote to Westley's 37.7%.[9]

Tenure

Rep. González was sworn in January 3, 2017.[10] At the start of his career in Congress, he was appointed to the House Financial Services Committee[11] the Blue Dog Coalition,[12] and the Problem Solvers Caucus.[13] In June 2017, Congressman Gonzalez announced the formation of the Congressional Oil & Gas Caucus[14] and will be serving as its chair. On November 5, 2017, the day of the Sutherland Springs church shooting, González twice incorrectly named the shooter as "Sam Hyde", a comedian who is often jokingly referred to as the perpetrator on social media. González said that he had been given that name by officials. [15] During his first six months in office, Congressman Gonzalez brought Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi to the Rio Grande Valley. He was also the first Texas Democrat and first Latino in Congress to be invited by President Donald Trump to a private dinner at the White House.[16]

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Personal life

González's wife, Lorena, is a former teacher and school administrator from McAllen, TX. His father was a merchant marine who served in the Korean War.[19]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Guide to the New Congress" (PDF). Roll Call. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Official Congressional Website".
  3. ↑ O'Reilly, Andrew (April 19, 2016). "Texas lawyer Vicente Gonzalez hopes outsider tag takes him to Capitol Hill". Fox News Latino. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Local Attorney and Small Business Owner Seeks to Build Upon the Legacy of Retiring Representative Rubén Hinojosa – My Harlingen News". Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  5. ↑ Politics, Edinburg (November 23, 2015). "Democrat Vicente González announces for Congress to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Hinojosa". Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  6. ↑ News, CBS 4. "Democratic Party Runoff: Vicente Gonzalez crushes Sonny Palacios in congressional race". Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Gonzalez cruises to easy victory in the Democratic primary for open congressional seat; faces GOP opponent in the fall". Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  8. ↑ LOPEZ, NAXIELY. "Gonzalez takes Dem nomination for Congressional District 15". Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Texas Election Results". New York Times. November 9, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
  10. ↑ Lopez, Naxiely (January 3, 2017). "Newcomer Vicente Gonzalez to be sworn into congress: Pressing issues await the new District 15 representative". The Monitor.
  11. ↑ https://democrats-financialservices.house.gov/about/committee-membership.htm
  12. ↑ "Members". Blue Dog Coalition. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  13. ↑ https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-vicente-gonzalez-invited-join-problem-solvers-caucus
  14. ↑ https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-gonzalez-starts-oil-gas-caucus-house-representatives
  15. ↑ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5052625/Vicente-Gonzalez-Texas-shooter-4chan-hoax-meme-Sam-Hyde.html. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  16. ↑ "President Trump Invites Congressman Gonzalez to White House". Congressman Vicente Gonzalez. 2017-06-14. Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  17. ↑ Garcia, Berenice (January 11, 2017). "Gonzalez appointed to powerful House committee: Freshman congressman secures assignment to House Financial Services Committee". The Monitor. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  18. ↑ "Members". Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  19. ↑ Taylor, Steve (November 22, 2015). "Gonzalez explains why he is running for Congressional District 15". Retrieved November 6, 2016.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Rubén Hinojosa		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 15th congressional district
2017–present		 Incumbent
Current U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Thomas Garrett Jr.
R-Virginia		 United States Representatives by seniority
391st		 Succeeded by
Josh Gottheimer
D-New Jersey
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