MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON REDISTRICTING
Saturday, July 8, 2000
9:00 a.m.
Weslaco, Texas-Best Western Palm Aire
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Redistricting
was held on Saturday, July 8, 2000, in Weslaco, Texas at the
Best Western Palm Aire.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Troy Fraser Senator Robert Duncan
Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr. Senator Mike Jackson
Senator Gonzalo Barrientos Senator Jane Nelson
Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.
Senator Frank Madla
Senator Steve Ogden
Senator Florence Shapiro
Senator Royce West
*****
Co-chair Gallegos called the meeting to order at 9:25 a.m.
There being a quorum present, the following business was
transacted:
Co-Chair Gallegos and Chairman Jones gave opening remarks
thanking the Valley for hosting the Redistricting Committees.
Senator Eddie Lucio welcomed the committee to Weslaco.
The following people testified before the Redistricting
committee:
Alaniz, David Perez (Mayor of La Villa), La Villa
Besteiro Jr., Raul A. (self), Brownsville
Borchard, Richard (Nueces County Judge), Corpus Christi
Braught, Gene (Mayor of Weslaco), Weslaco
Caceres, Cain (self), Elsa
Calvillo, Simon D. (self), Mercedes
Castillo Jr., Miguel (Mayor of the City of Mercedes), Mercedes
Cuellar, Rep. Henry (District 42), Laredo
Ellis, Gary (Ivan Welker, Acting City Manager for the City of
Brownsville), Brownsville
Esquivel Jr., Filemon (City of Kingsville, TX- Mayor),
Kingsville
Flores, Ismael "Kino" (District 36), Mission
Fogarty, Patricia C. (self), McAllen
Gonzalez, Cristina (Senator Judith Zaffirini), Austin
Gonzalez, Oscar O. (Jim Hogg County Commissioner),
Hebbronville
Gutierrez, Rep. Roberto (District 41), McAllen
Hebert, J. Gerald (IMPAC 2000), Washington D.C.
Hinojosa, Ruben (U.S. Congress-Texas District 15), Mercedes
Madrigal, Gregorio M. (Mayor of City of Elsa), Elsa
Martinez, Mercurio (County Judge for Webb County), Laredo
Mendoza, Robert S. (Cameron County Election Administration),
Brownsville
Messbarger, Dick (Greater Kingsville Economic Development
Council), Kingsville
Molina, Judge Agapito (County Judge for Jim Hogg County),
Hebbronville
Porter, Gordon (County Commissioner, San Patricio County),
Ingleside
Pulido, Jose Eloy (Hidalgo County Judge), Edinburg
Saldana, Rodolfo (Mayor of the City of Lyford), Lyford
Salinas, Simon (Willacy County Judge), Raymondville
Selman, Samuel Keith (City of Laredo), Laredo
Wise, Rep. Miguel (District 39), Weslaco
Yowell, Joel (Texas Republican County Chairmans Association),
Corpus Christi
The following people registered but did not testify:
Burleson, Dennis (Mission Economic Development Authority),
Mission
Dorsey, Carolyn (State Representative Gene Seaman),
Corpus
Christi
Ramirez, Sylvia (Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz),
Corpus Christi
Summers, Bill (Rio Grande Valley Partnership),
Weslaco
Tamez, Israel (self), Raymondville
The following people submitted written materials:
Brisack, Chris A. (self), Edinburg
Rutledge Jr., Hollis V. (Texas Republican County Chair
Association), Mission
Salazar, Ezequiel (self), Elsa
Silva, Ramiro (City of Edcouch), Edcouch
Valles-Pankratz, Sheila (Hidalgo County Republican Party
Deputy Chair), Mission
During the meeting Senator Shapiro asked a question of the Chair
as to what the committee could do to get the Census to pay
specific attention to the undercount in certain areas, such as
the Valley. The Co-Chairs advised her that a letter could be
written to the Lieutenant Governor, the Governor and the
President. She suggested that the committee do so, and the
Co-Chairs asked counsel to consider it for the next meeting.
Senator Barrientos made a parliamentary inquiry as to whether a
motion could be made that would allow the committee to take a
vote to recommend to Congress and the President that sampling be
used. The Co-Chairs asked counsel to consider this also for the
next meeting.
Senator West asked that the committee have someone from the
Census Bureau come to the next meeting in Lubbock so that they
can update the committee as to the status of the Census.
Finally Senator Lucio made a parliamentary inquiry asking if at
the next meeting the Co-Chairs could have staff find out how the
monies sent to Texas for the Census have been spent. The
Co-Chairs asked the committee staff to prepare a list for the
next meeting.
There being no further business, at 1:36 p.m. Senator Gallegos,
Jr. moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call
of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
______________________
Senator Troy Fraser, Co-Chair
______________________
Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr., Co-Chair
______________________
Tara Cowen Rejino, Clerk