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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The Honorable Lena Guerrero of Austin passed away on |
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April 24, 2008, at the age of 50, bringing to a close a full and |
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accomplished life; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in 1957 to Adela and Alvaro Guerrero, Lena |
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Guerrero grew up in Mission, the fifth of nine children; she went on |
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to attend The University of Texas at Austin, where she became active |
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in the Democratic Party and where, in 1979, she became the first |
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woman and the first Hispanic elected president of the Texas Young |
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Democrats; and |
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WHEREAS, Some five years later, at the age of 25, Ms. Guerrero |
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won election to the Texas House of Representatives, becoming only |
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the second Hispanic woman to ever hold office as a state legislator; |
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voters subsequently returned her to office three more times, and |
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during nearly a decade of service, she made her mark as a champion |
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for migrant farmworkers, teenage pregnancy prevention, and a |
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variety of environmental and social justice issues; named one of |
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the 10 best legislators of 1989 by Texas Monthly magazine, she |
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further distinguished herself as vice chair of the House Committee |
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on State Affairs and the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission; and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. Guerrero was equally accomplished in her |
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professional life, serving as executive director of the Texas |
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Women's Political Caucus and as co-owner of an Austin advertising |
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and consulting firm, Bravo Communications; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1991, she was appointed to the Railroad |
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Commission by Governor Ann Richards, breaking yet another barrier |
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as a Hispanic woman; she was a leading supporter of tax incentives |
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for independent oil and gas producers and an early advocate for |
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alternative fuels, and she played a key role in revamping |
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regulation of the industry; and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. Guerrero was among the brightest and hardest |
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working public officials in Texas; she graduated from UT-Austin in |
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1993, demonstrating that our mistakes are often the gateway to |
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growth and success in other arenas; and |
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WHEREAS, This beloved woman fought brain cancer with grace, |
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dignity, and her trademark humor, along with the help of her |
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husband, Leo Aguirre, their son, "Little" Leo Aguirre, other family |
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members, and countless friends; although her life ended far too |
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soon, she will long be remembered with great affection and |
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admiration by all those who were privileged to know her; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby honor the life and legacy of Lena Guerrero as a dedicated and |
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inspiring public servant, a loving wife, a caring mother, a trusted |
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friend, and a true pioneering daughter of the State of Texas. |