Charlie Gonzalez
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Charlie Gonzalez | |
 |
|
|
|
|
| In office 1999–present |
|
| Preceded by | Henry Gonzalez |
|---|---|
|
|
|
| Born | May 5, 1945 San Antonio, Texas |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Belinda Gonzalez |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Charles A. "Charlie" Gonzalez (born May 5, 1945), is a Democratic politician from Texas. He has represented Texas's 20th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1999. The district includes more than half of San Antonio.
Gonzalez was born in San Antonio, Texas. His father, Henry B. Gonzalez, represented the 20th from 1961 until his son took over in 1999. Charlie graduated from Thomas A. Edison High School. He received his bachelor's degree in government from the University of Texas at Austin in 1969, and then later earned his Juris Doctor degree from St. Mary's University in San Antonio in 1972.
Gonzalez served as a technical sergeant in the Texas Air National Guard from 1969 until 1975. He then began practicing law until 1982 when he began rising through the ranks of the court system. He served first as a municipal court judge, then later as a judge in county and then district court, both of which are elected positions.
Henry Gonzalez had long groomed his son as his successor, so Charlie was well-positioned to run when his father didn't seek a 19th term in 1998. After dispatching former San Antonio city councilwoman Maria Berriozabal in the primary runoff in April 1998, he defeated his only major challenger in the general election, Republican James Walker, carrying 63% of the vote and became only the fourth person to represent the 20th District since its creation in 1935; in fact, Charlie's first race was the first open-seat race in the district's 64-year history. He was reelected with no major-party opposition in 2000 and 2006, unopposed in 2002, and with 63% of the vote in 2004.
Charlie Gonzalez is a member of the New Democrat Coalition.
Gonzalez sits on the Energy & Commerce Committee. He is also a member of the Small Business Committee, and the Committee on House Administration, a former member of the Select Committee on Homeland Security, and the Financial Services Committee. He is also a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
He is generally seen as less confrontational than his father, who once punched someone for calling him a communist. Between them, the father and son have served 46 consecutive years in Congress as of November, 2007; the only father and son combination to serve longer in the House has been the Dingells of Michigan, who have represented the state's 15th District for 72 consecutive years.
[edit] References
- U.S. Representative Charlie Gonzalez — Official Site
- Project Vote Smart — Representative Gonzalez
- Election Information — U.S. House Office of the Clerk
[edit] External links
- U.S. Representative Charles A. Gonzalez official House site
- Charlie Gonzalez at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Federal Election Commission — Charles A Gonzalez campaign finance reports and data
- On the Issues — Charlie Gonzalez issue positions and quotes
- OpenSecrets.org — Charlie A. Gonzalez campaign contributions
- Project Vote Smart — Representative Charles A. 'Charlie' Gonzalez (TX) profile
- Washington Post — Congress Votes Database: Charlie Gonzalez voting record
| Preceded by Henry Gonzalez |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 20th congressional district 1999–Present |
Succeeded by incumbent |
