Naomi Gonzalez
Naomi Gonzalez (b. June 19, 1964) is a former Democratic member of the Texas House of Representatives, representing District 76 from 2012 to 2015.
Biography
Gonzalez graduated from Jefferson High School in El Paso, before going to Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio and law school at St. Mary's University, Texas. On graduating law school, she worked at El Paso law firms before joining the El Paso County Attorney's office in 2007 as an Assistant County Attorney.[1]
Committee assignments
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Gonzalez served on the following committees:
| Texas committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • General Investigating & Ethics |
| • Human Services, Vice chair |
| • Ways & Means |
| • Transparency in State Agency Operations (Select) |
2011-2012
During the 2011-2012 legislative session, Gonzalez served on the following Texas House of Representatives committees:
| Texas committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Human Services |
| • Rules & Resolutions |
| • Ways & Means |
Elections
2014
Elections for all 150 seats in the Texas House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on March 4, 2014. Those candidates who did not receive 50 percent or more of the vote in their party primary on March 4 faced an additional May 27 primary runoff. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was December 9, 2013. Incumbent Naomi Gonzalez was defeated by Norma Chavez and Cesar Blanco in the Democratic primary. Blanco defeated Chavez in the May 27 Democratic runoff. Blanco defeated J. Alexandro Lozano (L) in the general election.[2][3][4][5]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic |  Cesar Blanco |
87.1% | 11,923 | |
| Libertarian | J. Alexandro Lozano | 12.9% | 1,767 | |
| Total Votes | 13,690 | |||
2012
Gonzalez ran in the 2012 election for Texas House of Representatives, District 76. Gonzalez ran unopposed in the May 29 primary election. She was unchallenged in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[6]
2010
Gonzalez won election unopposed to the District 76 seat in the general election on November 2, 2010.[7]
In the April 13 Republican primary runoff, Gonzalez defeated incumbent Norma Chavez by a margin of 3,624-3,264.[6] Chavez was seeking her eighth term.
| Texas House of Representatives, District 76 2010 General election results | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Naomi Gonzalez (D)
|
11,318 | 100% | ||
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Texas scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2014
In 2014, the Texas State Legislature did not hold a regular session.
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the Texas State Legislature was in its 83rd legislative session from January 8 through May 27. Thirty minutes after the regular session ended, Governor Rick Perry called legislators back for a special session starting that evening.[8] Two additional called sessions were held from July 1 through July 30 and July 30 through August 5.[9]
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2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
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In 2012, the Texas State Legislature did not hold a regular session. |
2011
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2011, click [show]. |
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In 2011, the Texas State Legislature was in its 82nd legislative session from January 11 through May 30. A special session was called for May 31 through June 29.[9]
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Noteworthy events
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University of Texas regent investigation
- See also: Wallace Hall impeachment trial
Gonzalez was one of the eight members of the Committee on Transparency in State Agency Operations when it oversaw the investigation into a possible impeachment of University of Texas Regent Wallace Hall in 2013 and 2014. On August 11, 2014, the transparency committee voted 6-1 to censure Hall as opposed to impeaching him.[10][11] He was the first regent to have been censured by a committee of the Texas State Legislature.[12]
After he was appointed by Gov. Rick Perry (R) in 2011, Hall began looking into what he believed to be clout abuses within the University of Texas system. Hall investigated the university's forgivable-loans program, admissions policies, and preferential treatment to politically-connected individuals.[13] Hall, as an individual citizen and a regent, filed public information requests with the University system. In June 2013, the transparency committee began investigating whether Hall revealed protected information about students and exceeded his role as a regent in requesting large amounts of information.
Some supporters of the investigations into Hall, including state Rep. Lyle Larson (R), a member of the transparency committee, argued that Hall's actions were politically motivated. Others, such as University of Texas, Austin Public Information Office attorney Carol Longoria, said that his records requests were unreasonable and may have violated students' privacy.[14][15][16]
Critics of the proceedings, including Gov. Rick Perry and Hall, argued that legislators' efforts to remove Hall from office were politically motivated and that Hall acted in the best interest of the state in his efforts to investigate potential abuses. Several legislators were named in investigations into possible political favoritism in the University of Texas admissions process.[17][18]
In February 2015, an independent report by Kroll Associates, commissioned by the Regents Board, stated that there was a "pattern of special treatment for well-connected applicants to UT." While the report did not show evidence of any quid pro quo, it said that "extra acceptances were extended every year to accommodate special cases" and that the "President’s Office ordered applicants admitted over the objection of the Admissions Office."[19]
In March 2015, the Travis County Grand Jury concluded a six-month investigation into Hall, deciding not to pursue criminal charges against him but recommending that the state remove him from office. The jury stated that Hall's open records request deadlines were unreasonable and that he released confidential student information to the attorney general's office and his lawyer.[20] The state did not remove Hall from office; his term expired in February 2017.
Read more about the investigations into Hall's information requests and Hall's investigations into alleged clout abuses here.
DUI charge
- See also: Politicians convicted of DUI
On March 14, 2013, Gonzalez was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated. According to police, Gonzalez was in a car accident at 2 a.m. with one car and a bicycle.[21][22][23] On March 18, 2013, Gonzalez apologized during a speech on the House floor. "I want to be clear about this: I made a mistake and I am deeply, deeply sorry for it. I am sorry for the shame I have brought upon this House and my district," she said. Following her speech, legislators applauded and gave her a standing ovation.[24] Gonazlez reportedly had a blood-alcohol level of twice the legal limit. The magazine Texas Monthly named Gonzalez one of the 10 worst legislators in 2013 as a result of her arrest.[25]
Sentencing
On May 2, 2014, Gonzalez was sentenced to 15 days in jail after pleading no content to the charge.[26]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Naomi + Gonzalez + Texas + House"
See also
- Texas State Legislature
- Texas House of Representatives
- Texas House of Representatives Committees
- Texas Joint Committees
- Texas state legislative districts
External links
- Official campaign website
- Profile from Open States
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Biography from Texas Tribune
- Campaign Contributions: 2012, 2010
Footnotes
- ↑ "(dead link) Primary Color: HD-76", The Texas Tribune (18 February 2010). Retrieved on 2010-04-14.
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "1992 - Current ELECTION HISTORY," accessed December 2, 2014
- ↑ The Libertarian Party of Texas, "2014 Texas Representative Candidate List," accessed July 30, 2014
- ↑ Green Party of Texas, "Greens Release Candidate List," accessed July 30, 2014
- ↑ The Texas Tribune, "The 2014 Election Brackets," accessed December 12, 2013
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Texas Secretary of State, "1992 - Current Election History," accessed February 17, 2014
- ↑ Official Texas Election Results
- ↑ kten.com, "Texas Lawmakers To Tackle Redistricting In Special Session," May 29, 2013
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Legislative reference Library of Texas, "Texas Legislative Sessions and Years," accessed June 13, 2014
- ↑ Dallas Morning News, "Panel censures but doesn’t impeach UT Regent Wallace Hall," August 11, 2014
- ↑ Austin American-Statesman, "Panel censures UT Regent Wallace L. Hall Jr.," August 11, 2014
- ↑ Austin Business Journal, "A first: UT regent censured," August 11, 2014
- ↑ American Spectator, "Transparency for Thee," October 25, 2013
- ↑ Dallas Morning News, "UT regent sought 800,000 documents, official says in impeachment hearing," October 22, 2013
- ↑ Houston Chronicle, "Pitts denounces UT regent’s document requests," October 22, 2013
- ↑ Alcalde, "Legislator urges Regent to resign," November 8, 2013
- ↑ Statesman, "Grand jury won’t indict UT Regent Wallace Hall but condemns his actions," updated September 25, 2018
- ↑ Texas Tribune, "Transparency Committee Votes to Censure UT Regent Hall," August 11, 2014
- ↑ Wall Street Journal, "Texas Admissions Rumble," February 12, 2015
- ↑ Statesman, "Grand jury won’t indict UT Regent Wallace Hall but condemns his actions," updated September 25, 2018
- ↑ YNN, "State Rep. Naomi Gonzalez arrested for driving while intoxicated," March 14, 2013
- ↑ Dallas Morning News, "Rep. Naomi Gonzalez arrested on DWI charge," March 14, 2013
- ↑ Texas Tribune, "El Paso Legislator Arrested on Drunken Driving Charge," March 14, 2013
- ↑ KVIA ABC, "State Rep. Naomi Gonzalez apologizes on House floor for her DWI arrest," March 18, 2013
- ↑ Texas Monthly, "THE WORST: Representative Naomi Gonzalez," accessed November 29, 2013
- ↑ My San Antonio, "El Paso legislator gets 15 days in jail for DWI," May 2, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Norma Chavez (D) |
Texas House of Representatives
District 76 |
Succeeded by Cesar Blanco (D) |
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