Elected Officials Speak Out on Their Endorsement of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee
February 22nd, 2010
A number of local elected officials came together today to speak out about why they are endorsing Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.
Attending a news conference at Jackson Lee’s Campaign Headquarters were State Representatives Alma Allen and Sylvester Turner, State Senator Mario Gallegos, Constable May Walker, Houston Community College Trustee Chris Oliver and Houston School District Trustees Paula Harris and Lawrence Marshall. State Senator Rodney Ellis was unable to attend but sent a representative.
“These elected officials here today are just a small fraction of those who are supporting the Congresswoman,” said Rep. Turner. “At our Acres Homes seniors meeting yesterday, our seniors just lit up when they saw the Congresswoman, she has done so much for them.”
Harris pointed out that Houston needs a representative in Washington who knows her way around. “I know that when we call on Congresswoman Jackson Lee to help our school districts that she is always there for our children,” said Harris.
“In Precinct 7, Congresswoman Jackson Lee has done what no one else ever did,” explained Constable Walker. “She helped to put more officers on the streets and they’re working to stop drugs and sex offenders.”
Marshall said Jackson Lee is “certified, qualified and capable. This is not the time to trade in a 747 for a Piper Cub.”
“Congresswoman Jackson Lee has been nothing short of tireless, dedicated and hardworking,” said Oliver. “We need experience at the helm.”
“She has always been there for us,” said Rep. Allen. “Now we are there for her.”
All the elected officials at the news conference today represent different jurisdictions and she works with all of them, Jackson Lee pointed out. For example, she worked with Oliver to help HCC create a small business incubator. And she worked with Turner to create a park in Acres Homes with baseball fields. Gallegos pointed out that he and Jackson Lee had just left a meeting with officials of the Rodeo Houston working with them to offer minorities more scholarships and business opportunities.
Those projects are in addition to the $351 million Jackson Lee brought to Congressional District 18 from the federal stimulus bill.
The news conference today follows an event Thursday with Congressman Al Green and three dozen ministers, including the Baptist Ministers Association of Houston and Vicinity, offering their strong support for Jackson Lee.
Others endorsing Jackson Lee include the Houston Chronicle, Harris County Commissioner Sylvia Garcia; Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia; State Senator John Whitmire; State Representatives Carol Alvarado, Garnet Coleman, Ellen Cohen, Harold Dutton; Jessica Farrar, Senfronia Thompson and Armando Walle; City Controller Ron Green; City Councilmembers C.O. Bradford and Ed Gonzales; Constable Victor Trevino; HISD Trustee Carol Mims Galloway; Houston Community College Trustees Eva Loredo and Mary Ann Perez; Vice Chair of the Texas Democratic Party Lenora Sorola-Pohlman; Alison Leland and former State Representatives Debra Danburg and Col. Rick Noriega; the Tejano Democrats, Houston-Black American Democrats, AFL-CIO Council, the Latino Labor Leadership Council, Planned Parenthood of Houston and Southeast Texas Action Fund, Inc., GLBT Caucus, Harris County Democrats, Momentum PAC, Asian American Democrats of Texas, Houston Area Stonewall Democrats and Houston Young Stonewall Democrats.
Photo ID for Elected Officials: (L to R) St. Rep. Sylvester Turner, Dallas Jones representing State Senator Rodney Ellis, St. Rep. Alma Allen, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, HCC Trustee Chris Oliver, HISD Trustee Lawrence Marshall, HISD Trustee Paula Harris, Constable May Walker, St. Senator Mario Gallegos.