Charlie Gonzalez
Encyclopedia
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
.
. 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. As a youth, he was a Boy Scout
in Troop 90 of San Antonio. His father was the Scoutmaster.
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.
He was re-elected six more times, and never won re-election with less than 63% of the vote. He had no major-party opposition in 2000 and 2006. He went unopposed in 2002.
He decided to retire and not seek another term in 2012.
.
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 48 consecutive years in Congress as of November, 2009; 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.
Rep. Gonzalez was one of the first congressmen to actively support Barack Obama in the 2008 Democrat presidential primary. "Senator Obama brings all these new fresh faces,’’ Gonzalez told the San Antonio Express-News. "He has a wider audience. He has the greater potential to engage a greater number of people.’’
Gonzalez announced on November 25, 2011, that he will not seek reelection in the 2012 congressional elections
. He said he wanted a job that would allow him "to be productive and have the resources to make a better life" for himself and his family.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician from Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. He has represented Texas's 20th congressional district
Texas's 20th congressional district
-References:*...
in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1999. The district includes more than half of San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
.
Early life, education, and legal career
Gonzalez was born in San Antonio, TexasSan Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
. His father, Henry B. Gonzalez
Henry B. Gonzalez
Henry Barbosa González was a Democratic politician from the state of Texas. He represented Texas's 20th congressional district from 1961 to 1999.-Background:...
, 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
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
from the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
in 1969, and then later earned his Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
degree from St. Mary's University
St. Mary's University, Texas
St. Mary's University is a Catholic and Marianist liberal arts institution located on northwest of downtown San Antonio, Texas, United States. St. Mary’s is a nationally recognized master’s level school ranked among the top colleges in the west for best value and academic reputation by U.S. News...
in San Antonio in 1972. As a youth, he was a Boy Scout
Boy Scout
A Scout is a boy or a girl, usually 11 to 18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement. Because of the large age and development span, many Scouting associations have split this age group into a junior and a senior section...
in Troop 90 of San Antonio. His father was the Scoutmaster.
Gonzalez served as a technical sergeant
Technical Sergeant
Technical Sergeant is the name of one current and two former enlisted ranks in the United States military.-United States Air Force:Technical Sergeant, or Tech Sergeant, is the sixth enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force, just above Staff Sergeant and below Master Sergeant. A technical sergeant is...
in the Texas Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
from 1969 until 1975. He then began practicing law until 1982 when he began rising through the ranks of the court
Court
A court is a form of tribunal, often a governmental institution, with the authority to adjudicate legal disputes between parties and carry out the administration of justice in civil, criminal, and administrative matters in accordance with the rule of law...
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.
Elections
Henry Gonzalez, of Texas' 20th congressional district, had long groomed his son as his successor. When his father didn't seek a full 19th term in 1998, Charlie ran for the seat. In the Democratic primary, Gonzalez lead a 7-candidate field with 44%, missing the 50% threshold to avoid a run-off. In that election, he defeated Maria Antonietta Berriozabal 62%-38%. In the general election, he defated Republican James Walker 63%-36%. He 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 re-elected six more times, and never won re-election with less than 63% of the vote. He had no major-party opposition in 2000 and 2006. He went unopposed in 2002.
He decided to retire and not seek another term in 2012.
Tenure
Charlie Gonzalez is a member of the New Democrat CoalitionNew Democrat Coalition
The New Democrat Coalition is a Congressional Member Organization within the United States Congress made up of Democrats who support an agenda that the organization describes as moderate and pro-growth. A July 2009 Press release described the organization as "the largest moderate coalition in the U.S...
.
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 48 consecutive years in Congress as of November, 2009; the only father and son combination to serve longer in the House has been the Dingells
John Dingell
John David Dingell, Jr. is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1955 . He is a member of the Democratic Party...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, who have represented the state's 15th District for 72 consecutive years.
Rep. Gonzalez was one of the first congressmen to actively support Barack Obama in the 2008 Democrat presidential primary. "Senator Obama brings all these new fresh faces,’’ Gonzalez told the San Antonio Express-News. "He has a wider audience. He has the greater potential to engage a greater number of people.’’
Gonzalez announced on November 25, 2011, that he will not seek reelection in the 2012 congressional elections
United States House of Representatives elections, 2012
The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections will be held on November 6, 2012. Elections will be held for all 435 seats, representing the 50 U.S. states. Elections will also be held for the delegates from the District of Columbia and five major U.S. territories.The winners of this...
. He said he wanted a job that would allow him "to be productive and have the resources to make a better life" for himself and his family.
Committee assignments
- Committee on Energy and CommerceUnited States House Committee on Energy and CommerceThe Committee on Energy and Commerce is one of the oldest standing committees of the United States House of Representatives. Established in 1795, it has operated continuously—with various name changes and jurisdictional changes—for more than 200 years...
- Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade
- Subcommittee on Energy and Power
- Subcommittee on Health
- Committee on House AdministrationUnited States House Committee on House AdministrationThe United States House Committee on House Administration deals with the general administration matters of the United States House of Representatives.-Jurisdiction:...
- Subcommittee on ElectionsUnited States House Administration Subcommittee on ElectionsThe House Administration Subcommittee on Elections is a subcommittee within the House Committee on House Administration. The subcommittee was created for the 110th Congress, along with the Subcommittee on Capitol Security at the urging of the late Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald, then the...
- Subcommittee on Oversight
- Subcommittee on Elections
Caucus memberships
- Congressional Hispanic CaucusCongressional Hispanic CaucusThe Congressional Hispanic Caucus comprises 21 Democratic members of the United States Congress most of whom are of Hispanic origin. The Caucus is dedicated to voicing and advancing, through the legislative process, issues affecting Hispanics and Latinos in the United States and Puerto Rico...
- Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus
- Congressional Arts Caucus
External links
- U.S. Representative Charles A. Gonzalez official U.S. House site
- Charles A. Gonzalez Congressional Committee official campaign site