Tito the Builder
Encyclopedia
Tito Muñoz, also known as Tito the Builder, is a conservative activist who has received substantial media attention for various political campaign activities. During the United States presidential election, 2008
, Muñoz became notable for publicly defending Joe Wurzelbacher, and also for campaigning with Sarah Palin
. Muñoz is a member of the Virginia
state Board of Housing and Community Development, and has a conservative Latino
radio show.
n immigrant, is presently a small construction company owner and a United States citizen. He is a resident of Woodbridge, Virginia
. Muñoz says he has 250 cousins.
Muñoz hosts “America Eres Tu”, an hour long Spanish language radio show that is broadcast on Saturday afternoons. "On his radio show, Muñoz covers social issues and takes the time to explain conservative fiscal issues. Many Hispanics don’t know “we owe money to other countries,” Muñoz says, “they don’t understand we have a deficit, they don’t understand the magnitude of the debt, so I’m there trying to explain it in simple Spanish.”
and FreedomWorks
. In 2010, Muñoz considered challenging Corey Stewart
, the Chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors
, in the Republican primary. According to the Daily Caller, "At a time when political leaders in both parties tend to understand their constituents as discrete and predictable voting blocks aligned by race and ethnicity, Munoz is a reminder that the American political reality is more complex, and inspiring." Muñoz campaigned for Governor
Bob McDonnell
in the Virginia gubernatorial election, 2009
.
presidential campaign, Tito Muñoz received substantial media attention. He became known for wearing a yellow hard hat with a McCain-Palin bumper sticker, an orange reflector jacket, as well as sunglasses. He campaigned with Sarah Palin
, and was known for a confrontation with reporters. Will Rabbe, of the Independent Film Channel
, has posted a video about Muñoz and his interaction with reporters. Five days before the election, Muñoz appeared on Fox News’ Hannity & Colmes
. Muñoz told Alan Colmes
that he became involved in the 2008 presidential election by giving newspapers "hiding the truth about Obama" a piece of his mind.
During this time, Muñoz coined the phrase: “Born in Colombia, Made in the U.S.A.”
activist, formed his own Political Action Committee
called TitoPAC. Muñoz ran for the Virginia General Assembly
seat held by State Senator
Toddy Puller
. In May 2011, Muñoz protested a plan for Virginia state Republicans to nominate a candidate for the 36th district race. Under this plan, one GOP representative from each of the three counties will decide "whether to call a primary, convention, firehouse primary or mass meeting to select a nominee for the Senate seat." The Washington Post reported that, after "making a passionate plea in front of Northern Virginia Republicans, potential state Senate candidate Tito Muñoz got what he wanted — a primary, not a convention, to select the Republican nominee for the 36th district Senate race. Three GOP representatives, one each from Stafford, Prince William and Fairfax counties, voted Saturday to hold an Aug. 23 primary to find a challenger for Democratic Sen. Linda “Toddy” Puller, who has held the seat since 1999."" Jeff Frederick
, former chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia
, has filed paperwork to run for state Senate in the district. Muñoz has stated that he wants to focus on "the depleted Route 1 corridor and education." Muñoz, who will compete in the Republican primary on August 23, had been endorsed by former governor George Allen (U.S. politician)
. "Whoever emerges would square off against longtime Sen. Linda “Toddy” Puller, D-Fairfax." On June 16, Muñoz officially launched his campaign for state senator. This was Muñoz’s first run for public office.
"The district has a voting-age Hispanic population of 19.5 percent, according to demographic numbers provided by the state Division of Legislative Services." If elected, Munoz would be the first foreign-born Hispanic to serve in Virginia's state legislature.
On July 28, 2011, Muñoz challenged his opponent in the Republican primary, Jeff Frederick, to a debate solely in Spanish. In the August primary, Muñoz was defeated by Frederick, losing by a 76.8% to 23.19% margin.
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
, Muñoz became notable for publicly defending Joe Wurzelbacher, and also for campaigning with Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin
Sarah Louise Palin is an American politician, commentator and author. As the Republican Party nominee for Vice President in the 2008 presidential election, she was the first Alaskan on the national ticket of a major party and first Republican woman nominated for the vice-presidency.She was...
. Muñoz is a member of the Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
state Board of Housing and Community Development, and has a conservative Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
radio show.
Personal life
Muñoz, a ColombiaColombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n immigrant, is presently a small construction company owner and a United States citizen. He is a resident of Woodbridge, Virginia
Woodbridge, Virginia
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 31,941 people, 10,687 households, and 7,769 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 3,047.8 people per square mile . There were 11,026 housing units at an average density of 1,052.1/sq mi...
. Muñoz says he has 250 cousins.
Muñoz hosts “America Eres Tu”, an hour long Spanish language radio show that is broadcast on Saturday afternoons. "On his radio show, Muñoz covers social issues and takes the time to explain conservative fiscal issues. Many Hispanics don’t know “we owe money to other countries,” Muñoz says, “they don’t understand we have a deficit, they don’t understand the magnitude of the debt, so I’m there trying to explain it in simple Spanish.”
Campaigns
Muñoz created a 527 organization called the Conservative Hispanic Coalition. Muñoz also supports Americans for ProsperityAmericans for Prosperity
Americans for Prosperity is a Washington, D.C.–based political advocacy group. According to their literature, they promote economic policy that supports business, and restrains regulation by government...
and FreedomWorks
FreedomWorks
FreedomWorks is a conservative non-profit organization based in Washington D.C., United States. FreedomWorks trains volunteers, assists in campaigns, and encourages them to mobilize, interacting with both fellow citizens and their political representatives....
. In 2010, Muñoz considered challenging Corey Stewart
Corey Stewart (politician)
Corey Stewart is the current chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, having first been elected as chairman in 2006. He was first elected to the board in 2003, representing the Occoquan district.-External links:*...
, the Chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors
Prince William Board of County Supervisors
Prince William County, Virginia is divided into seven magisterial districts: Brentsville, Coles, Gainesville, Neabsco, Occoquan, Potomac, and Woodbridge. The magisterial districts each elect one supervisor to the Board of Supervisors which governs Prince William County...
, in the Republican primary. According to the Daily Caller, "At a time when political leaders in both parties tend to understand their constituents as discrete and predictable voting blocks aligned by race and ethnicity, Munoz is a reminder that the American political reality is more complex, and inspiring." Muñoz campaigned for Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
Bob McDonnell
Bob McDonnell
Robert Francis "Bob" McDonnell is an American politician who has been the 71st Governor of Virginia since January 2010. A former lieutenant colonel in the United States Army, McDonnell served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1993 to 2006 and served as Attorney General of Virginia from 2006...
in the Virginia gubernatorial election, 2009
Virginia gubernatorial election, 2009
The Virginia gubernatorial election of 2009 took place on November 3, 2009. The election chose Bob McDonnell as the next Governor, Bill Bolling re-elected as Lieutenant Governor, and Ken Cuccinelli as the next Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The winners were inaugurated on January...
.
2008 presidential campaign
During the 2008United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
presidential campaign, Tito Muñoz received substantial media attention. He became known for wearing a yellow hard hat with a McCain-Palin bumper sticker, an orange reflector jacket, as well as sunglasses. He campaigned with Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin
Sarah Louise Palin is an American politician, commentator and author. As the Republican Party nominee for Vice President in the 2008 presidential election, she was the first Alaskan on the national ticket of a major party and first Republican woman nominated for the vice-presidency.She was...
, and was known for a confrontation with reporters. Will Rabbe, of the Independent Film Channel
Independent Film Channel
The Independent Film Channel is an American cable TV network that airs independent film and related programming. IFC programming includes commercially interrupted feature-length films, original documentaries, shorts, animated series, original series, acquired series, and content exclusively for...
, has posted a video about Muñoz and his interaction with reporters. Five days before the election, Muñoz appeared on Fox News’ Hannity & Colmes
Hannity & Colmes
Hannity & Colmes was a live television show on Fox News Channel in the United States, hosted by Sean Hannity and Alan Colmes, who respectively presented a conservative and liberal perspective. The series premiered on October 6, 1996, and the final episode aired on January 9, 2009. It was the...
. Muñoz told Alan Colmes
Alan Colmes
Alan Samuel Colmes is an American radio/television host, liberal political commentator for the Fox News Channel, and blogger. He is the host of The Alan Colmes Show, a nationally syndicated talk-radio show distributed by Fox News Radio that also airs throughout the United States on Fox News Talk...
that he became involved in the 2008 presidential election by giving newspapers "hiding the truth about Obama" a piece of his mind.
During this time, Muñoz coined the phrase: “Born in Colombia, Made in the U.S.A.”
2011 Virginia General Assembly campaign
In April 2011, Muñoz, who identifies as a Tea PartyTea Party movement
The Tea Party movement is an American populist political movement that is generally recognized as conservative and libertarian, and has sponsored protests and supported political candidates since 2009...
activist, formed his own Political Action Committee
Political action committee
In the United States, a political action committee, or PAC, is the name commonly given to a private group, regardless of size, organized to elect political candidates or to advance the outcome of a political issue or legislation. Legally, what constitutes a "PAC" for purposes of regulation is a...
called TitoPAC. Muñoz ran for the Virginia General Assembly
Virginia General Assembly
The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the oldest legislative body in the Western Hemisphere, established on July 30, 1619. The General Assembly is a bicameral body consisting of a lower house, the Virginia House of Delegates, with 100 members,...
seat held by State Senator
State Senator
A state senator is a member of a state's Senate, the upper house in the bicameral legislature of 49 U.S. states, or a legislator in Nebraska's one house State Legislature.There are typically fewer state senators than there are members of a state's lower house...
Toddy Puller
Toddy Puller
Linda Todd "Toddy" Puller is an American politician. A Democrat, she served in the Virginia House of Delegates 1992–99 and was elected to the Senate of Virginia in November 1999. She the 36th district, made up of parts of Fairfax and Prince William counties.-Personal life:Puller's father...
. In May 2011, Muñoz protested a plan for Virginia state Republicans to nominate a candidate for the 36th district race. Under this plan, one GOP representative from each of the three counties will decide "whether to call a primary, convention, firehouse primary or mass meeting to select a nominee for the Senate seat." The Washington Post reported that, after "making a passionate plea in front of Northern Virginia Republicans, potential state Senate candidate Tito Muñoz got what he wanted — a primary, not a convention, to select the Republican nominee for the 36th district Senate race. Three GOP representatives, one each from Stafford, Prince William and Fairfax counties, voted Saturday to hold an Aug. 23 primary to find a challenger for Democratic Sen. Linda “Toddy” Puller, who has held the seat since 1999."" Jeff Frederick
Jeff Frederick
Jeffrey M. Frederick is a former member of the General Assembly of Virginia. A Republican, he served three terms in the Virginia House of Delegates and also served as chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia and as a member of the Republican National Committee from May 2008 to April...
, former chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia
Republican Party of Virginia
The Republican Party of Virginia is the Virginia chapter of the Republican Party. It is based in the Richard D. Obenshain Center in Richmond in the Commonwealth of Virginia.- Organization and candidate selection :The State Party Plan...
, has filed paperwork to run for state Senate in the district. Muñoz has stated that he wants to focus on "the depleted Route 1 corridor and education." Muñoz, who will compete in the Republican primary on August 23, had been endorsed by former governor George Allen (U.S. politician)
George Allen (U.S. politician)
George Felix Allen is a former United States Senator from the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the son of former NFL head coach George Allen. Allen served Virginia in the state legislature, as the 67th Governor, and in both bodies of the U.S. Congress, winning election to the Senate in 2000...
. "Whoever emerges would square off against longtime Sen. Linda “Toddy” Puller, D-Fairfax." On June 16, Muñoz officially launched his campaign for state senator. This was Muñoz’s first run for public office.
"The district has a voting-age Hispanic population of 19.5 percent, according to demographic numbers provided by the state Division of Legislative Services." If elected, Munoz would be the first foreign-born Hispanic to serve in Virginia's state legislature.
On July 28, 2011, Muñoz challenged his opponent in the Republican primary, Jeff Frederick, to a debate solely in Spanish. In the August primary, Muñoz was defeated by Frederick, losing by a 76.8% to 23.19% margin.