Judith Zaffirini

Infobox State Senator

---

imagesize = 250px
honorific-prefix =
name = Judith Pappas Zaffirini
honorific-suffix =
state_senate = Texas
state = Texas
district = 21st
term_start = 1987
preceded =
succeeded = Incumbent
party = Democratic
birth_date = birth date and age|1946|2|13
birth_place = Laredo, Webb County, Texas, USA
death_date =
death_place =
spouse = Carlos Zaffirini, Sr.
children=Carlos Zaffirini, Jr.
residence = Laredo, Texas
alma_mater = University of Texas at Austin
occupation =
profession = Communications
religion = Roman Catholic
website =

Judith Pappas Zaffirini (born February 13, 1946) is a Democratic member of the Texas State Senate from the 21st District, which includes her home city of Laredo. On January 9, 2007, Zaffirini became the second in seniority in the 31-member Texas Senate, where she has served since 1987. [cite web
url = http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/candidates/general/senate/senateaddr.shtml
title = State Senate Candidates for 2002 General Election
accessdate = 2006-12-27
date = 2002-09-13
author = Office of the Secretary of State (Texas)]

Political background

In 1986, Zaffirini upset the late State Representative William N. "Billy" Hall, Jr., in the Democratic primary run-off for state senator. She then defeated Republican Bennie Bock of San Antonio in the general election.

Zaffirini has continued to defeat intraparty and interparty challengers in her Webb County-based district. She was to have faced San Antonio attorney Rene Barrientos (born January 25, 1954), in the March 4, 2008, Democratic primary, but Barrientos withdrew from the race on January 9. Nevertheless, Barrientos' name remained on the ballot, and he advertised. Zaffirini won the nomination, 108,572 (78.6 perent) to Barrientos' 23,262 ballots (21.4 percent). [Democratic primary returns, "Laredo Morning Times", March 5, 2008, p. 1]

In the November 4 general election, Zaffirini will face former Webb County (administrative) Judge (2003-2007) Louis Henry Bruni (born 1949), a Democrat who switched to Republican affiliation on December 27, 2007. In 2004, Zaffirini handily defeated Bruni's brother, Raymond Anthony Bruni (born 1948), in the Democratic primary. In announcing his candidacy, Louis Bruni said that the historically Democratic district could be ripe for a partisan turnover. Prior to his judgeship, Bruni had been a member of the nonpartisan Laredo City Council. [cite news | first = Julian | last = Aguilar | title = Bruni becomes Republican in a bid to unseat Zaffirini | work = Laredo Morning Times | date = 2007-12-28 | page = pp. 1A, 13A ] Bruni also said that his opposition to Zaffirini stems in part from a legal feud that he had with his brother prior to Raymond Bruni's campaign against the senator. [cite news | first = Tricia | last = Cortez | title = Zaffirini foe quits | work = Laredo Morning Times | date = 2008-01-10 | page = pp. 1, 12A ]

Despite her Democratic heritage, Zaffirini is known for her ability to work across party lines, particularly her friendship with Republican Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst. As a result of redistricting and the structuring of terms in the Senate, Zaffirini has served three four-year and five two-year terms. Zaffirini claims that "voters are always well informed, and I believe they will decide to support me based on my record and seniority." [cite news | first = Tricia | last = Cortez | title = Zaffirini's ready to run for her state senate seat | work = Laredo Morning Times | date = 2007-12-21 | page = p. 3A ]

Zaffirini has a 100 percent voting record, having cast 38,530 consecutive votes since January, 1987. She also has a career long perfect attendance record in the Senate except in July, 2003, when she joined her fellow Democrats who fled to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to deliberately break a quorum to stop Republican plans to re-redistrict the Texas congressional map untimely. After three special legislative sessions, the Republican (GOP) plan was adopted, but it was later altered by the United States Supreme Court.

Zaffirini sponsored the bill that created the expanded Texas A&M International University from the former Laredo State University. She led a successful movement to restore $154 million in community college funds vetoed in 2007 by Governor Rick Perry.

Zaffirini is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. She studied two summers at Laredo Community College (then Laredo Junior College). On December 17, 2007, Zaffirni was honored by the LCC board of trustees with its inaugural "Beacon Award", a creation from the college's sixtieth anniversary. LCC president Juan L. Maldonado declared that the award honors individuals whose altruistic efforts have improved and advanced the welfare of the Webb County community. Maldonado said that the beacon "evokes the flame of the lamp of learning, which represents the role of the individual in bringing enlightenment and hope to others.... Senator Zaffirni embodies all of these admirable traits... and make her the ideal recipient of this award." In 2004, LCC named its south campus library in honor of Zaffirni. [cite news | first = Celina | last = Alvarado | title = State senator given college's first-ever 'Beacon Award' | work = Laredo Morning Times | date = 2007-12-18 | page = pp. 1, 13A ] . She is also honored through the Zaffirini Elementary School, 5210 Santa Claudia Lane in Laredo, one of the campuses of the United Independent School District.

Zaffirini is married to Laredo attorney Carlos M. Zaffirini, Sr. (born 1944) The couple has a son, attorney Carlos Zaffirini, Jr. The late Webb County District Attorney Charles R. Borchers was a brother-in-law of Zaffirini.

Election history

Election history of Zaffirini since 1992. [Uncontested primary elections are not shown.]

Most recent election

2008

Election box begin no party
title=Democratic primary, 2008: Senate District 21 [cite web | url = http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe | title = 2008 Democratic Party Primary Election | accessdate = 2007-03-04 | publisher = Office of the Secretary of State (Texas)] Election box candidate no party with winner
winner =
candidate = Rene Barrientos
votes = 23,262
percentage = 21.4
change = Election box candidate no party with winner
winner = ✓
candidate = Judith Zaffirini (Incumbent)
votes = 108,572
percentage = 78.6
change = Election box turnout no party
votes = 131,834
percentage =
change =

Previous Elections

2004

Election box begin
title=Texas general election, 2004: Senate District 21 [cite web | url = http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe | title = 2004 General Election | accessdate = 2007-01-04 | publisher = Office of the Secretary of State (Texas)] Election box candidate with party link
party= Democratic Party (US)
candidate = Judith Zaffirini (Incumbent)
votes = 127,573
percentage = 100.00
change = +10.89Election box majority
votes = 127,573
percentage = 100.00
change = +21.78Election box turnout
votes = 127,573
percentage =
change = +18.86Election box hold with party link no swing
winner = Democratic Party (US)Election box begin no party
title=Democratic primary, 2004: Senate District 21 [cite web | url = http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe | title = 2004 Democratic Party Primary Election | accessdate = 2007-01-04 | publisher = Office of the Secretary of State (Texas)] Election box candidate no party with winner
winner =
candidate = Raymond Bruni
votes = 17,089
percentage = 21.35
change = Election box candidate no party with winner
winner = ✓
candidate = Judith Zaffirini (Incumbent)
votes = 62,960
percentage = 78.65
change = Election box majority no party
votes = 45,871
percentage = 57.30
change = Election box turnout no party
votes = 80,049
percentage =
change =

2002

Election box begin
title=Texas general election, 2002: Senate District 21 [cite web | url = http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe | title = 2002 General Election | accessdate = 2007-01-04 | publisher = Office of the Secretary of State (Texas)] Election box candidate with party link
party= Democratic Party (US)
candidate = Judith Zaffirini (Incumbent)
votes = 95,644
percentage = 89.11
change = +22.65Election box candidate with party link
party= Libertarian Party (US)
candidate = Jeff Carruthers
votes = 11,688
percentage = 10.89
change = +10.89Election box majority
votes = 83,956
percentage = 78.22
change = +45.31Election box turnout
votes = 107,332
percentage =
change = -32.76Election box hold with party link no swing
winner = Democratic Party (US)

2000

Election box begin
title=Texas general election, 2000: Senate District 21 [cite web | url = http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe | title = 2000 General Election | accessdate = 2007-01-04 | publisher = Office of the Secretary of State (Texas)] Election box candidate with party link
party= Republican Party (US)
candidate = David Swift
votes = 53,547
percentage = 33.54
change = -0.14Election box candidate with party link
party= Democratic Party (US)
candidate = Judith Zaffirini (Incumbent)
votes = 106,089
percentage = 66.46
change = +0.14Election box majority
votes = 52,542
percentage = 32.91
change = +0.27Election box turnout
votes = 159,636
percentage =
change = +15.13Election box hold with party link no swing
winner = Democratic Party (US)

1996

Election box begin
title=Texas general election, 1996: Senate District 21 [cite web | url = http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe | title = 1996 General Election | accessdate = 2007-01-04 | publisher = Office of the Secretary of State (Texas)] Election box candidate with party link
party= Republican Party (US)
candidate = James C. Whitworth
votes = 46,698
percentage = 33.68
change = +2.21Election box candidate with party link
party= Democratic Party (US)
candidate = Judith Zaffirini (Incumbent)
votes = 91,956
percentage = 66.32
change = -2.21Election box majority
votes = 45,258
percentage = 32.64
change = -4.41Election box turnout
votes = 138,654
percentage =
change = +33.77Election box hold with party link no swing
winner = Democratic Party (US)

1994

Election box begin
title=Texas general election, 1994: Senate District 21 [cite web | url = http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe | title = 1994 General Election | accessdate = 2007-01-04 | publisher = Office of the Secretary of State (Texas)] Election box candidate with party link
party= Democratic Party (US)
candidate = Judith Zaffirini (Incumbent)
votes = 71,029
percentage = 68.53
change = -31.47Election box candidate with party link
party= Republican Party (US)
candidate = Fernando Cantu
votes = 32,624
percentage = 31.47
change = +31.47Election box majority
votes = 38,405
percentage = 37.05
change = -62.95Election box turnout
votes = 103,653
percentage =
change = -6.95Election box hold with party link no swing
winner = Democratic Party (US)

1992

Election box begin
title=Texas general election, 1992: Senate District 21 [cite web | url = http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe | title = 1992 General Election | accessdate = 2007-01-04 | publisher = Office of the Secretary of State (Texas)] Election box candidate with party link
party= Democratic Party (US)
candidate = Judith Zaffirini (Incumbent)
votes = 111,398
percentage = 100.00
change = Election box majority
votes = 111,398
percentage = 100.00
change = Election box turnout
votes = 111,398
percentage =
change = Election box hold with party link no swing
winner = Democratic Party (US)

References

External links

* [http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/dist21/dist21.htm Senate of Texas - Senator Judith Zaffirini] official TX Senate website
* [http://votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=5465 Project Vote Smart - Senator Judith Zaffirini (TX)] profile
*"Follow the Money" - Judith Zaffirini
** [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=83167 2006] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=64104 2004] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=6476 2002] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=52683 2000] campaign contributions

Persondata
NAME=Judith Zaffirini
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Texas politician
DATE OF BIRTH=February 13, 1946
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=