Gregory Luna

Gregorio “Gregory” Luna [cite web
url = http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tx/comal/vitals/births/1932/comlb32.txt
title = Birth Certificate for Gregorio Luna
accessdate = 2007-01-04
date = 1932-11-17
format = Third party index of birth records for Comal County
publisher = [http://www.rootsweb.com Rootsweb.com]
author = Texas Department of State Health Services, Vital Records] (17 November 1932 – 6 November 1999) was a San Antonio, Texas politician who served as a Democrat in both the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate for the 14 years from 1985 to 1999. While in the legislature, Luna was considered to be a “champion of education” [Associated Press: Ex-Sen. Luna remembered as a champion of education. 10 November 1999. http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1999_3176866 (accessed 27 November 2006.)] . He was also one of the founders of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, and served four terms as board chair [Texas Senate Hispanic Research Council: Sen. Gregory Luna. http://www.tshrc.org/senluna.html (accessed 27 November 2006).] .

Early life

Luna was born to Eliseo and Elvira Luna in New Braunfels, Texas [Texas Senate Hispanic Research Council: Sen. Gregory Luna. http://www.tshrc.org/senluna.html (accessed 27 November 2006).] , the youngest of their eight children [Texas Senate News: Sen. Luna rests among legends. 9 November 1999. http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/archives/Arch99/p110999a.htm (accessed 27 November 2006).] . When Gregory was seven months old, Eliseo Luna died and, shortly afterward, the family moved to San Antonio [Texas Senate Hispanic Research Council: Sen. Gregory Luna. http://www.tshrc.org/senluna.html (accessed 27 November 2006).] . While growing up, Luna worked as a restaurant bus boy, a grocery-store sacker and in the mailroom at the "San Antonio Express" [Associated Press: Ex-Sen. Luna remembered as a champion of education. 10 November 1999. http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1999_3176866 (accessed 27 November 2006.)] .

At 21, after attending San Antonio College briefly [Texas Senate Hispanic Research Council: Sen. Gregory Luna. http://www.tshrc.org/senluna.html (accessed 27 November 2006).] , Luna enlisted in the United States Army and served a short stint, advancing to the rank of corporal [Associated Press: Ex-Sen. Luna remembered as a champion of education. 10 November 1999. http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1999_3176866 (accessed 27 November 2006.)] . After his service, he joined the San Antonio Police Department. While an officer, Luna attended night classes and graduated from Trinity University with a Bachelor of Arts in math and St. Mary's University School of Law with a law degree. While an officer, Luna also helped train police officers in Venezuela as part of a U.S. government program. Luna began his law career as a prosecutor for the City of San Antonio, and opened a started a private law practice in 1968 [Texas Senate Hispanic Research Council: Sen. Gregory Luna. http://www.tshrc.org/senluna.html (accessed 27 November 2006).] .

Luna married Helen Garcia 21 August 1955 and had two sons and two daughters. [Texas Senate Hispanic Research Council: Sen. Gregory Luna. http://www.tshrc.org/senluna.html (accessed 27 November 2006).] .

Political career

In 1969, Luna unsuccessfully ran for Justice of the Peace in Bexar County [Texas Senate Hispanic Research Council: Sen. Gregory Luna. http://www.tshrc.org/senluna.html (accessed 27 November 2006).] . In 1982, he ran for the District 116 Texas House seat, losing to Joe A. Gamez in the Democratic Party primary election [The Texas Senate Hispanic Research Council bio (http://www.tshrc.org/senluna.html) states Luna lost the election. Gamez served one term as a Democrat, so Luna most likely lost in the Democratic primary.] . In 1984, Luna sought the same House seat again, this time successfully. He represented San Antonio from 1985 to 1993 in the Texas House.

In 1992, when then-state Senator Frank Tejeda opted to make a run for U.S. Congress, Luna sought Tejeda's senate seat in District 19. He defeated the Republican challenger, auto dealer Ernesto Ancira for the four-year term [Office of the Secretary of State. 1992 General Election. http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe (accessed 27 November 2006)] .

A Democratic redistricting plan (which also altered district numbering) necessitated all state senators to run for reelection in 1994 [Ratcliffe, R.G. 6 April 1993. "Houston Chronicle": GOP loses map flap over Senate districts. http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1993_1121636 (accessed 27 November 2006).] , and as a result, Luna faced an unsuccessful challenge from Republican Andrew Longaker for the remaining two years of his term, this time in District 26 [Office of the Secretary of State. 1994 General Election. http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe (accessed 27 November 2006)] . In 1996, Luna again fended off a challenge from Longaker, this time for a four-year term [Office of the Secretary of State. 1996 General Election. http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe (accessed 27 November 2006)] .

Luna missed most of the regular session of the 76th Legislature due to ill health. He was ailing from complications related to diabetes, which eventually required the amputation of both his legs [Associated Press: San Antonio's Luna, ex-state senator, dies. 7 November 1999. http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1999_3176866 (accessed 27 November 2006.)] . Citing his ill health, Luna resigned his senate seat on 24 September 1999 [Texas Senate News: Texas Senator Gregory Luna Resigns. 24 September 1999. http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/Archives/Arch99/p092499a.htm (accessed 27 November 2006.)] . Luna died peacefully after midnight 6 November 1999 at a hospice inpatient center in San Antonio, where he had been for three weeks [Associated Press: San Antonio's Luna, ex-state senator, dies. 7 November 1999. http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1999_3176866 (accessed 27 November 2006.)] . He was buried in the Texas State Cemetery on 9 November 1999 [Texas Senate News: Sen. Luna rests among legends. 9 November 1999. http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/archives/Arch99/p110999a.htm (accessed 27 November 2006).] .

Luna is honored by the Texas Senate Hispanic Research Council through the Senator Gregory Luna Legislative Scholar and Fellows Program which places college students with members of the Texas Senate to gain leadership experience [Texas Senate Hispanic Research Council: Senator Gregory Luna Legislative Scholar and Fellows Program http://www.tshrc.org/program.html (accessed 27 November 2006).] .

Election history

Senate election history of Luna. [Uncontested primary elections are not shown.]

Most recent election

1996

Election box begin
title=Texas general election, 1996: Senate District 26 [Office of the Secretary of State. 1996 General Election. http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe (accessed 27 November 2006)] Election box candidate with party link
party= Republican Party (US)
candidate = Andrew Longaker
votes = 41,298
percentage = 32.46
change = -4.26Election box candidate with party link
party= Democratic Party (US)
candidate = Gregory Luna (Incumbent)
votes = 85,922
percentage = 67.54
change = +4.26Election box majority
votes = 44,624
percentage = 35.07
change = +8.51Election box turnout
votes = 127,220
percentage =
change = Election box hold with party link no swing
winner = Democratic Party (US)

Previous elections

1994

Election box begin
title=Texas general election, 1994: Senate District 26 [Office of the Secretary of State. 1994 General Election. http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe (accessed 27 November 2006)] Election box candidate with party link
party= Democratic Party (US)
candidate = Gregory Luna (Incumbent) [Luna was the District 19 incumbent prior to the 1994 Senate redistricting.]
votes = 55,799
percentage = 63.28
change = Election box candidate with party link
party= Republican Party (US)
candidate = Andrew Longaker
votes = 32,375
percentage = 36.71
change = Election box majority
votes = 23,424
percentage = 26.56
change = Election box turnout
votes = 88,174
percentage =
change = Election box gain with party link no swing
winner = Democratic Party (US)
loser = Republican Party (US)

1992

Election box begin
title=Texas general election, 1992: Senate District 19 [Office of the Secretary of State. 1992 General Election. http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe (accessed 27 November 2006)] Election box candidate with party link
party= Democratic Party (US)
candidate = Gregory Luna
votes = 86,742
percentage = 50.94
change = Election box candidate with party link
party= Republican Party (US)
candidate = Ernesto Ancira
votes = 76,967
percentage = 45.20
change = Election box candidate with party link
party= Libertarian Party (US)
candidate = James “Ted” Bonnet
votes = 6,551
percentage = 3.84
change = Election box majority
votes = 9,775
percentage = 5.54
change = Election box turnout
votes = 176,260
percentage =
change = Election box hold with party link no swing
winner = Democratic Party (US)

References

Persondata
NAME=Gregory Luna
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=San Antonio, Texas politician
DATE OF BIRTH=17 November 1932
PLACE OF BIRTH=New Braunfels, Texas
DATE OF DEATH=6 November 1999
PLACE OF DEATH=San Antonio, Texas