- Juan Hinojosa
-
Juan Hinojosa 
Hinojosa in 2008. Member of the Texas Senate
from the 20th districtIncumbent Assumed office
2003Personal details Born March 7, 1946 Political party Democratic Residence Mission, Texas Alma mater Pan American University, Georgetown University Profession attorney Juan Jesus “Chuy” Hinojosa (born 7 March 1946) is a Democratic member of the Texas Senate representing the 20th District (Corpus Christi - McAllen).[1]
Contents
Biographical Information
Born in McAllen, Texas, Hinojosa was a farm worker who worked his way through school to earn a law degree. For more than 20 years, Hinojosa has represented the area of South Texas in both the House of Representatives and the Texas Senate.
Hinojosa served his country in the U.S. Marines as a squad leader in Vietnam from 1966 to 1968. Returning to South Texas, he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Pan American University in Edinburg, where he graduated with honors.
After receiving a law degree from Georgetown University in Washington D.C., Hinojosa worked for the Legal Aid Society of Nueces County in Corpus Christi and as an Assistant Attorney General in McAllen and San Antonio.
First elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1981, Hinojosa served eight terms before being elected to the Texas Senate in 2002. Hinojosa has earned a reputation[2] for his criminal justice expertise. He authored the Texas Fair Defense Act and other reforms to establish court-appointed counsel for indigent defendants, prohibit capital punishment for defendants with mental illness, and streamline the court system to provide swifter justice. He also sponsored SB 3, which established procedures for DNA testing, use and preservation. In 2005, Senator Hinojosa authored SB 1125 to eliminate the state's few remaining rogue[3] drug task force operations and put them under the jurisdiction of the Department of Public Safety. In the wake of the Tulia drug-task-force scandal,[4] Hinojosa worked to improve public policy by requiring that drug task force operations submit to state oversight, failure to do so would result in an inability to receive state-administered federal grant money. This change in public policy brought greater transparency and oversight to these operations.
During the 2007 legislative session, Hinojosa authored and passed SB 103;[5] to completely reform the state’s troubled[6] Texas Youth Commission after sexual and physical abuse [7] of youth were documented by the Texas Rangers. SB 103 made a number of fundamental changes, including ending the practice of housing children with older teenagers, and creating a Parent’s Bill of Rights to guarantee swift and accurate access to information about caseworkers’ duties and the agency’s grievance policies. Senator Hinojosa was appointed to the TYC Legislative Oversight Committee to continue working on the reform of the troubled agency.
Hinojosa has twice been named one of Texas’ top 10 legislators by Texas Monthly magazine, and in 2007 he again received accolades[8] from the magazine for his work reforming the Texas Youth Commission. The National Organization for Women (NOW) named Hinojosa “Legislator of the Year,” and he received the prestigious John Henry Faulk Award, presented by the American Civil Liberties Union. In 2006, he was the recipient of the Public Servant of the Year Award from the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities, and in 2007, he received the Patient Advocacy Award from the Texas Academy of Family Physicians. He also received the Humane Legislator award from the Humane Society of the United States, a special recognition award from the NAACP for his work on TYC and criminal justice reform and the “Texas Medicines Best Legislator” award from the Texas Medical Association for his work to restore Children’s Health Insurance Program funding and improve childhood immunization rates.
He is not related to Texas U.S. Representative Rubén Hinojosa who represents the same general area in Congress as Senator Hinojosa does in the state Senate.
Election history
Senate election history of Hinjosa.[9]
Most recent election
2004
Texas general election, 2004: Senate District 20[10] Party Candidate Votes % ±% Democratic Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa (Incumbent) 116,723 100.00 0.00 Majority 116,723 100.00 0.00 Turnout 116,723 +48.34 Democratic hold Previous elections
2002
Texas general election, 2002: Senate District 20[11] Party Candidate Votes % ±% Democratic Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa 78,685 100.00 +41.91 Majority 78,685 100.00 +83.82 Turnout 78,685 -20.23 Democratic hold Democratic primary runoff, 2002: Senate District 20[12] Candidate Votes % ±% Barbara Canales-Black 27,068 44.53 [13]+5.47 ✓ Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa 33,716 55.47 +12.45 Majority 6,648 10.94 Turnout 60,784 Democratic primary, 2002: Senate District 20[14] Candidate Votes % ±% ✓ Barbara Canales-Black 25,922 39.07 Ruben M. Garcia 4,266 6.43 ✓ Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa 28,543 43.02 Diana Martinez 7,624 11.49 Turnout 66,355 1992
Democratic primary, 1992: Senate District 27[15] Candidate Votes % ±% Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa 25,132 42.67 ✓ Eddie Lucio, Jr. (Incumbent) 33,765 57.33 Majority 8,633 14.66 Turnout 58,897 Controversy
Incident at Miller International Airport in McAllen, Texas
In 2005, Hinojosa carried a gun past an airport's security checkpoint. Hinojosa was detained, and police verified his concealed handgun permit and identity and traced the weapon before releasing him. Before Hinojosa was even arraigned, the criminal charges were dropped by local judge Kathleen Henley, prompting allegations of special treatment and corruption,[16] including from Texas gun-owners, and from the McAllen police chief Victor Rodriguez who said: "I think dismayed is probably...too kind...for [how we feel about Judge Henley dismissing the charges] but it's in that area. Because we operated under the idea yesterday that an arraignment would take place" [but then] "we learned that Judge Henley basically dismissed him. ... I've never seen a case basically tossed out at the arraignment point," and "The laws are very specific and very clear. It's a chargeable offense even if it's done recklessly [i.e. accidentally, as was the excuse Senator Hinojosa gave]".[17][18] Judge Henley has refused to comment on why she dismissed the charges against Hinojosa.[18]
Hinojosa claims that he "was handled just like any other citizen",[18] however, in comparison: Many people have been penalized for "accidentally" carrying a gun through security check-points in American airports.[19]
Hinojosa also made a public statement soon after the incident, admitting he had made a mistake by "rushing to the airport and not checking my briefcase prior to entering the McAllen Miller International Airport." He said airport security [20] did its job. Soon after the incident, Hinojosa sent a letter of apology to the chief of the McAllen Police Department. He also commended the department for performing its duty with utmost professionalism.
However, Hinojosa has also claimed multiple times that it was legal for himself to have had the gun in his carry-on baggage,[18] despite that:
(A) Federal law says that a person is in violation if he "knowingly possesses OR (emphasis added) causes to be present a firearm or other dangerous weapon in a Federal facility".[21] (NOTE the text after the word "or," in the above quote. See also the fact that others have been penalized for "accidentally" rather than "knowingly" carrying a gun through American airport security check-points.[19])
(B) According to John Mumma, federal security director for the Transportation Security Administration at Gerald R. Ford International Airport, "There's NO EXCUSE (emphasis added)for showing up at an airport checkpoint with a weapon. If you do, bad things will happen to you. The FBI will respond, you will be retained, you will lose your CCW permit and could go to prison. And I'm going to fine you with a pretty stiff civil penalty."[22]
and
(C) Texas State laws make it illegal, even for those with concealed-carry permits, to carry concealed firearms into any public place where a posted sign says firearms are not allowed, and secure areas—such as in public airports.[23]
Traffic Stop by South Texas Drug Task Force
In 2005, Hinojosa was pulled over by an agent from a South Texas Drug Task Force on Hwy 281 while traveling south. The agent stated that the reason for the stop was that Hinojosa swerved his vehicle from lane to lane, and that the tint on Hinojosa's car was too dark. Hinojosa accused officers of racial profiling, despite that the entire incident was videotaped and Hinojosa never proved the racial profiling accusation to the internal affairs division that supervises the officers who arrested him. Hinojosa told the agent during the stop that he had no reason to pull him over and that the tint on his windows was factory-issued. Hinojosa was allowed to continue his travel after being cited for the window tinting. Hinojosa later told[24] Guillermo X. Garcia, a reporter for the San Antonio Express-News, that the task force agent followed him for 3 miles before pulling him over.
In 2005 legislative discussions, Hinojosa was quoted as saying, "These drug task forces are out there just interdicting and stopping people illegally without probable cause asking to search their vehicles and pretty much harassing [25] citizens of the state of Texas. And all they are trying to do is see if they can find money that they can seize to fund their operations. To me what they do is illegal,[26] improper, and not good public policy." Hinojosa also said of Texas' Drug Task Forces, "They don't need probable cause to stop you. They just stop you. They will profile you, which is illegal, ask to search your vehicle without probable cause, which is also illegal, and I refuse. But a lot of citizens don't know that and what they do is go through your car, snoop around, see what they can find and let you go if they don't find any money. Those drug task forces have no business operating in our state."
References
- ^ Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) (2002-09-13). "State Senate Candidates for 2002 General Election". http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/candidates/general/senate/senateaddr.shtml. Retrieved 2006-12-27.
- ^ "Texas Monthly Top 10 Legislators 2001". http://www.texasmonthly.com/preview/2001-07-01/feature2.
- ^ "The Kingsville Record". http://www.kingsvillerecord.net/story7.shtml.
- ^ "Austin American Statesman". http://www.statesman.com/editorial/content/editorial/tulia/0317tulia_edit.html.
- ^ "Texas Legislature Online". http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=SB103.
- ^ "Dallas Morning News". http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/042007dntexsenate.25df569e.html.
- ^ "Dallas Morning News". http://www.dallasnews.com/investigativereports/tyc/.
- ^ "Texas Monthly 10 Best Legislators 2007". http://www.texasmonthly.com/preview/2007-07-01/feature2.
- ^ Uncontested primary elections are not shown.
- ^ "2004 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
- ^ "2002 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
- ^ "2002 Democratic Party Primary Runoff Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
- ^ Change from primary percentage.
- ^ "2002 Democratic Party Primary Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
- ^ "1992 Democratic Party Primary Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe. Retrieved 2007-01-05.
- ^ Team 4 News: Reader Responses
- ^ ABC News
- ^ a b c d Team 4 News
- ^ a b Slate (partner of MSNBC)
- ^ "ABC News". http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=state&id=3524853&ft=exLg.
- ^ federal law"Federal Law Code 44". http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/18C44.txt.
- ^ Michigan Live/Grand Rapids Press
- ^ Texas | usccw.org
- ^ "Counter Punch.Org". http://www.counterpunch.org/moses04262005.html.
- ^ "Grits for Breakfast". http://gritsforbreakfast.blogspot.com/2005/04/senator-faces-police-retaliation-over.html.
- ^ "The Kingsville Record". http://www.kingsvillerecord.net/story7.shtml.
External links
- Senate of Texas - Senator Juan Hinojosa official TX Senate website
- Project Vote Smart - Senator Juan Hinojosa (TX) profile
- Follow the Money - Juan Hinojosa
Texas House of Representatives Preceded by
Cullen Rogers LooneyMember of the Texas House of Representatives
from District 59-A (McAllen)
1981–1983Succeeded by
Obsolete districtPreceded by
Leroy J. WietingMember of the Texas House of Representatives
from District 41 (McAllen)
1983–1991Succeeded by
Roberto GutierrezPreceded by
Roberto de la GarzaMember of the Texas House of Representatives
from District 40 (McAllen)
1997–2003Succeeded by
Aaron PeñaTexas Senate Preceded by
Carlos F. TruanTexas State Senator
from District 20 (Mission)
2003 – presentIncumbent Members of the Texas State Senate 82nd Legislature (2011)
President of the Senate: David Dewhurst (R) • President pro Tempore: Steve Ogden (R)- Kevin Eltife (R)
- Bob Deuell (R)
- Robert Nichols (R)
- Tommy Williams (R)
- Steve Ogden (R)
- Mario Gallegos, Jr. (D)
- Dan Patrick (R)
- Florence Shapiro (R)
- Chris Harris (R)
- Wendy Davis (D)
- Mike Jackson (R)
- Jane Nelson (R)
- Rodney Ellis (D)
- Kirk Watson (D)
- John Whitmire (D)
- John Carona (R)
- Joan Huffman (R)
- Glenn Hegar (R)
- Carlos I. Uresti (D)
- Juan Hinojosa (D)
- Judith Zaffirini (D)
- Brian Birdwell (R)
- Royce West (D)
- Troy Fraser (R)
- Jeff Wentworth (R)
- Leticia R. Van de Putte (D)
- Eddie Lucio, Jr. (D)
- Robert L. Duncan (R)
- Jose Rodriguez (D)
- Craig Estes (R)
- Kel Seliger (R)
Republican (20) • Democratic (11) • Texas Legislature • Texas House of Representatives • Texas State SenateCategories:- 1946 births
- Living people
- Texas State Senators
- Members of the Texas House of Representatives
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