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Judith Zaffirini

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Judith Pappas Zaffirini
Zaffirini in 2009.
Member of the Texas Senate
from the 21st district
Incumbent
Assumed office
1987
Preceded byJohn Traeger
Personal details
Born (1946-02-13) February 13, 1946 (age 78)
Laredo, Webb County
Texas, USA
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Carlos Zaffirini, Sr.
ChildrenCarlos Zaffirini, Jr.
Residence(s)Laredo, Texas
Alma materLaredo Community College
University of Texas at Austin
ProfessionCommunications business

Judith Pappas Zaffirini (born February 13, 1946) is a Democratic member of the Texas State Senate representing the 21st District, which includes her home city of Laredo in south Texas. On January 9, 2007, Zaffirini became the second in seniority in the 31-member Texas Senate, of which she has been a member since 1987.[1] Zaffirini has been named among the "Top 100 Most Influential Hispanics in the United States" by Hispanic Business magazine, which has been published in California since 1979.[2] Zaffirini is the first Mexican American woman elected to the Texas Senate.[3]

Elections

In 1986, Zaffirini defeated the late State Representative William N. "Billy" Hall, Jr., in the Democratic runoff primary for state senator. She then defeated Republican attorney and businessman Bennie Walter 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 Democratic primary held on March 4, 2008, but Barrientos withdrew from the race on January 9. Barrientos' name remained on the ballot, and he did some advertising. Zaffirini won the nomination, 108,572 (78.6 perent) to Barrientos' 23,262 ballots (21.4 percent).[4]

For years, Zaffirini has used this campaign sign to promote her candidacy for the Texas State Senate. She has easily defeated her intraparty and interparty opponents.

In the general election held on November 4, 2008, Zaffirini carried all seventeen counties in the district to defeat former county judge (2003–2007) Louis Henry Bruni (born July 9, 1949), a Laredo Democrat who switched to Republican affiliation on December 27, 2007. Though Bruni made a vigorous campaign effort, Zaffirini received 129,608 votes (68.2 percent) to Bruni's 55,363 (29.1 percent). Another 4,966 ballots (2.6 percent) were cast for Libertarian Barry L. Allison (born March 18, 1948) of San Antonio. After the loss to Zaffirini, Bruni returned to the Democratic Party.

In 2004, Zaffirini had easily 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.[5] 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.[6]

In the November 6, 2012, general election, Zaffirini handily defeated the Republican candidate, Grant Elliot Rostig (born c. 1958) of Lockhart, a supporter of the Ron Paul presidential campaign, 2012, who was endorsed by the Republican Liberty Caucus.[7] Zaffirini received 129,681 votes (67.6 percent) to Rostig's x55,933 (29.2 percent). The remaining 2.7 percent of the vote went to the Libertarian nominee, Joseph Morse.[8]

As a legislator

Despite her Democratic heritage, Zaffirini is known for her ability to work across party lines, particularly her friendship with Republican Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst, the presiding officer of the state Senate, who lost the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate in 2012 to Ted Cruz. Zaffirini had a similar close tie to the late Democratic Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock, for whom the Laredo Loop 20 interchange is named. Undefeated at the polls, Zaffirini declared "voters are always well informed, and I believe they will decide to support me based on my record and seniority."[9]

The Senator Judith Zaffirini Library at Laredo Community College South Campus in Laredo, Texas.
The Senator Judith Zaffirini Student Success Center at Texas A&M International University in Laredo was dedicated in September 2012, with Governor Rick Perry and Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst in attendance.
The Senator Judith Zaffirini Elementary School is located off Texas State Highway 359 in east Laredo.

Zaffirini has a 100 percent voting record, having cast more than fifty thousand consecutive votes since January 1987. She even once missed her son's graduation to maintain the record.[10] She would also have a career perfect attendance record too except for of the monthJuly 2003, when she joined her fellow Democrats who fled to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to prevent a quorum to halt Republican plans to re-redistrict the Texas congressional map. After three special legislative sessions, the GOP plan was adopted, but it was later altered by the United States Supreme Court. That change resulted in the defeat in 2006 of Republican U.S. Representative Henry Bonilla of San Antonio.

In 2007, Zaffirini led a successful movement to restore $154 million in community college funds vetoed by Governor Rick Perry.

In 2011, Zaffirini voted against the state appropriations bill because it reduced funding for public education by $5.4 billion, including $1.4 billion for targeted programs, such as pre-kindergarten expansion grants, one of her favorite programs. In 2013, Zaffirini will push for the issuance of tuition revenue bonds to fund capital construction projects on state college and university campuses, including TAMIU in Laredo.[11]

In 2012, Lieutenant Governor Dewhurst removed Zaffirini from the chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Higher Education in favor of Kel Seliger, a Republican from Amarillo. Instead Zaffirni chairs the Senate Committee on Government Organization. She will remain a member of the higher education committee under Seliger and will continue as the co-chair of the Oversight Committee on Higher Education Governance Excellence and Transparency. Zaffirini said that she will continue to influence higher education policy "but the only difference is that the gavel won't be in my hand."[12]


In July 2013, Zaffirini joined her Democrat colleagues in voting against Republican-sponsored legislation which passed the Senate, 19 to 11, to reduce from twenty-six to twenty weeks of gestation the maximum time limit during which a woman can procure an abortion. Zaffirini, who identifies herself as "pro-life", describes the new law as not pro-life per se but one that limits a woman's access to health care and fails to address the question of unintended pregnancies.[13]Zaffirini said that she does "not believe that an unborn child can feel pain at twenty weeks. Nevertheless that had nothing to do with my position. ..."[13] Zaffirini said, "Like it or not abortion is the law of the land, and because it is we must insure that women have access to safe and legal abortions. If they do not, then they will resort to coat hangers and self-aborting and illegal abortions, and that is wrong."[13]

Election history

Election history of Zaffirini since 1992.[14]

Most recent election

2008

Texas General Election, 2008: Senate District 21[15]
Candidate Votes % ±
Republican - Louis H. Bruni 55,363 29.15
Libertarian - Barry L. Allison 4,966 2.61
✓ Democrat - Judith Zaffirini (Incumbent) 129,608 68.24
Turnout 189,937
Democratic primary, 2008: Senate District 21[16]
Candidate Votes % ±
Rene Barrientos 23,262 21.4
✓ Judith Zaffirini (Incumbent) 108,572 78.6
Turnout 131,834

Previous Elections

2004

Texas general election, 2004: Senate District 21[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Judith Zaffirini (Incumbent) 127,573 100.00 +10.89
Majority 127,573 100.00 +21.78
Turnout 127,573 +18.86
Democratic hold
Democratic primary, 2004: Senate District 21[18]
Candidate Votes % ±
Raymond Bruni 17,089 21.35
✓ Judith Zaffirini (Incumbent) 62,960 78.65
Majority 45,871 57.30
Turnout 80,049

2002

Texas general election, 2002: Senate District 21[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Judith Zaffirini (Incumbent) 95,644 89.11 +22.65
Libertarian Jeff Carruthers 11,688 10.89 +10.89
Majority 83,956 78.22 +45.31
Turnout 107,332 −32.76
Democratic hold

2000

Texas general election, 2000: Senate District 21[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican David Swift 53,547 33.54 −0.14
Democratic Judith Zaffirini (Incumbent) 106,089 66.46 +0.14
Majority 52,542 32.91 +0.27
Turnout 159,636 +15.13
Democratic hold

1996

Texas general election, 1996: Senate District 21[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican James C. Whitworth 46,698 33.68 +2.21
Democratic Judith Zaffirini (Incumbent) 91,956 66.32 −2.21
Majority 45,258 32.64 −4.41
Turnout 138,654 +33.77
Democratic hold

1994

Texas general election, 1994: Senate District 21[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Judith Zaffirini (Incumbent) 71,029 68.53 −31.47
Republican Fernando Cantu 32,624 31.47 +31.47
Majority 38,405 37.05 −62.95
Turnout 103,653 −6.95
Democratic hold

1992

Texas general election, 1992: Senate District 21[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Judith Zaffirini (Incumbent) 111,398 100.00
Majority 111,398 100.00
Turnout 111,398
Democratic hold

See also

References

  1. ^ Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) (2002-09-13). "State Senate Candidates for 2002 General Election". Retrieved 2006-12-27.
  2. ^ Odie Arambula, "Magazine names Zaffirini influential", Laredo Morning Times, October 13, 2008, p. 4A
  3. ^ Vaughn, Reese. "Women around Texas share their words of wisdom." The Victoria Advocate. Friday August 30, 2002. 10E. Retrieved on February 4, 2012.
  4. ^ Democratic primary returns, Laredo Morning Times, March 5, 2008, p. 1
  5. ^ Aguilar, Julian (2007-12-28). "Bruni becomes Republican in a bid to unseat Zaffirini". Laredo Morning Times. p. 1A, 13A.
  6. ^ Cortez, Tricia (2008-01-10). "Zaffirini foe quits". Laredo Morning Times. pp. 1, 12A.
  7. ^ "Grant Rostig for State Senator, District 21". grantrostig.com. Retrieved November 5, 2012.
  8. ^ "Texas general election returns, November 6, 2012". Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  9. ^ Cortez, Tricia (2007-12-21). "Zaffirini's ready to run for her state senate seat". Laredo Morning Times. p. 3A.
  10. ^ ""Texas Sen. Zaffirini casts 50,000th vote"". Lubbock Avalanche Journal. Retrieved May 18, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  11. ^ "Senator Zaffirini eyes education budget restoration", Laredo Morning Times, pp. 1J, 9J, January 27, 2013
  12. ^ JJ Velasquez, "Sen. Zaffirini out", Laredo Morning Times, October 5, 2012, pp. 1, 11A
  13. ^ a b c "House Bill 2: Senator Zaffirini explains her position: Reduces women's health care access", Laredo Morning Times, July 14, 2013, pp. 1, 10A
  14. ^ Uncontested primary elections are not shown.
  15. ^ "2008 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved 2008-11-04.
  16. ^ "2008 Democratic Party Primary Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved 2007-03-04.
  17. ^ "2004 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved 2007-01-04.
  18. ^ "2004 Democratic Party Primary Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved 2007-01-04.
  19. ^ "2002 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved 2007-01-04.
  20. ^ "2000 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved 2007-01-04.
  21. ^ "1996 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved 2007-01-04.
  22. ^ "1994 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved 2007-01-04.
  23. ^ "1992 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved 2007-01-04.
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