Políticas : Latina public officials in Texas / Sonia R. García ... [and others] ; foreword by Patricia Madrid.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

García, Sonia R. (Sonia Rebecca), 1961-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Mexican American women politicians--Texas.

Mexican American women politicians.

Texas.

Physical Description:

xvi, 170 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations ; 23 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Austin : University of Texas Press, 2008.

Summary:

In the decades since Latinas began to hold public office in the United States in the late 1950s, they have blazed new trails in public life, bringing fresh perspectives, leadership styles, and policy agendas to the business of governing cities, counties, states, and the nation. As of 2004, Latinas occupied 27.4 percent of the more than 6,000 elected and appointed local, state, and national positions filled by Hispanic officeholders. The greatest number of these Latina officeholders resides in Texas, where nearly six hundred women occupy posts from municipal offices, school boards, and county offices to seats in the Texas House and Senate.

In this book, five Latina political scientists-trailblazers in their own field-profile the women who have been the first Latinas to hold key elected and appointed positions in Texas government. Through interviews with each woman or her associates, the authors explore and theorize about Latina officeholders' political socialization, decision to run for office and obstacles overcome, leadership style, and representational roles and advocacy. The profiles begin with Irma Rangel, the first Latina elected to the Texas House of Representatives, and Judith Zaffirini and Leticia Van de Putte, the only two Latinas to serve in the Texas Senate. The authors also interview Lena Guerrero, the first and only Latina to serve in a statewide office; judges Linda Yanez, Alma Lopez, Elma Salinas Ender, Mary Roman, and Alicia Chacon: mayors Blanca Sanchez Vela (Brownsville), Betty Flores (Laredo), and Olivia Serna (Crystal City); and Latina city councilwomen from San Antonio, El Paso, Dallas, Houston, and Laredo.

Contents:

Understanding Latina political leadership

Areas of inquiry : why so few Latinas hold public office

Irma Rangel : the first Latina in the Texas legislature

Latinas in the Texas senate

Latinas in statewide office

Latinas on the bench

Latinas as mayors

Latinas in local government.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [151]-163) and index.

ISBN:

9780292717299

0292717296

9780292717886

0292717881

OCLC:

154689505