Roland Gutierrez products sold in local outlets. Masarrat Ali State Representative, District 119 While the successes of this past State Representative, District 122 session are many, we still have more work I entered elective public ahead. Our fight will continue for better Masarrat Ali was born in the service first as a San Antonio City Coun- public schools, affordable public health historic town of Jhansi, India. He was the cilman and currently serve as the State care, effective public safety, and policies to oldest of 9 children all living in a small Representative of District 119 because I help strengthen the economic security of one-room home. His parents saw early wanted to make a difference. I feel that our citizens, reduce homeowners insurance signs of a great future for him and decided if we work together on the issues facing premiums, increase funding of CHIP – to send him to the Aligarh University, one us, we will enjoy a better community. Children’s Health Insurance Program, and of the oldest and most prestigious universi- In the last Legislative Session, Demo- efforts to incentivize a greener moreties of India. crats and Republicans passed a $182 environmentally sound Texas. After earning various degrees in Billion budget, maintaining a $9 Billion Rainy Day A native of San Antonio, Gutierrez is a 1989 the sciences, he earned his Ph.D. in 1981 at the Central Drug Research Fund, increased public school funding, increased graduate of Central Catholic High School. He earned Institute in India due to his research in cancer genes. After spending pay for teachers, increased Texas Grants, as well as his BA in political science from the University of time as an assistant professor in Paris and in furthering his education provided tax relief to small businesses. These Texas at San Antonio and earned his law degree from in London, Dr. Ali was granted a post-doctoral fellowship at the successes came about through the diligent efforts of St. Mary's University School of Law. He is the sole Louisiana State University Medical Center in New Orleans. He spent the House and Senate coming together to forge proprietor of his own law firm and is involved in the 10 years at LSU and Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton good legislation for the benefit of all Texans. Elder Law Clinic, which provides free legal services to Rouge as a research assistant professor. As your State Representative for District senior citizens. Representative Gutierrez, his wife His research in breast cancer brought him to the University 119, I passed nine bills, including measures to Sarah, and their daughters Izabella & Victoria live in of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. Dr. Ali decided to base protect successful family health programs, provide a the San Jose neighborhood, where they attend his biotech company Alpha Diagnostic International (ADI) in San tax cut to small businesses, fund new courts to help Mission San Jose and are active in a variety of Antonio. ADI uses diagnostic solutions to help fight diseases such as streamline the local judicial process, and hold community projects. cancer, Alzheimer’s, obesity, diabetes, and to develop vaccines for foreign manufacturers accountable for harmful malaria and bird/swine flu. He has written over 50 articles which were published in biotech journals. Ruth Jones McClendon Austin by Dr. Larry C. Driver, Professor of Dr. Ali is blessed with a sincere, educated, and caring wife of State Representative, District 120 Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine at the 22 years, Parveen Akhtar, and three hard-working children. The Ali University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer family has lived in San Antonio for 17 years. Ruth Jones McClendon was Center, recognizing her for "outstanding Recently, Dr. Ali helped build a new community center geared first elected to the Texas House of legislative advocacy for the quality of life toward interfaith dialogue to bridge a gap over ignorance for the Representatives in 1996, representing of cancer patients." Representative sake San Antonio’s growing diversity. He embodies the American District 120 in San Antonio. Her service McClendon authored legislation in 2007 dream, an immigrant who came to America with only $20 in his during the 81st Regular Session of the to establish an interim review committee pocket only to rise to be the CEO of a pharmaceutical laboratory. Legislature marked her seventh term in to study current disparities in legislation After seeing a Republican carelessly represent Texas House office. affecting pain management and distribu- District 122 for the last 17 years, Dr. Ali couldn’t bear to see a new McClendon has served two tion of pain medications, and report on its Republican take his place without a challenge. terms as Chair of the House Committee findings to the 81st Legislative Session. A When Dr. Ali is elected, he expects to tackle the toll road issue on Rules and Resolutions. She also served as a strong advocate for the welfare of children, she is the whereby private corporations are trying to build toll roads where member of the House Committee on Transportation recipient of the 2006 Regional and State "Legislator none are needed. He is also prepared to help cut down the Texas during the 81st Legislative Session. Additionally, she of the Year" awards from the Texas Council of Child debt that grew out of control because of reckless Republican spend- has held a coveted seat for four terms on the power- Welfare Boards. The Texas Criminal Justice Coalition ing. After years of teaching in higher education, Dr. Ali wants to bring ful House Appropriations Committee, which writes presented her their outstanding leadership award his expertise to ensure our state has a better education system. His the $180 billion budget for the state of Texas. She for The Most Thoughtful Juvenile Justice Reformer in life has been changed by education, and he wants to ensure Texas served as Vice-Chair of the Criminal Justice Subcom- May, 2009. children get the same opportunities for success. mittee of the Appropriations Committee. A native Texan, born in Houston, and a In addition, she has served two appointed graduate of Phillis Wheatley High School and Texas terms on the influential Sunset Advisory Commis- Southern University, she earned sion (SAC). The SAC is comprised of five House mem- her Master of Arts degree from bers and five Senate members, in addition to two Webster University, was awarded public members serving on the panel. The work of an Honorary Doctorate from this Commission continues through the interim Guadalupe College Theological period between Sessions, when members study Seminary and a Honorary Associ- reports about the several agencies under periodic ates Degree from St. Philip’s review for renewal of their agency operations. Texas College. As a member of Holy Monthly distinguished her with "Honorable Redeemer Catholic Church, she Mention" as one of the Best Legislators of the 81st serves as a Lector and Extraordi- Session. Capitol Inside named her as one of seven nary Minister. She is married to Lt. House members of the twelve legislators in the "Top Colonel (retired) Denver McClen- Tier" of Legislators of the 81st Session. don, a member of the Alamo Representative McClendon was honored on Community College Board of September 10, 2007 with the Texas Advocacy Award Trustees, and together they have from the American Cancer Society. The award was four adult children. presented at the Texas Pain Summit meeting in Mike Villarreal tee to provide TEXAS Grants, our state's Joaquin Castro State Representative, District 123 primary college grants program, to 36,000 State Representative, District 125 more students. As a result, low-income State Representative Mike parents will receive a guide to child devel- Joaquin Castro Villarreal was born and raised in San opment and parenting skills and will be represents a portion of Bexar Antonio, Texas, the son of parents who more likely to read to their children during County in the Texas House of taught their children the importance of their formative first few years of life. More Representatives, which earning an education, working hard working parents can provide high-quality includes the cities of San and aspiring for a better life. He gradu- child care to their children at their work- Antonio and Leon Valley. ated from Central Catholic High School place. Children will be more likely to enroll Joaquin, along with his identi- and received an economics degree in pre-k and hit the ground running in cal twin brother Julian (mayor from Texas A&M University as well as a kindergarten. In grade school they will of San Antonio) are among master’s degree in public policy from spend fewer days on practice tests and the vanguards of a new class Harvard’s Kennedy School of Govern- more days learning. They are less likely to of Latino leaders that are ment. be stuck with an inexperienced or uncerti- emerging across the country. His professional background in finance led to fied teacher at a low-performing school. In fact, they He has received state and his employment at the Federal Reserve Board of Gover- may have a highly effective Teach for America teacher. national attention as a politi- nors, JP Morgan Securities. He currently directs the San The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) has cal rising star in the Los Angeles Times, Dallas Morning Antonio office for Public Financial Management, the failed to make sure that some employers follow workers News, Texas Monthly, Latina Magazine, People en Español, nation's leading public finance advisory firm. compensation requirements and keep their employees and numerous other publications. Mike was first elected to the Texas House of Representa- safe. TDI is now working to ensure that employers He was raised in San Antonio's Westside and tives in 1999 as a result of an aggressive grassroots report on their compliance with these requirements attended Jefferson High School before leaving his home- campaign, winning by one vote after defeating a judge thanks to a provision I included in the budget the last town to attend Stanford University.