SAN ANTONIO - Tina Torres, a seasoned and well-regarded San Antonio attorney and daughter of legendary civil justice leader Pete Torres Jr. and education advocate Yolanda P. Torres, today announced her candidacy for the State Legislature in House District 117. Her entrance provides voters with a clear choice between Republican John Garza's destructive extremism and a common sense leader that will protect the priorities of San Antonio families.
Torres enters the race after receiving the support and encouragement of dozens of San Antonio community leaders including Councilman Diego Bernal, State Board of Education Member Dr. Michael Soto, State Rep. Mike Villareal, former San Antonio ISD Trustee Mary Esther Bernal and former State Senator Dr. Joe Bernal, former Judge Catherine Torres-Stahl, Liz Provencio, Alan Schoenbaun, Sonia Rodriguez, Colleen Casey, Celina Pena, Nancy Diehl and more.
“I am honored by this tremendous show of support and I’m running because families in District 117 need someone willing to stand up and fight for them - not against them. Republican Rep. John Garza’s voting record is shameful and harmful to families in District 117 and throughout Bexar County and the State of Texas.”
Torres comes from a family legacy of public service with her father, Pete Torres Jr., being one of the first Latinos elected to the San Antonio City Council in the 1960‘s and her mother, Yolanda P. Torres, being the first Latina elected to the State Board of Education. “My parents instilled in me a lifelong sense of civic duty. They taught me to always give back to the community to ensure that opportunities are there for others - especially our children.”
Torres is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and St. Mary’s School of Law and has been a practicing attorney fighting for people’s rights for the last 15 years. She is past president of the Mexican-American Bar Association and an active supporter of Child Advocates of San Antonio (C.A.S.A), Urban Connection, the Inman Christian Center, and the San Antonio Bar Foundation’s Community Justice Program.
Torres enters the race at a time that demands common sense leadership. The Republican majority, including Rep. John Garza, failed to protect the priorities of Texas families when they shortchanged public schools by $4 billion dollars, slashed college scholarship opportunities, cut off access to the court system, denied health care to more than 500,000 Texas women and children, and refused to tap into the Rainy Day Fund to protect Texas children, all while not proposing a single piece of legislation to create jobs in Texas.
“John Garza has played an active role in the extreme wing of the Republican majoring that is out-of-touch and threatening the health, safety and financial security of San Antonio families. His assault on our communities must stop. I am the candidate who can and will win in November and will champion our priorities and values in the Texas House.”
