Representative Eddie Rodriguez was first elected in 2002. Eddie was born in McAllen, Texas, leaving home to be the first in his family to attend college. He received his B.A. in Government from the University of Texas in 1995 and is currently a third year law student at the University of Texas School of Law. During the 80th Legislative session, he was appointed to the Pension and Investments, Government Reform, and Redistricting Committees. He is focused on environmental and election issues, health and human services, and economic development in minority neighborhoods. In the 79th Legislative Session, Representative Rodriguez introduced and passed legislation that authorizes the City of Austin to establish the State's first Homestead Preservation District in East Austin. Other successes for Representative Rodriguez include the passage of his own House bills (or those passed as Senate companions) and amendments relating to: the National School Breakfast Program; youth with disabilities who are transitioning out of the public school system and children's services to adult activities and services; the payment of ad valorem taxes; the creation of the Travis-Creedmoor Municipal Utility District; the ability of the Austin police and fire retirement systems to join the Proportionate Retirement Program; the sharing of information by the Texas Department of Public Safety to appraisal districts; and the creation of the Person with Permanent Disability Home Loan Program. He is a member of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, the Legislative Study Group, and serves on the board of the Women's Political Caucus.
Lulu Flores, a longtime political activist and Austin attorney she is the newly elected president of the National Women’s Political Caucus (NWPC). As president of this 30-year-old women’s grassroots political force, Ms. Flores intends to encourage women of various ethnic backgrounds to seek public office and increase the number of young women involved in politics. Ms. Flores was born and raised in Laredo, Texas, where her father was one of the founding members of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). She is also an attorney and is Of Counsel to HendlerLaw, an Austin-based law firm. She acts as senior legal advisor and provides strategic counsel regarding the firm’s cases. Ms. Flores has dedicated many years to supporting local causes of particular concern to women including Planned Parenthood of Texas Capital Region, the Texas Advocacy Project and Safe Place. She was recently honored by Austin Partners in Education as a High School Mentor of the year. For several years she has served as president of the Mexic-Arte Museum and is a past chair at the Travis County Women Lawyers Foundation, a former president of the Mexican-American Bar Association of Texas, and an active member of the Hispanic Bar Association of Austin. She has had the opportunity to serve on the Supreme Court’s Gender Equality Task Force for the State of Texas. And in 2007, Ms. Flores was named in the Austin American-Statesman’s ‘Fortune 500’ as an ‘All Star Social Superstar.’
Paul Saldaña is the president and principal of Adelánte Solutions, Inc. founded in January 2003, to provide public affairs representation tailored to the culture and values of the Hispanic and Minority communities. Specific services include government relations, crisis issues management, public relations, media and communication strategies, and effective minority recruitment and business development strategies specifically geared towards HUB and MBE/WBE programs. Mr. Saldaña has spent more than 18 years in local municipal government, public policy public affairs and political consulting. Most recently as the Chief of Staff for the first elected Hispanic Mayor of Austin, Gus Garcia where he served as the lead policy advisor developing comprehensive public policies and strategies. Previous experience also includes working as Vice President of Martin & Salinas Public Affairs and Regional Director for Franchising and Government Relations for Western Integrated Networks (WIN) Telecommunications. Mr. Saldaña is a firm believer in giving back to the community through volunteer work, service on various Boards and Commissions and being actively involved in issues that enhance and impact the quality of life for all citizens of Austin. Saldaña currently serves as on the Executive Board of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce and is the Immediate Past Chair. Saldaña is a recent graduate of the inaugural National Hispanic Executive Leadership Academy at the prestigious University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.
Diana Maldonado is a candidate for House District 52 in Williamson County, Texas. She is a two-term member of the Round Rock School Board, winning both her at-large elections with over %60 of the vote. Diana served as the first Latina President in the Board's history. During her tenure, Wiliamson County schools were recognized by Forbes Magazine as one of the most affordable school districts with the highest student standards in the country. Diana earned her Bachelor’s in Business Management in 2000, graduated magna cum laude from St. Edward's University New College, and was on the Dean's List while working full-time. She was the recipient of the Personal/Professional Award at the Comptroller's Office in 1999 while undertaking this endeavor and continues her support as an advocate for the St. Edward's University New College program. Diana is an active member of St. William’s Catholic Church and is mother of two children; Alex, 26, graduate of Round Rock High who is pursuing a degree in Government and minor in Creative Writing at the University of Texas at Austin and Denise Michelle, 22, a graduate of Stony Point High who attends Austin Community College.
Hector Nieto joined the TDP in April of 2006 and became Communications Director in February 2008. As the TDP’s first official bilingual spokesperson, Hector added a strategic Hispanic media outreach component to the Party’s overall communications effort. In his current role as Communications Director, he is responsible for communicating with all statewide English and Spanish media. Hector has significant experience in Texas politics. His campaign experience includes a stint as Field Director for the successful re-election campaign of State Representative Richard Raymond (Laredo), as well as spearheading media outreach for the monumental Dallas County Coordinated Campaign in 2006. He was also deployed by the TDP to assist with the media outreach for the successful Ciro Rodriguez Congressional Campaign. In addition to his work on the campaign trail, Hector has spent time at the Texas Capitol. He served as Legislative Director for State Representative Rafael Anchia (Dallas), where he assisting in developing the Representative’s overall legislative strategy, and also worked as an aide to Texas House Speaker Pete Laney (Hale Center). Additionally, Hector held the position of Field Representative in the office of former Congressman Martin Frost (TX), where he acted as a liaison between public officials and constituents. Hector grew up and attended school in Laredo, Texas. He then went on to earn his Bachelor of Arts degree from the St. Edward’s University in Austin.
Moderator: Perla Cavazos is a senior policy analyst for State Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. She specializes in policy issues related to education, business, and housing. She also serves on the City of Austin Planning Commission and is President of the Austin Women's Political Caucus. Perla is active with several Latino arts organizations, is a 2008 Leadership Austin Graduate, and was recently recognized as a 2008 Austin Under 40 winner.
