Judith Zaffirini

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Judith Pappas Zaffirini
Judith Zaffirini
Member of the Texas State Senate
from the 21st district
Incumbent
Assumed office 
1987
Born February 13, 1946 (1946-02-13) (age 62)
Flag of the United States Laredo in Webb County, Texas, USA
Political party Democratic
Spouse Carlos Zaffirini, Sr.
Children Carlos Zaffirini, Jr.
Residence Laredo, Texas
Alma mater University of Texas at Austin
Profession Communications
Religion Roman Catholic

Judith Pappas Zaffirini (born February 13, 1946) is a Democratic member of the Texas State Senate from the 21st District, which includes her home city of Laredo. On January 9, 2007, Zaffirini became the second in seniority in the 31-member Texas Senate, where she has served since 1987.[1]

Contents

[edit] Political background

In 1986, Zaffirini upset the late State Representative William N. "Billy" Hall, Jr., in the Democratic primary for state senator. She then defeated Republican Bennie 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 the March 4, 2008, Democratic primary, but Barrientos withdrew from the race on January 9. Nevertheless, Barrientos' name remained on the ballot. Zaffirini won the nomination, 31,655 (78.2 perent) to Barrientos' 8,802 ballots (21.8 percent).[2]

In the November 4 general election, Zaffirini will face former Webb County (administrative) Judge (2003-2007) Louis Henry Bruni (born 1949), a Democrat who switched to Republican affiliation on December 27, 2007. In 2004, Zaffirini handily 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. [3]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.[4]

Despite her Democratic heritage, Zaffirini is known for her ability to work across party lines, particularly her friendship with Republican Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst. As a result of redistricting and the structuring of terms in the Senate, Zaffirini has served three four-year and five two-year terms. Zaffirini claims that "voters are always well informed, and I believe they will decide to support me based on my record and seniority."[5]

Zaffirin has a perfect attendance record in the Senate except in July 2005, when she joined her fellow Democrats who fled to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to boycott Republican plans to redistrict the Texas congressional map. After three special legislative sessions, the Republican (GOP) plan was adopted, but it was later altered by the United States Supreme Court. The change authorized in 2006 reduced the GOP House delegation from twenty-one to nineteen members. Democrats hold the other thirteen seats.

Zaffirini sponsored the bill that created the expanded Texas A&M International University from the former Laredo State University. She led a successful movement to restore $154 million in community college funds vetoed in 2007 by Governor Rick Perry.

Zaffirini is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. She studied several semesters previously at Laredo Community College (then Laredo Junior College). On December 17, 2007, Zaffirni was honored by the LCC board of trustees with its inaugural "Beacon Award", a creation from the college's sixtieth anniversary. LCC president Juan L. Maldonado declared that the award honors individuals whose altruistic efforts have improved and advanced the welfare of the Webb County community. Maldonado said that the beacon "evokes the flame of the lamp of learning, which represents the role of the individual in bringing enlightenment and hope to others.... Senator Zaffirni embodies all of these admirable traits... and make her the ideal recipient of this award." In 2004, LCC named its south campus library in honor of Zaffirni.[6]. She is also honored through the Zaffirini Elementary School, 5210 Santa Claudia Lane in Laredo, one of the campuses of the United Independent School District.

Zaffirini is married to Laredo attorney Carlos M. Zaffirini, Sr. (born 1944) The couple has a son, attorney Carlos Zaffirini, Jr. The late Webb County District Attorney Charles R. Borchers was a brother-in-law of Zaffirini.

[edit] Election history

Election history of Zaffirini since 1992.[7]

[edit] Most recent election

[edit] 2004

Texas general election, 2004: Senate District 21[8]
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[9]
Candidate Votes % ±%
Raymond Bruni 17,089 21.35
✓ Judith Zaffirini (Incumbent) 62,960 78.65
Majority 45,871 57.30
Turnout 80,049

[edit] Previous elections

[edit] 2002

Texas general election, 2002: Senate District 21[10]
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

[edit] 2000

Texas general election, 2000: Senate District 21[11]
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

[edit] 1996

Texas general election, 1996: Senate District 21[12]
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

[edit] 1994

Texas general election, 1994: Senate District 21[13]
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

[edit] 1992

Texas general election, 1992: Senate District 21[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Judith Zaffirini (Incumbent) 111,398 100.00
Majority 111,398 100.00
Turnout 111,398
Democratic hold

[edit] References

  1. ^ Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) (2002-09-13). State Senate Candidates for 2002 General Election. Retrieved on 2006-12-27.
  2. ^ Democratic primary returns, Laredo Morning Times, March 5, 2008, p. 1
  3. ^ Aguilar, Julian. "Bruni becomes Republican in a bid to unseat Zaffirini", Laredo Morning Times, 2007-12-28, p. pp. 1A, 13A. 
  4. ^ Cortez, Tricia. "Zaffirini foe quits", Laredo Morning Times, 2008-01-10, p. pp. 1, 12A. 
  5. ^ Cortez, Tricia. "Zaffirini's ready to run for her state senate seat", Laredo Morning Times, 2007-12-21, p. p. 3A. 
  6. ^ Alvarado, Celina. "State senator given college's first-ever 'Beacon Award'", Laredo Morning Times, 2007-12-18, p. pp. 1, 13A. 
  7. ^ Uncontested primary elections are not shown.
  8. ^ 2004 General Election. Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved on 2007-01-04.
  9. ^ 2004 Democratic Party Primary Election. Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved on 2007-01-04.
  10. ^ 2002 General Election. Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved on 2007-01-04.
  11. ^ 2000 General Election. Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved on 2007-01-04.
  12. ^ 1996 General Election. Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved on 2007-01-04.
  13. ^ 1994 General Election. Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved on 2007-01-04.
  14. ^ 1992 General Election. Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved on 2007-01-04.

[edit] External links

Preceded by
John Traeger		 Texas State Senator
from District 21 (Laredo)
1987 – present		 Incumbent
v • d • e
Current Texas State Senators
1: Eltife (R) • 2: Deuell (R) • 3: Nichols (R) • 4: Williams (R) • 5: Ogden (R) • 6: Gallegos (D) • 7: Patrick (R) • 8: Shapiro (R) • 9: Harris (R) • 10: Brimer (R) • 11: Jackson (R) • 12: Nelson (R) • 13: Ellis (D) • 14: Watson (D) • 15: Whitmire (D) • 16: Carona (R) • 17: Janek (R) • 18: Hegar (R) • 19: Uresti (D) • 20: Hinojosa (D) • 21: Zaffirini (D) • 22: Averitt (R) • 23: West (D) • 24: Fraser (R) • 25: Wentworth (R) • 26: Van de Putte (D) • 27: Lucio (D) • 28: Duncan (R) • 29: Shapleigh (D) • 30: Estes (R) • 31: Seliger (R)


Persondata
NAME Judith Zaffirini
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION Texas politician
DATE OF BIRTH February 13, 1946
PLACE OF BIRTH
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH