| Leticia R. Van de Putte | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Texas Senate from the 26th district |
|
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 1999 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | December 6, 1954 Tacoma, Washington |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Pete |
| Residence | San Antonio, Texas |
| Alma mater | University of Texas, Austin, Harvard University |
| Profession | pharmacist |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Leticia R. San Miguel Van de Putte[1] (born 6 December 1954)[2] is a Democratic member of the Texas Senate representing the 26th District. She was previously a member of the Texas House of Representatives.
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Van de Putte was born in Tacoma, Washington, and raised in San Antonio, where she currently lives with her husband of 32 years, Henry P. "Pete" Van De Putte Jr.[3]
Senator Leticia Van de Putte, a pharmacist for more than 31 years, represents a large portion of San Antonio and Bexar County. A former-five term state representative, she is now serving her fifth term as a Texas State Senator for District 26. In 2003, she was appointed Chair of the Texas Senate Democratic Caucus, a position she holds to this day. At the national level, Senator Van de Putte is an active and deeply-involved member of many political organizations, including the National Assessment Governing Board, the American Legacy Foundation Board, and the National Conference of State Legislatures, of which she served as President from 2006 to 2007. In addition, she proudly led the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators as President from 2003 to 2005. In 2008, she joined the ranks of two of Texas’ most admired and successful women, Barbara Jordan and Ann Richards, by serving as Co-Chair of the Democratic National Convention in Denver.[4]
Senator Van de Putte currently serves as Chair of the Veteran Affairs and Military Installations Committee, and also is a member of the Senate Committees on Education, State Affairs, and Business and Commerce.[5]
She considered running in the 2010 race for governor, but in June 2009 decided to instead run for re-election to the Texas Senate.[6]
Over the past two decades, Senator Van de Putte has been honored with numerous awards such as the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare's award for "State Legislator of the Year" Vietnam Veteran's of America's "Legislator of the Year Award," the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill "Texas Legislative Champion Award", the United Way of San Antonio "Children's Championship Award", the League of United Latin American Citizens' "Legislative Recognition Award", Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve "Seven Seals Award", the Texas Classroom Teachers Association "Legislative Star" Award, the Texas Pharmacy Association "Pharmacist of the Year", the American Pharmacists Association's "Hubert H. Humphrey" Award named for a noted pharmacist and public servant, and the Center for Policy Alternatives honored Senator Leticia Van de Putte with the "Arthur S. Fleming Leadership Award". This national award is presented to a leader who exemplifies the ideals of public service through the highest standards of performance. Most recently, the Senator received the Charles M. West Distinguished American Award, which recognizes leaders whose contributions have had a lasting impact on pharmacy and the health and welfare of the American public.[7]
She is a strong advocate for children, veterans, improved access to health care, quality education, and economic development issues and has consistently authored and sponsored bills to assist families in securing opportunities. Senator Van de Putte has been a key author of bills that reformed our welfare system, revamped our Juvenile Code, and insured children. Multiple civic organizations and community groups have recognized Senator Van de Putte as one of the most effective, hardworking, sincere, and influential legislators in Texas.[8]
Van de Putte served as a co-chair of the 2008 Democratic National Convention along with Kansas Governor of Kansas Kathleen Sebelius and Atlanta, Georgia Mayor Shirley Franklin, while Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi served as permanent chair.[9]
Senator Van de Putte was a Kellogg Fellow at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government in 1993. She received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Texas at Austin, College of Pharmacy, and she is a 1973 graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School (San Antonio, Texas).[10]
Senate election history of Van de Putte.[11]
| Texas general election, 2004: Senate District 26[12] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Republican | Jim Valdez | 74,070 | 40.04 | +40.04 | |
| Democratic | Leticia R. Van de Putte (Incumbent) | 105,625 | 57.10 | -42.90 | |
| Libertarian | Raymundo Alemán | 5,295 | 2.86 | +2.86 | |
| Majority | 31,555 | 17.06 | -82.94 | ||
| Turnout | 184,990 | +149.44 | |||
| Democratic hold | |||||
| Democratic primary, 2004: Senate District 26[13] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Johnny Rodriguez | 3,685 | 18.06 | ||
| ✓ | Leticia R. Van de Putte (Incumbent) | 16,723 | 81.94 | |
| Majority | 13,038 | 63.89 | ||
| Turnout | 20,408 | |||
| Texas general election, 2002: Senate District 26[14] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Democratic | Leticia R. Van de Putte (Incumbent) | 74,163 | 100.00 | 0.00 | |
| Majority | 74,163 | 100.00 | 0.00 | ||
| Turnout | 74,163 | -29.88 | |||
| Democratic hold | |||||
| Texas general election, 2000: Senate District 26[15] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Democratic | Leticia R. Van de Putte (Incumbent) | 105,771 | 100.00 | +32.46 | |
| Majority | 105,771 | 100.00 | +64.92 | ||
| Turnout | 105,771 | -16.86 | |||
| Democratic hold | |||||
| Democratic primary, 2000: Senate District 26[16] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| David McQuade Leibowitz | 11,232 | 45.63 | ||
| ✓ | Leticia R. Van de Putte (Incumbent) | 13,381 | 54.37 | |
| Majority | 2,149 | 8.73 | ||
| Turnout | 24,613 | |||
| Special election: Senate District 26, Unexpired term[17] 2 November 1999 |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Democratic | Leo Alvarado, Jr.[18] | 12,473 | 21.02 | ||
| Democratic | Lauro Bustamante, Jr. | 4,245 | 7.16 | ||
| Republican | Anne Newman | 6,768 | 11.41 | ||
| Democratic | Leticia Van de Putte[18] | 27,139 | 45.74 | ||
| Republican | Mark Weber | 8,702 | 14.67 | ||
| Turnout | 59,327 | ||||
| Democratic hold | |||||
| Texas House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Orlando Luis Garcia |
Member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 115 (San Antonio) 1991–1999 |
Succeeded by Mike Villarreal |
| Texas Senate | ||
| Preceded by Gregory Luna |
Texas State Senator from District 26 (San Antonio) 1999 – present |
Incumbent |
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