Upload
hahanh
View
214
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Page 2 La Raza Unida Party Reunion Program Book - 2012
Juan, Martha y Marí Eugenia Cotera
SALUDAN
a todos sus compañeros de la Raza
Julio 6-7, 2012
Familia Zamora-ValenzuelaEmilio, Angela,
Clara, Luz,
Felix, FelicianoSalute all those who are coming to the reunion
Table of Contents
Page 3La Raza Unida Party Reunion Program Book - 2012
La Raza Unida Party Reunion
Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
La Raza Unida Reunion Program . .
Un Breve Historia delPartido de La Raza Unida . . . . .
Cometarios de los estaba allí . . .
Memorial Page . . . . . . . . . . .
Special Recognition paraLittle Joe y La Familia . . . . . .
Texas Population Overview . . . .
Lista de los candidatosdel partido . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Planning Committee . . . . . . . .
6 & 7
4
14 & 15
10,11,12
18
17
20 & 21
24 & 37
39
PUBLISHER’SSTATEMENT
Editor & PublisherAlfredo Santos c/s
Managing EditorsYleana SantosKaitlyn Theiss
GraphicsJuan Gallo
DistributionEl Team
Contributing Writers
WayneHector TijerinaMarisa Cano
La Voz de Austin is a monthlypublication. The editorial andbusiness address is P.O. Box19457 Austin, Texas 78760.The telephone number is (512)944-4123. The use, reproduc-tion or distribution of any orpart of this publication isstrongly encouraged. But docall and let us know what youare using. Letters to the editorare most welcome.
PRODUCTION
PUBLISHER’SSTATEMENT
EditorAlfredo Santos c/s
Contributing WritersPablo Avila
Modesta TreviñoMartha Cotera
Maria Elena MartinezLinda Del Toro
Ernesto CalderonRuby T. CalderonRicardo Chavira
Alma ValdezDr. Emilio Zamora
La Raza Unida Party Re-
union program book is
work in progress in that
we are still looking for all
the names of those who
ran for elective office bajo
el nombre del partido.
Readers are encouraged
to contact the staff with
names and leads on
people who should be in-
cluded in an official list of
all those who were Raza
Unida Party candidates.
The contact information is
Alfredo Santos c/s P.O.
Box 19457 Austin, Texas
78760. The telephone
number is (512) 944-4123.
PRODUCTION
(512) 944-4123
Por cualquierpregunta,llamanos:
La Raza Unida Party Reunion Program Book - 2012 Page 5
EditorialWhat Happened to Us?
Alfredo R. Santos c/s
Planning Committee
La Raza Unida Party Reunion
Austin, Texas
www.larazaunidapartyreunion.org
Pus ya llego el dia. Aquí estamos en otra reunion de
activistas. Some of you may have attended the 20th
year anniversary in 1989 en San Antonio, Texas.
Tal vez otras fueron al reunion en Dallas, Texas en
2009. De todas maneras, it is great to see everyone
here in Austin, Texas.
While some have been calling this reunion “el
utlimo adios,” otros estan diciendo que “la
revolución no ha terminado.” Yes, it is true we have
not seen the kind of activity that once had us in front
of TV cameras and on the front page of newspapers
in the 1960s and 1970s. And yes, many of us have
reduced our profile to raise families, earn a living or
focus on a career.
But there are still some of us, who like that Japanese soldier at the end of World War II,
who have refused to give up or stop being activists. Some of us, like the Japanese
soldier, have not heard the news that the war is over. Seguimos peleando la causa. ¿
Por qué?¿Qué fue la causa?
When we look around us, we still see the same poverty, injustice, discrimination and
bad education that we once stood up and denounced. Granted it, it is not the same
people who are poor today. But what is the same is the injustice, discrimination and the
bad education. 40 years ago the high school dropout rate for Chicanos was terrible!
Today the dropout rate hovers around 40%. Is that terrible?
While it is true that more and more Latinos are going to college and becoming profes-
sionals, it is also true that more and more Latinos are leaving school, filling the prisons
and jails and stuck in poor paying jobs. Where is the outrage? Where is the coraje that
once led us to fill the streets with protest signs and gritos?
What has changed? Did we, who were once the proud Chicano activists change? Or
did society change? Does history truly move in cycles and thus the activism that we were
once were a part of in the 1970s something that shall return at a future date?
I am sure there are many here today who ponder these questions often. I am sure there
are those who still struggle with how far to push the envelope in their respective cities
and town today. While this event here in Austin, Texas is a reunion, I am sure there are
those who will be exploring and listening to see how others feel about the times in which
we are living. And the age old question of what is one willing to do will be raised again
because there are still some Japanese soldiers still out there.
Noon Registration opens at noon at Mexitas Restaurant
(12th and IH-35 in Austin, Texas)
Early arrivals can pick up their name tags and program booklet
Exhibits open / informal platicas Interview booths are open for oral history
1:00pm Screening of Movie “Chicano” in East part of room
6:00pm Social and Visiting in the Restaurant (dinner is on your own)
La Raza Unida Party Reunion Program
8:00am Café y pan dulce in the restaurant Exhibits open in the Bingo Hall
8:30am Invocation Rev. Dr. Jayme Mathias
9:00am Welcome/Program Review Luz Bazan Gutierrez
9:20am Introductory Speaker Maria Elena Martinez
¿Por Qué Estamos Aquí? One time Texas State Chair of LRUP
9:45 am Words from Luis Diaz de Leon – Candidate for United States Senate under La Raza Unida Party
in 1978 (Linda del Toro will escort him to the stage) ¿Por qué me vine a este reunion.?
9:55 am Recognition of who is in the house by city/county/region of state
10:55am Update on who is not here Reading of the Names of those activists
who have passed on Linda del Toro
11:10 am Presentation and update on the case of Ramiro “Ramsey” Muñiz Irma Muñiz
11:30:am First guest speaker – Dr. Armando Navarro Professor at the University of California
Riverside, author of several books on La Raza Unida Party and activist desde hace muchos años
12:00pm BREAK for lunch
Introduction of Special Guest Pablo Avila
Special Announcements Luz Bazan Gutierrez
La Raza Unida Party Reunion Program Book - 2012
SATURDAY July 7th, 2012
FRIDAY July 6th, 2012
Page 6
1:00 pm Reflejo Panel – theme: “Lo que hicimos y como nos fue, a personal perspective”
PANELISTS
Roberto Villarreal Raza Unida Party Activist from Rivera, Texas
Martha Cotera Candidate for Board of Education LRUP
Mario Compean Candidate for Governor of Texas LRUP
Maria Jiménez Candidate for Texas State Rep. LRUP
Pablo Avila Former Zavala County Judge
2:00 pm Open Microphone Questions and Comments from the audience Luz Bazan Gutierrez
moderator
2:30 pm ¿Y ahora qué? Move to Breakout Sessions - This is an opportunity for smaller and more
focused conversations about future directions
La Poltica de Hoy Mario Compean
The State of Education in Texas – What has changed? Jaime Puente
Mujeres de la Raza – The untold stories Martha Cotera
The “Dream Students: the new activists?” Montserrat Garibay
50 million Mestizos y qué? Lorenzo Cano
School Walkouts – How many were there? Alfredo R. Santos c/s
Community Newspapers, Social Media and staying in touch Ernesto Fraga
The Case of Ramsey Muñiz Irma Muñiz
The Future of Chicano Studies/Mexican American Studies Dr. Beto Calderon
Prospects for the Rise of a New Raza Unida Party Dr. Armando Navarro
Art in the Community and the Cause Raul Valdez
3:30 pm Reconvene and Brief Reports from each session Dr. Emilio Zamora
4:15pm Closing remarks Avina Gutierrez
4:30 pm End of formal part of reunion. Closing of interview booths and exhibits
La Raza Unida Party Reunion Program Book - 2012
SATURDAY July 7th, 2012
Page 7
La Raza Unida Party Reunion Program
La Raza Unida Party Reunion Program Book - 2012Page 8
Libros del Movimiento
by Dr. Armando Navarro by Dr. Carlos Muñoz by Dr. Ignacio M. Garcia
by Dr. Armando Navarro by Dr. Ignacio M. Garcia by Yolanda Alaniz
and Megan Cornish
Maria Elena Martinez
La Raza Unida Party Reunion Program Book - 2012 Page 9
There will be a specialpresentation and up-date on RamseyMuñiz case at the re-union. In the afternoonthere will be a breakoutsession for those wish-ing more informationabout how to help IrmaMuñiz secure his free-dom.
In October 1971, RUP held its
state convention in San
Antonio and voted to organize
at the state level over the
objections of Gutiérrez, who
believed that the party should
strengthen its rural standing
rather than expend its energy
on a state party. Compean
rallied enough support for a
state organization on the
grounds that it would give a
boost to the Chicano
movement in Texas and repeat
the success it had attained in
Crystal City throughout Texas.
With the state party apparatus
in place, RUP sought a
candidate for the 1972
gubernatorial election, first
calling upon such well-known
Democrats as state senator
Carlos Truán, Hector García
(founder of the American G.I.
Forumqv), and state senator Joe
Bernal. All refused to run for the
position. The party finally found
a candidate in Ramsey Muñiz,
a lawyer and administrator with
the Waco Model Cities
Program. Alma Canales of
Edinburg, who had been a
farmworker and journalism
student at Pan American
University, became the RUP
candidate for l ieutenant
governor, although at twenty-
four she was too young to take
the office constitutionally.
Her presence on the RUP
slate was considered a sign
that women had a crucial role
in the party. Although they
seemed an unusual match,
the two resembled many of the
RUP rank and file, who were
young and university educated.
Like others in the party, they had
also been members of MAYO.
Besides Muñiz and Canales,
RUP ran candidates for nine
other state offices, including
member of the Railroad
Commission, state treasurer,
and member of the State
Board of Education. RUP
candidates also ran for local
posts in Hidalgo, Starr,
Victoria, McLennan, and other
counties.
The party, which had spread
to many other states, held its
first national conference in El
Paso on September 1–4, 1972.
About half of the estimated
1,500 participants were
women, and a large number of
elderly people also attended.
The delegates formed the
Congreso de Aztlán to run the
national party and elected
Gutiérrez as RUP national
chairman. Despite his standing
as the party’s chief political
candidate, Muñiz was not much
heeded. As a result, he left the
gathering early to campaign in
the governor’s race.
The RUP platform that Muñiz
put before voters, while
emphasizing Mexican-
American community control,
bil ingual education, and
ABOVE: Jose Angel Guiterrez speaking in Lubbock,
El Partido de La Raza Unida
RUP sought acandidate for the 1972gubernatorial election,first calling upon suchwell-known Democrats
La Raza Unida Party Reunion Program Book - 2012
The Raza Unida Party was
established on January 17,
1970, at a meeting of 300
Mexican Americans at
Campestre Hall in Crystal City,
Texas. José Ángel Gutiérrez
and Mario Compean, who had
helped found MAYO (the
Mexican American Youth
Organization) in 1967, were two
of its principal organizers.
In December 1969, at the first
and only national MAYO
meeting, Chicano activists had
endorsed the formation of a
third party, an idea that
Gutiérrez had proposed in
establishing MAYO. After RUP
filed for party status in Zavala,
La Salle, and Dimmit counties
in January 1970, it began its
eight-year quest to bring greater
economic, social, and political
self-determination to Mexican
Americans in the state,
especially in South Texas,
where they held little or no
power in many local or county
jurisdictions although they were
often in the majority.
Membership in the party was
open to anyone who was
committed to RUP’s goals. The
party fielded candidates for
nonpartisan city council and
school board races the
following April in Crystal City,
Cotulla, and Carrizo Springs
and won a total of fifteen seats,
including two city council
majorities, two school board
majorities, and two
mayoralties.
by Teresa Palomo Acosta
Page 10
women’s and workers’ rights,
bore similarity to the values
espoused by the liberal faction
of the state Democratic party,
which supported Frances
(Sissy) Farenthold for the
party’s gubernatorial
nomination.
In spite of this, Muñiz did not
receive strong support from
liberals. Ultimately, even
Farenthold endorsed Dolph
Briscoe, to whom she had lost
the nomination, although she
had once referred to him as “a
bowl of pablum.” Muñiz won 6
percent (214,149) of the votes
in the November election, thus
reducing Briscoe’s margin of
victory so that the race was the
first in the twentieth century in
which a Texas governor was
elected with less than a majority.
Muñiz won heavily in some
South Texas counties and had
a decent turnout in large cities.
Over the next two years RUP
solidified its South Texas rural
base and racked up more
nonpartisan victories in the
Winter Garden Region. It also
achieved political successes in
Kyle and Lockhart. Its urban
support, though quite strong
among university activists and
barrio youth and politicians,
remained small. This ultimately
hurt the party’s future, since
many Hispanics lived in the
state’s major urban areas and
their support of RUP was
necessary for the party to have
a larger political impact.
In 1974, RUP was ready for
another try at the governor’s
race, with Muñiz once again its
candidate. The party also ran a
slate of fourteen men and two
women for state representative
from Lubbock, Houston, San
Antonio, Austin, Falfurrias,
Crystal City, and other cities. As
in the 1972 election, the RUP
campa ign
l i t e r a t u r e
emphasized
the party’s
C h i c a n o
foundation;
but it also
asserted a
desire to
“ e n s u r e
democracy
for [the]
many, not
the few” and the need to
preserve “human and natural
resources.” In addition, it called
for the prosecution of industrial
polluters.
In his announcement for the
governor’s race on January 16,
1974, Muñiz sought to
maximize the party’s appeal to
a broader spectrum of the
state’s voters, stressing RUP’s
ideas for new modes of
transportation, improved
funding of public education,
better medical care, and
solutions to urban problems.
But RUP did not fare well in
the 1974 general election.
Muñiz got only 190,000 votes
and posed no real threat to
Briscoe’s reelection. In
El Partido de La Raza UnidaLa Raza Unida Party Reunion Program Book - 2012 Page 11
Muñiz won 6 percent(214,149) of the votes
in the Novemberelection, thus reducing
Briscoe’s margin
Continued on page 12
ABOVE: Irma Mireles speaking in Hondo, Texas
La Raza Unida Party Reunion Program Book - 2012Page 12
addition, none of the sixteen
candidates for the state House
garnered enough support to
win. The party’s sole real
victories were in Crystal City,
where cofounder Gutiérrez
was elected as Zavala county
judge and the party
successfully defended its
dominance of other county
offices. Nonetheless, by its
numerous victories in South
Texas, RUP had achieved
Mexican-American polit ical
dominance in some cities and
altered the state’s political life.
Several Mexican-American
women were significant
participants at the state and
national level. Evey Chapa, for
instance, ensured that RUP’s
state executive committee
provide for a female member;
Virginia Múzquiz headed the
RUP nationally from 1972 to
1974; and María Elena
Martínez served as the last
head of the party in Texas from
1976 to 1978. Likewise, Evey
Chapa, Ino Alvárez, and Martha
Cotera have been credited with
organizing Mujeres Por La
Raza, the women’s caucus
within RUP.
In the four years after the 1974
election, RUP’s fortunes
diminished, with activism
slowing except in some
enclaves in South Texas. Even
in Crystal City, its bedrock, RUP
lost control in 1977. The party
also suffered losses in its
membership, and some of its
original leaders, including
Willie Velásquez, all ied
themselves with new political
initiatives, such as the Mexican
American Democrats.
ABOVE: Mario Compean speaking at a house meeting in Uvalde, Texas in 1978
Perhaps two of the biggest
blows to party morale were the
arrests in July and November
1976 of former RUP
gubernatorial candidate
Ramsey Muñiz on drug
charges. He pled guilty to one
count and was sentenced to
fifteen years. The party was
considerably weakened as it
entered the final and fatal 1978
election, when RUP
gubernatorial candidate Mario
Compean won only 15,000
votes.
At the election-day fiasco in
1978, RUP lost state funds for
its primary and was effectively
eliminated as a party. Some
historians have stated that RUP,
with its various successes and
failures, came at the right
moment in Mexican-American
history in the state. Writing in
1978 in The Tejano Yearbook:
1519–1978, Philip Ortega y
Gasca and Arnoldo De León
noted that the establishment of
RUP in the 1930s would have
been “premature” because
violence was still a common
response to Texas Mexicans’
political ambitions.
Nevertheless, the authors also
argue that RUP was neither a
new phenomenon nor a “radical”
one but a continuation of Tejano
political initiatives. Nineteenth-
century Tejanos had formed
various movements, such as
Botas and Guaraches and
special benevolent
associations, to defend their
interests. RUP was intended to
do the same for Mexican
Americans in the 1970s.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Ignacio M. Garcia, United We
Win: The Rise and Fall of La
Raza Unida Party (Tucson:
University of Arizona Mexican
American Studies Research
Center, 1989). José Ángel
Gutiérrez Papers, Benson
Latin American Collection,
University of Texas at Austin.
Raza Unida Party Collection,
Benson Latin American
Collection, University of Texas
at Austin.
Teresa Palomo Acosta
Rogelio Smiley Rojas Moctezuma fromSan Antonio, Texas:“Estimado Alfredo, Count me in!”
[email protected] “One attending and I will
send a check.”
Roberto Pachecano writes:“I participated in the movement as an
activist, poll worker, and straight ticket
voter. The establishment gave me no
choice but to denounce it; I still do!”
Raza Unida Party Precinct 215, BexarCounty, Texas, Ms. Carolina Piña-Precinct Judge. In memory of MaryElizabeth Ladd (La Ladd).
Huey Rey Fischer writes:[email protected] “Is there a way to pay online? Is this
event open to the public or only those
who were active in the LRUP in the 70s?”
ENRIQUE ‘KIKO’ SALAZAR from:12766 VENICE BLVD. #2VENICE BEACH, CA. 90066CELL: 310-433-0297EMAIL: [email protected]
“ON JAN.1972, RAMSEY MUNIZ CAME TOSPEAK AT TEXAS SOUTHMOSTCOLLEGE IN BROWNSVILLE, TX.,WHERE I WAS A STUDENT. I AGREEDWITH EVERYTHING HE SAID. BEINGJUST OUT OF THE AIR FORCE, I KNEWTHERE WAS RACISM ALL OVER,EXPECIALLY IN TEXAS.
I TRANSFERED TO SUL ROSS STATEUNIVERSITY IN ALPINE,TX IN SEPT. 1972AND BECAME INVOLVED WITH THE RUPTHERE. MOSTLY WERE STUDENTSFROM DEL RIO,TX. RAMSEY WENT TOSPEAK THERE IN OCT.1972. I TOOK HIMTO EL PASO,TX AND THERE I MET RUPMEMBERS. I LEFT TO HARLINGEN, MYHOME TOWN, AND ATTENDED PANAMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN JAN. 1973.
I LEFT THERE IN THE SUMMER OF 1973AND ATTENDED COLIGIO JACINTOTREVINO TILL SUMMER OF 1974. I GOTINVOLVED IN THE RUP THERE WITHANSELMO GARZA & RICARDO MOLINA,ARTURO GARZA, JUAN GARCIA &
TERESA GARCIA, FRED VUITTONET, ROYMARTINEZ, ALBERTO ALMANZA, SRA.MARIA SILVIA, FRANK SILVA, JAIMEDIAZ,NOE DIAZ,& ARMANDO DIAZ &CONRADO GARZA,THE RUP COUNTYCHAIRMAN AT THAT TIME.
I WAS ELECTED RUP COUNTYSECRETARY IN 1972. IN 1973 IWAS ELECTED RUP CAMERON COUNTYCHAIRMAN AND SUPERVISED THE RUPCOUNTY ELECTION IN CAMERONCOUNTY.
IN 1973, MYSELF & JUAN GARCIA &ANSELMO GARZA WERE CANDIDATESFOR THE CITY COMMISSIONERS INHARLINGEN,TX. WE RAN AS A RUPSLATE. WE DIDN’T WIN, BUT WERAISED ALOT OF HELL ON THECONDITIONS OF ROADS IN THE AREAWHERE MOSTLY LA RAZA LIVED.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE CITY BUILT ATENNIS COURT AND A COUPLE OFBASEBALL FIELDS BECAUSE IN ONECITY MEETING, I TOLD THEM THAT WEALSO PLAYED TENNIS & BASEBALL.THE PARK IS KNOWN AS VICTOR PARKIN THE WEST SIDE OF HARLINGEN ONHIGHWAY 77. U CAN’T MISS IT WHEN UPASS THRU HARLINGEN. AS RUPCHAIRMAN, WE MET WITH CITYCOMMISSIONERS AND SCHOOLBOARDS IN CAMERON COUNTY TOBETTER LA RAZA. VIVA RAMIRO RAMSEYMUNIZ.
Irma Mireles from San Antonio, TexasMonday, 5/28/12, 3:44 PM ”Glad to see que las mujeres are main
speakers. Even though few of us ran for
office we were/are the backbone. More
needs to be written about the role de la
mujer dentro el Partido but of course we
have to be the ones to do it. Hope we can
do some of it at this reunion.”
Ernesto & Ruby T. Calderon from Austin,Texas
“Our activity centered around the Central
Texas Area. We organized McLennenCounty and surrounding communities.
Ramsey Muñiz was working in Waco at
the outset of Raza Unida organizing
activity and it was from here that he filed
for Governor under the Raza Unidabanner.
I was the first State Treasurer for the
party. Our organizing activity untilmately
covered most of the state. Certainly, the
Raza Unida campaign took us North
(Corsicana, Ft. Worth, and Dallas,east(Marlin, College Station, and
Houston and west (San Angelo and
Lubbock) of Waco.
During the 1972 campaign, it was our
responsibility to maintain a state
headquarters for the Ramsey Munizcampaign, which we did. It was located
at 13th & Clay Avenue. All of our
literature, bumper stickers, etc., came out
of this office. We were similarly involved
in the 1974 campaign but to a lesser
extict because the Muñiz campaign was
run out of San Antonio by then.”
Thank you,
Ernesto & Ruby T. Calderon
Lorenzo Cano(713)480-8358 cellAssociate DirectorCenter for Mexican American StudiesUniversity of HoustonHouston, Texas 77204-3001
“I was a past-member of the NuecesCounty and the Harris County RazaUnida Party”
May 31st, 2012Alberto Luera (832) 459-9819
“Tony Bil worked was an activist in Jim
Wells County, He Inherited his father in
laws meat market (Dan’s Meat
Processing Plant - Alice, Texas) Had a
reunion four years ago sponsored by
Texas A&I University Married Diana
Franco Ph.DAnother activist is Rafael
Trevino is with Community Action
Council in Alice, Texas both were MAYO
board members. Efrain Hernandez from
Kingsville organizer. He has been
teaching in Pharr San Juan School
District”
Commentary from those who were there
La Raza Unida Party Reunion Program Book - 2012Page 14
6-4-2012Irma Muniz (409) 363-18785403 Everhart Rd.Corpus Christi, TX 78411409-363-1878imuniz1310@earthlink.netwww.freeramsey.comwww.freeramsey.blogspot.comwww.studentsfreeramsey.blogspot.com
June 12, 2012
Juan B. Garcia101 S. 17 St.Donna,Tx.78537
“My name is Juan Botello Garcia.I was a
Raza Unida organizer, and one of the
three candidates that ran under La RazaUnida banner in Harlingen CityCommission in December 11, 1973.
We lost but we made the gringos waste
chingos de feria en la campana.Frist time
ever a three Chicano slate ran against
los gringos.The other two were Enrique“Kiko” Salazar Raza Unida CountyParty chairman and Anselmo TretoGarza Raza Unida Party organizer.”
Ernesto Fraga from Waco, Texas writes:
Hola companeros,
“My initial work with Raza Unida began
with MAYO in Waco. Along with Ramsey
Muniz and eventual former Mayor of
Waco Rolando Arriola, I helped to
establish the MAYO newspaper “ElGolpe Avisa” and later established “ElCoraje Chicano.” Other Chicano
Newspapers with which I collaborated
with were “Regeneracion II” in San Juan,Texas and “La Conciencia” in Austin.
While in Austin, I was campaign
chairman for Juan Hipolito, who ran for
Travis County Treasurer. Other efforts
included Brown Beret organizing and
more recently, Committee for theDefense of Latino Immigrants relating to
Immigration reform and the abolishment
of Detention Centers.
“I will be attend the reunion.”
Clotilde’ Rea Sofikitis writes:
“I grew up with Ramiro Ramsey Muñiz.He promised me he would help ourpeople as he saw us hungry, poor andsick and denied equality. He kept hisword! I campaigned for him here inTravis County. My family mostly inNueces County. My mother JuanitaPerez Rea made thousands of tamalesfor Ramsey. She would campaign andgive people a tamale. Viva mi Madre! yVIVA MI RAZA UNIDA PARTIDO! I did notrun for office. I was a young mother but Iam Chicana proud til the end!
Eliseo Solis, Josefina Solis1501 E 2nd StLubbock Texas, 79403806-224-6533-Eliseo210-867-1048-Josefina
“We are coming to the reunion in Austin.”
Luis Guerra from San Luis Potosi,Mexico writes:
My Raza Unida Days
I became involved with Raza Unida when
Ramsey Muñiz ran for governor. CarlosGuerra, his campaign manager, had
seen a Chicano magazine I had
designed, and asked me to do their
graphics. I also did work for ArmandoGutiérrez’s campaign for state rep. We’d
have silk-screening parties where gente
would pitch in to print posters. It was a
time of working together and helping
each other out.
I remember borrowing Linda delToro’s Volkswagen bug: my truck had
broken down, I had no money, and I had
to get to the radio stations. We also
painted a huge Ramsey Muñiz banner,
wrapped it around a hot-air balloon, and
flew it over the Austin barrios on election
day. It was a beautiful sight!
Comentarios de los que estaban allí
La Raza Unida Party Reunion Program Book - 2012 Page 15
Today, I publish TIEMPO Newspaper (30
years since 1982) in Waco and serve as
national Pubic Relations Chair for theNational Free Ramsey MunizCommittee.”
”La Revolucion no ha terminado!”
Ernesto Fraga
6/15/2012
Richard Cortez ad Freddy Blanco fromHouston, Texas write: “ We are coming ot
the reunion. Alla nos vemos!”
Montserrat Garibay from Austin, Texaswrites: “I am excited about the La Raza Party
Reunion, specially since President
Obama has granted administrative relief
to all DREAMERS. This is a small step
but I am hopeful that we are going in the
right direction. I will try to make it on
Wednesday. I have a conference in San
Marcos from Tuesday to Friday. “
Elaine Schele, PhDAdjunct Assistant ProfessorArt DepartmentAustin Community College
Dear Mr. Santos,
“I just heard about the Reunion and I am
wondering if I might attend. I am not a
member of the party, but I have a great
interest in Mexican-American history and
would love to attend this historic event.”
Thank you,Elaine Schele, PhD
ANTONIO RIOS JR. from Crystal City,Texas states: Two of us will be attendingthe Reunion in Austin, Texas
Max Krochmal, Ph.D.Department of HistoryTexas Christian UniversityTCU Box 2972602850 S. University DrFort Worth, TX 76129
Continued on page 16
Bidal Aguero Lubbock
Mr. & Mrs. Albino Santos Crystal City
Francisco Alcala Crystal City
Oralia Alvarado Crystal City
Maria Alvarado Crystal City
Erasamo Andrade All over
Olivia Avila Crystal City
Luis Avila Crystal City
Francisco Benavidez Crystal City
Stephen Casanova San Antonio
Elva Castillo Crystal City
Pepa Coronado Crystal City
Guadalupe Cortinas Crystal City
Manuel Cortinas, Jr. Crystal City
Carmen Cuevas Crystal City
Irene Cuellar Batesville
Ramoncito De La Fuente Crystal City
Ramon De La Fuente Crystal City
Elena Diaz Crystal City
Marcos Esquivel Carrizo Springs
Rodolfo Espinoza, Sr. Crystal City
Maria Facio Crystal City
Mague Coronado Flores Crystal City
Zulema Flores Crystal City
La Raza Unida Party Reunion Program Book - 2012
María Elena Martínez told me later that teachers in East Austinhad taken their students out for recess just as the balloon passed
over the schoolyard. Some time later, thanks to Marta Cotera, all
the campaign artwork became part of the Latin American Collection
at UT Austin.
After the elections, the energy was undiminished. The Austincontingent went on to open a food cooperative, and we even tried
communal gardens. It was a time of restored pride in our heritage. I
went on to do poster art for the Texas Farmworkers’ March toWashington.
The Farmworkers had their own reunion recently, in San Juan. It
was wonderful to visit with them, and I’m looking forward to the RazaUnida Reunion. The Chicano Movement helped to create a
newfound respect for the indios de América. I had always felt that
this land I was born in had much to teach and that its natives
possessed a treasure trove of ancient knowledge and wisdom.
In the 80s, I moved to a small town, Real de Catorce, in the
mountains of San Luis Potosí, a sacred site of the HuicholIndians. After observing their lifestyle and participating in their
ceremonies, I realized that theirs is a true civilization, in deep
harmony with the Earth. And this is so, for all indigenous nations
that honor the Earth and themselves.
I continue to paint. For some years now, I’ve also been telling
my stories about life in Mexico on NPR’s Latino USA. I’ve also
been writing screenplays with my brother Victor; we’re currently
working on our third one.”www.GaleriaGuerra.com
Javier H. Salinas7125 Bending Oak RoadAustin, Texas [email protected] writes:
I was born and raised in Pearsall, Texas. My parents, Alfredoand Alma Salinas were involved with La Raza Unida Party along
with the Rodriquez, Yanez, and other families.
As a kid, I remember participating in parades put on to raise
awareness about voting and the Raza Unida Party. We would
dress up in traditional Mexican outfits, sit on top of a zarape that
was carefully placed on top of a car and ride around the streets
of Pearsall.
All of this was done on the Mexican side of the tracks. Getting
out the vote was the desired outcome. I remember there was
tension not only between the anglos and those promoting the
Raza Unida movement but also among the Mexican Americans
in Pearsall. It was a town divided, The Raza Unida did affect
change in Pearsall giving a voice to many that could no longer
remain silent.
Page 16
Comentarios (continued)
La Raza Unida Party Reunion Program Book - 2012
Doña Elvirita de la Fuente Crystal City
Jesse Gamez Crystal City & San Antonio
Roberto Gamez Crystal City
Angel Gonzales Crystal City
Carlos Guerra Robstown & San Antonio
Amador Guerrero Crystal City
Anita Hernandez Crystal City
Nacho Hernandez Crystal City
Octaviano Hernandez Crystal City
Alfredo Limon San Antonio
Sara Lopez Crystal City
Richard Lopez Crystal City and Stockton, California
Marilu Masignani Crystal City
Guadalupe Mata Crystal City
Higinio Mata Crystal City
Ramon “Monche” Mata Crystal City
Eulogia Mena Crystal City
Olga Mena Crystal City
David Mendoza Crystal City
Reynaldo Mendoza Crystal City
Jose Montalvo San Antonio
Virginia Muzquiz Crystal City
Estevan Najera, Sr. La Pryor
Enriqueta Palacios Crystal City
Manuel Palacios Crystal City
Olivia Perez Crystal City
Lidia Perez Crystal City
Francisco Prado Batesville
Rosario Puente Crystal City
Pablo Puente Crystal City
Carlos A. Quirino, Sr. Lubbock
Manuel Reyes San Antono
Francisco “Panchillo” Rodriguez Crystal City
Fr. Manuel Roman, OFM. Uvalde andSan Antonio
Eliseo Sanchez Crystal City
Ruben Sandoval San Antonio
Julian Salas Crystal City
Manuel Salas, Sr. Crystal City
Juanita Santos Crystal City
Olivia Serna Crystal City
Mague Serna Crystal City
Josefa Torres Crystal City
Jose Angel Torres Crystal City
Rudy Torres Crystal City
Romula Villalobos Crystal City
Jesus Villalobos Crystal City
Rita Yanas Crystal City
Memorial PageAll of the individuals below gave their time, efforts, y a veces su dinero, to make thedream of La Raza Unida Party a reality. They were not afraid to stand up and not afraid ofwhat othes said or thought. They believed in their heart that people needed to stand up andbe counted. Qué en paz descansen.
Page 17
“During the years that La Raza
Unida Party was politically
active, Little Joe was one of its
strongest public supporters.
During Raza Unida’s
gubernatorial campaign, I and
other RUP supporters would
show up at events throughout
Texas where Little Joe y La
Familia was performing. Little
Joe would let us set up a RUP
table at his shows, where we were
allowed to politic and to register voters. Later during the show he would always call us up to the stage and
introduce us to the crowds. He would wear Raza Unida buttons and would encourage others to do so. And in the
end of the shows, he would always play and dedicate “Las Nubes” to Ramsey Muniz. Little Joe has always been
politically astute. He clearly understands all of the political and Chicano issues. One could tell that his support for
La Raza Unida Party came from his heart. He was not afraid to speak out against police brutality and other
similar issues. And to date he has not remained quiet about issues affecting “Nuestra Gente.”
Page 18 La Raza Unida Party Reunion Program Book - 2012
MARIA ELENA MARTINEZ-RUP Planning Committee Member reflects:
Maria Elena Martienz, Little Joe and José Angel Gutierrez Little Joe in Berkeley, California, 1973
La Raza Unida Party Reunion Program Book - 2012
JOSE MARIA DE LEON
HERNANDEZ AKA
LITTLE JOE: “La Raza
Unida Party made nuestra
gente politically wise, and
more willing to act on issues
we were previously afraid
to confront. It certainly was
a rude awakening. It made
it possible for other
Chicanos to eventually get
elected. It’s a fact that Raza
Unida was a
SRINGBOARD. It’s also a
fact that Raza Unida
changed the political
landscape, not just in
Texas, but nationwide.
Unknowingly, many of the
past and present
officeholders owe some
gratitude to La Raza Unida
Party.”
SPECIAL
RECOGNITION
TO LITTLE JOE
Page 19
La Raza Unida Party Reunion Program Book - 2012
How has the Hispanic/Latino Population
Changed over the Years in Texas?
In 1970, the Hispanic population inTexas was almost 2 million. In 1980, itclimbed to almost 4 million. This wasalso the year that the tem “Hispanic”became official label for people with lastnames like Hernandez, Garcia andSoto.
As you examine the table below youwill see that the Hispanic popuation morethan doubled by the 1990 Census. In2000, the growth curtailed a bit with acount of 6.6 million people más o menos.
With the 2010 count completed, theHispanic population is now approaching10 million people in the State of Texas.
What does that mean? Why is itimportant? Some people say that itrepresents a coming political power.Others say that it represents atremendous workforce pool from whichto draw laborers. And still others say thatthe continued growth of the Hispanicpopulation means nothing if as a groupthey do not turn out to vote.
There is a lot of speculation about whata continued growth of the Hispanicpopulation might mean for the UnitedStates. But as of recent, there has beena reported decrease in the number ofpeople trying to come across the border.And in some states where strict anti-immigrant laws have been passed, therehas been an exodus of Hispanics whohave gone in search of work somewhereelelse. What the growth of the Hispanicpopulation means will continue to bedebated over the years.
Demographic Shifts
DID YOU KNOW?
1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
White 9,717,128 11,198,441 12,774,762 14,799,505 17,701,552
African American 1,399,005 1,710,175 2,021,632 2,404,566 2,979,598
American Indian
or Alaskan Native 17,957 40,075 65,877 118,362 170,972
Asian 20,641 120,313 319,459 562,319 964.596
Native Hawaii or
Pacific Islander 14,434 21,656
Some other race 41,999 1,160,187 1,804,780 2,438,001 2,628,186
Two or more races N/A N/A N/A 514,633 697,001
Hispanic/Latino 1,981,861 2,985,824 4,339,905 6,669,666 9,460,921
Texas Population Growth from 1970 to 2010YEARS
SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau
Page 20
La Raza Unida Party Reunion Program Book - 2012
Future Projections The Texas Data Center and the Office of the State
Demographer project that the state’s population will
increase by 71.5 percent between 2000 and 2040,
from 20.9 million to 35.8 million.The 2040 projected
population of 35.8 million is a 151 percent increase
from the 1980 population of 14.2 million.
By 2040, the Texas state demographer projects
that the share of the population aged 65 or older in
Texas will nearly double, to 18.0 percent. Nationally,
the U.S. Census Bureau projects that Americans aged
65 or older will comprise 20.4 percent of the population.
By 2020, the Texas Hispanic population is expected
to outnumber the White population (Exhibit 8).
Between 2000 and 2040 the Hispanic population will
triple in Texas’ urban areas, from 5.9 million to 17.2
million. In rural areas, the Hispanic population is
expected to double, from 777,000 to 1.6 million.
In 1980, the Hispanic population of Texas was just
under 3 million. By 2040, there will be 18.8 million
Hispanics in Texas.
This projection indicates that the Hispanic population
will grow by 530 percent from 1980 to 2040. These
changes are being driven both by high immigration
rates and high birth rates. According to the state’s
demographer, from 1980 to 2040, the White population
of Texas will grow from 9.4 million to 11.5 million. The
percentage of Whites will sharply decrease, from 66
percent in 1980 to only 32 percent in 2040. The Black
population of Texas will grow from 1.7 million in 1980
to 3.4 million in 2040. The percentage of Blacks will
decrease slightly from 12 percent in 1980 to 10 percent
in 2040.
¿Cómo ha cambiado la población
Hispana en Tejas a travez de los años?
Texas Population Growth, 1980–2040
Population projections, in millions
Page 21
La Raza Unida Party Reunion Program Book - 2012
De parte de mi familia y mis
amigos en Cristal donde yo nací,
quiero felicitar a todos los que
asistieán a la reunión de la Raza
Unida en Austin, Texas.
The Law Offices of Roberto R. Alonzo400 S Zang Blvd # 810 Dallas, TX 75208-6643
(214) 941-8200
Page 22
Texas Counties Where
La Raza Unida Party Ran
or Supported Candidates Locally
La Raza Unida Party Reunion Program Book - 2012 Page 23
Bexar
Brewster
Caldwell
Cameron
Dimmit
El Paso
Hays
Harris
Hidalgo
La Salle
Lubbock
Mclennan
Nueces
Reeves
Travis
ZavalaIf anyone has information on candidates who ran as Raza Unida or were sup-
ported by Raza Unida, let us know. Some claim that there was Raza Unida
activity in over 40 Texas counties.
On the following pages are the candidates who
ran under the banner of La Raza Unida Party
or with the support of the party. The list is a
work in progress in that more information needs
to be added to it to make it complete.
1970
Zavala County
April 4, 1970 Elections
Jose Angel Gutierrez Crystal City School Board 1,344 E.W. Ritchie 1,119
Arturo Gonzales Crystal City School Board 1,344 Rafael Tovar 1,090
Mike Perez Crystal City School Board 1,397 Luz Arcos 1,081
April 7th, 1970 Election
Ventura Gonzalez Crystal City Council 1,341 Emmett Sevilla 835
Pablo Puente Crystal City Council 1,306 Charlie Crawford 820
November Elections
Julian Salas Zavala County Judge 925 1,502
Carmen Flores Zavala County Treasurer 811 1,496
Isaac Juarez Zavala County Clerk 776 1,502
Ramon de la Fuente Zavala Co. Comm. Prec. # 2 528 774
Esteban Najera Zavala Co. Comm. Prec. # 4 97 234
Jose Serna Zavala Co. Comm. Precinct # 3 288 346
Manuel Palacios Justice of the Peace Precinct # 2 524 804
Pedro Contreras Justice of the Peace Precinct # 3
La Salle County
Alfredo Zamora, Jr. Mayor of Cotulla 587 Paul Cotulla 584
Enrique Jimenez City Council 636 Claude Franklin, Jr. 493
George Carpenter, Sr. City Council 667 Ray Kreck 439
Alfredo Ramirez City Council 530 Arthur Hill 575
Reynaldo Garcia School Board 667 Chester Bell, Jr. 536
Rogelio Maldonado School Board 693 F. D. Henrichman 524
November Elections
Roel Rodriguez Co Comm. Prct. # 3 (Ran a write-in campaign and won)
All La Raza Unida
Party candidates ran
as write-in candi-
dates and all lost
La Raza Unida Party Reunion Program Book - 2012
LRUPCandidate Office Sought Votes Opponent Votes
La Salle County
Page 24
La Raza Unida Party Reunion Program Book - 2012
Dimmit County
Rufino Cabello Mayor Carrizo Springs 711 Joe Schmitt 470
Jesus Rodriguez City Council 639 Eddie Leonard 423
(Later both switched to independents)
Hidalgo County
????? ONE CANDIDATE and he lost
1970 (continued)
LRUPCandidate Office Sought Votes Opponent Votes
1971
School board elections held on April 3, 1971
Rudy Palomo School Board 1,657 Teodoro Muñoz 1,236
Eddie Treviño School Board 1,688 Alma Ramon 1,218
City Council elections held on April 6, 1971
Better Gov Slate Independents
Jose Talamantez City Council 1,622 Paulino Mata 911 Roberto Cornejo 40
Roberto Gamez City Council 1,626 Santos Nieto 891 Ralph Garcia 4
Frank Benevides City Council 1,649 Gilberto Salazar 890 Marina Garcia 4
Zavala County
LRUPCandidate Office Sought Votes Opponent Votes
Page 25
La Raza Unida Party Reunion Program Book - 2012
1972
School board Elections held on April 1, 1972
Jose Mata School Board 1,707 Julian Saldivar 845
Alberto Sanchez School Board 1,727 Emmett Sevilla 840
Ester Ynoscencio 69
City Council Elections held on April 4, 1972
Ventura Gonzalez City Council 1,745 Hector Ramon 517
Pablo Puente City Council 1,741 Eusevio Salinas 552
General Election in November
Ray Perez County Judge 1,949 R. A. Taylor 912
Jose Serna Sheriff 2,005 C. L. Sweeten 1,883
Elena Diaz County Comm Pct 3 403 Santos Nieto 303
Rudy Espinoza, Jr. JP Precinct # 2 557 548
Moses Garcia JP Precinct # 3 487 No oppoent
A.G. Bermea County Tax Assessor 1,871 Martha Cruz 2,026
Juan Guzman County Com Pct 1 338 Felipe Torres 466
Hector Mata Constable Pct 1 351 M. L. Blackman 404
Antonio Rios Constable Pct 4 593 Lonzo Bostic 628
Zavala County
LRUPCandidate Office Sought Votes Opponent Votes
Statewide General Election
Flores Amaya United States Senate 41,946
Alma Canales Lt. Governor 88,811
Fred Garza, Jr. Rail Road Commissioner 106,397
Ramsey Muñiz Governor 214,118
Ruben Solis, Jr. State Treasurer 83,799
All La Raza Unida Party
candidates who ran state-
wide lost.
Page 26
La Raza Unida Party Reunion Program Book - 2012
1973
LRUPCandidate Office Sought Votes Opponent Votes
Crystal City Council Elections held April 3, 1973
Ramon “Monche” Mata City Council 1,542 Eliseo Sanchez 1,024
Jose D. Cuevas City Council 1,543 Roberto Cornejo 990
Richard Diaz City Council 1,526 Martha Garza 991
Crystal City School Board Elections held on April 7, 1973
Ernesto Olguin School Board 1,657 Mike Perez 1,223
Viviana Santiago School Board 1,642 Jose R. Mata 1,205
Ramon Garza School Board 1,661 Elfego Martinez 1,201
Hector Chavana San Marcos City Council Bill Dibre
Place # 6 Herb Yarbrough
Daniel De Leon City Marshall
Andres Gamez City Council
Geronimo Flores School Board Place # 1
Phil Waters School Board Place # 2
Bernardo Rangel City Commissioner Place 4
David Serrato City Commissioner Place 4
Juan Cantu Hebbronville ISD Pct. # 4 ?
Hays County
Zavala County
Caldwell County
Jim Hogg County
Andres Hinojosa was the LRUP Chair in Jim Hogg County
There is a Nueces County LRUP active in 1973.
Page 27
The Law Offices
of Hector Chavana
That young man at the top of the opposite page was me way
back in 1973. Although the years have passed,
I remain the same man in spirit and determination.
I want to wish everyone a great reunion in Austin, Texas!
La Raza Unida Party Reunion Program Book - 2012
2702 Little York Rd. Houston, TX 77093 (713) 236-9900
Page 28
La Raza Unida Party Reunion Program Book - 2012
SOURCE: This page was taken from the March 30th, 2012 of
the Chicano Times Volume IV Number 13, which was
published in San Antonio, Texas. Jose Luis Rodriguez
was the editor.
Page 29
1974
Maria Jimenez State Representative District # 87 69
Victor Vega State Representative District # 97 34
Ruben Rabago State Representative Disrict # 79 28
Tatcho Mindiola RUP County Chairman 235
General Election
Ruben Rabago State Representative District # 79 305 (3.9%)
Victor Vega State Representative District # 97 335 (3.45%)
Maria Jimenez State Representative District # 87 970 (17.2%)
Fred Garza, Jr. Rail Road Commissioner 9,787 (in Travis County)
Ramsey Muniz Governor 190,000
All
candidates
lost
All candidates lost
LRUPCandidate Office Sought Votes
Travis County
Raymond Donley Jr. Comm. Pre # 4 1,022
Oralia Cole State Representative 2,365
Armando Gutierrez State Representative 37 Pl 4 2,404
Juan Hipolito Treasurer 9,713
Paz Peña State Representative 37 Pl 1 3,703
Jose Torres County School Superintendent 11,774
Harris County
Raza Unida Primary Election
General Election
La Raza Unida Party Reunion Program Book - 2012Page 30
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (512) 391-2305
Fax: (512) 391-2306
Mailing Address:
Workers Defense Project
5604 Manor RD
Austin, TX 78723
Crystal City School Board Elections
Raul T. Flores School Board 1,478 Dora Garza
Mercedes “Chachi” Casarez School Board 1,471 Roberto Hernandez
Crystal City Council Elections
Lupe Cortinas City Council 1,440 Pedro A. Contreras 789
Arturo Gonzalez City Council 1,442 Marina Balboa 779
Zavala County Primary Election
Jose Angel Gutierrez County Judge 1,746
Manual Espinoza, Jr. County Judge 213
Virginia Musquiz County Clerk
Carmen Flores County Treasurer
Rosa Mata District Clerk
Hortencia Treviño County Comm Pct. 2 427
Jose Talamantez County Comm Pct 2 139
Benito Perez JP Pct. 2
Esteban Najera County Comm Pct 4
Rosa Quijano JP Pct 4
Irene Morales JP Pct 1
Jose Luis Balderas Precint Chair # 3
Rudy Espinoza Precinct Chair # 5
Elpidio Lizcano Precinct Chair # 6
Eliseo Solis Precinct Chair # 7
Zavala County
1974 (continued)
LRUPCandidate Office Sought Votes Opponent Votes
La Raza Unida Party Reunion Program Book - 2012 Page 31
All were unoppossed
in the primary
except Jose Angel Gutierrez
Jose Angel Gutierrez County Judge 1,968 Ira Taylor 1,702
Viginira Musquiz County Clerk 1,950 Georgia L. Price 1,742
Carmen Flores County Treasurer 1,977 Pernla Dennis 1,714
Esteban Najera County Comm Pct 4 590 E.A. Easter 588
Irene Cuellar Morales JP # 1 370 Bert Banner ?
General Election
Mr. Cisneros ran for Justice of the Peace with La Raza Unida Party in El Paso County in 1974. Mr.
Cisneros was born in El Paso, Texas on July 23, 1949. He attended local schools, Aoy and Hart
Elementary, then he went on to Bowie High School where he graduated in 1969. With the help of the
Upward Bound Program and the Mexican-American Youth Association, Mr. Cisneros attended
Colorado State University for one quarter semester, and then transfered to UTEP. At this university,
Mr. Cisneros receibed his B.A. degree in Political Science in 1973.
El Paso County
Zavala County
1974 (continued)
LRUPCandidate Office Sought Votes Opponent Votes
La Raza Unida Party Reunion Program Book - 2012Page 32
COLLECTING ORAL HISTORIES OF ACTIVISTS IN DFW
AND BEYOND PLEASE CALL FOR MORE INFO
Dr. Mariano Diaz-Miranda
History Professor at
Austin Community College
Manda Saludos a Todos
Dr. Nestor RodriguezFelicita a todos en sureunion en Austin, Tx
Crystal City School Board Elections held on April 5th, 1975
Abelardo Marquez School Board 1,563 Alberto Sanchez 431
Jose Luis Balderas School Board 1,565 Javier Ramon 430
Crystal City Council Elections
Jose D. Cuevas City Council 1,522 Juan Cornejo 560
Eugenio “Gene” Ruiz City Council 1,519 Beatrice Espinoza 554
Ambrosio Melendrez City Council 1,541 Henry Flores 560
Zavala County
1975
LRUPCandidate Office Sought Votes Opponent Votes
La Raza Unida Party Reunion Program Book - 2012
1976
Travis County
Paul Velez Travis County Chairman N/A
Emilio Zamora Travis County Chairman N/A
Harris County
General Election
Carmen Zapata County Chair
Idefonso Ruiz Constable Precinct # 6 611 votes (2.4%)
Eduardo Canales State Representative District # 87 266 votes ( 2.6%)
Fred Garza, Jr. Rail Road Commissioner 5,936
LRUPCandidate Office Sought Votes
Page 33
La Raza Unida Party Reunion Program Book - 2012
1976 (continued)
LRUPCandidate Office Sought Votes Opponent Votes
Zavala County
Crystal City School Board Elections
Original Raza Unida New Guard Raza Unida
Ernesto Olguin School Board 1,149 José Luis Galvan 1,450
Jose O. Mata School Board 1,139 Henry Rivera 1,444
Jesus Salas School Board 1,125 Rudy Palomo 1,438
Crystal City Council Elections
Olivia Serna City Council 1,056 Francisco Benevides 1,271
Pablo Puente City Council 1,042 Victor Lopez 1,231
Independents
Juan Cornejo 65
Roberto Diaz 18
Raza Unida Primary Elections May 1, 1976
Crispin Treviño Sheriff 1,254 Ramon Garza 1,071
Elena Diaz County Commissioner 369 Rudy Espinoza, Jr. 360
November General Elections
Crispin Treviño Sheriff 1,425 Elfego Martinez 2,079
Richard Diaz County Tax Assessor 2,172 Martha Cruz 1,313
Francisco Prado, Jr. County Commissioner 328 Felipe Torres 406
Precinct # 1
Ventura Goznalez Constable Precinct # 2 375 Cecil Holt 503
Elena Diaz County Commissioner 376 N/A
Precinct # 3
Jesse Gamez County Commissioner 357 (write-in)
Precinct # 3
Page 34
La Raza Unida Party Reunion Program Book - 2012
Zavala County
Raza Unida Primary Elections May 1, 1976
Gregoria Delgado JP Precinct # 4 N/A
Guadalupe C. Mata Constable Precinct # 1 N/A
Pablo Avila County Attorney N/A Unoppossed
1976 (continued)
LRUPCandidate Office Sought Votes Opponent Votes
1977
Crystal City School Board Elections
Victor Castillo School Board 1,107 Ramon Garza 1,238
Juan Guzman School Board 1,089 Jesse Gamez 1,126
Crystal City Council Elections (April 2, 1977)
Jose D. Cuevas City Council 1,121 Ramon “Monche” Mata 1,140
Hilario B. Lozano City Council 1,102 Blanca Gamez 1,206
Olivia Serna City Council 1,124 Rudy Espinoza, Jr. 1,198
LRUPCandidate Office Sought Votes Opponent Votes
Page 35
We are proud to have been a small part in
the political awakening of our people
Happy 40th Anniversary
Raza Unida Party of Texas
Ernesto & Ruby T. Calderón Austin, Texas
La Raza Unida Party Reunion Program Book - 2012
Crystal City School Board Elections
Esmeralda R. Torres School Board 1,123 Ramon Martinez 730 won
Jose D. Cuevas School Board 1,241 Jesus Menchaca 719 won
Crystal City Council Elections
Victor Lopez City Council 1,129 Francisco Benevides 698 won
Luis R. Avila City Council 1,197 Eliseo Sanchez 665 won
Primary Elections
Jose Angel Gutierrez County Judge
Esteban Najera County Commissioner
Precinct # 4 191
Alejandro Perez County Commissioner
Precinct # 4 401
Jose L. Talamantez County Commissioner 582 Frank Guerrero Jr. 614
Precinct # 2
Margarita Gonzalez District Clerk 1,908 Rosa Elva Mata 2,055
Diana Palacios Garcia County Clerk 1.981 Rosaria T. Avila 1,965
Alfredo G. Sanchez Justice of the Peace 414 Bert Baxter 417
Precinct 1
Carmen Flores County Treasurer 2,022 Margaret Williams 1,914
Zavala County
1978
LRUPCandidate Office Sought Votes Opponent Votes
Harris County
General Election
Daniel Bustamante State Representative
District # 79 267 votes ( 2.7%)
Mario Compean Governor
Luis Diaz De Leon U.S. Senate
Page 36
La Raza Unida Party Reunion Program Book - 2012
1979LRUPCandidate Office Sought Votes Opponent Votes
Page 37
Crystal City School Board Elections
Margaret Flores School Board 1,577 Fidel Benavides 1,098
Pablo Puente School Board 1,532 Miguel “Mike” Delgado 1,260
Juan “Topper” Perez School Board 1,525 Francisco J. Martinez 1,126
Ninfa Moncada School Board N/A José R. “Chema” Mata
Crystal City Council Elections
Rodolfo “Rudy” Espinoza Jr. City Council 1,514 Ramon “Monche” Mata 1,005
Olivia Serna City Council 1,572 Juan Cornejo 963
Juan E. Hernandez City Council 1,443 Roberto Cornejo 970
Zavala County
La Raza Unida Party Reunion Program Book - 2012
Planning Committee
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, Front Row: Anita Quintanilla, Maria Elena Martinez, Modesta Treviño, Alma Valdez,
Ruby T. Calderon, Linda Del Toro, TOP ROW: Hector Gaucin, Ricardo Chavira, Ernesto Calderon, Frank Campos,
Dr. Emilio Zamora, Avina Crystal Gutierrez, Pablo Avila, Gilbert Rivera.
LEFT: Martha Cotera
ABOVE: Lorenzo Cano,
Houston, Texas
RIGHT: Erneto and Ruby T.
Calderon with
Dr. Emilio Zamora