Blog

(Houston) July 20, 2012: Former County Commissioner Sylvia Garcia issued the following letter today to the women of Congressional District 7 endorsing the City of Houston’s Senior Assistant City Attorney for energy, James Cargas, in the Democratic Primary Run-off Election on July 31st.

Dear Mothers, Daughters, and Sisters,

We all know there’s a war against women going on right now. The assault isn’t just focused on our bodies: it’s focused on our children’s education, on equal pay, on Social Security, on Medicare, and pretty much any issue we as women care about.  Republicans and their Tea Party allies in this country have taken a stand against the progress we have made, and are slowly trying to turn back the clock and erode several generations of victories.  Today, I ask you to take a stand with me again and support our ally and my friend, James Cargas.

James is running for the United States Congress in your district and we need your support and vote.

I don’t need to remind you that Republicans and their Tea Party allies vote time and again against your best interests as women and are proud of it.  They vote against women making our own choices about our own bodies, vote against public education, vote against equal pay, vote against protecting Social Security, and vote against protecting Medicare.   James has stood up for women and will continue to stand up for women in the United States Congress, for us to control our own bodies, for education, for equal pay, and against the Ryan Budget’s cuts to Social Security and Medicare.  James stands with us.

We need to support James on July 31st in the Democratic Runoff (early voting is Monday, July 23 through Friday, July 27). James has the depth and breadth of experience to serve in the United States Congress. A loyal Democrat, James worked on Capitol Hill after college, in the Clinton White House after law school, and is currently working as the Senior Assistant City Attorney for Energy for Mayor Annise Parker.  He is honest and a hard worker with a strong commitment to public service. He can hit the ground running on day one, and at his side will be his wife, Dr. Dorina Papageorgiou, a neuroscientist in our Texas Medical Center. She is a passionate advocate not only for medical research but also for women’s healthcare needs.  Now that’s an added bonus!

I strongly urge you to support my friend James Cargas for the United States Congress. He is the candidate who can win in November against the Republicans and their Tea Party allies and stand up for women in these hostile times.

Sincerely,
Sylvia Garcia
Former County Commissioner

Sylvia Garcia holds the distinction for being the first Hispanic and the first woman elected as a County Commissioner in Harris County. Previously, Ms. Garcia served the City of Houston as Controller. She is the outgoing President of National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO), and has fought hard for immigration and educational reform.

James Cargas offers substantial public service experience. He served as a Congressional aide, law clerk at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, a Clinton White House staffer, and a special assistant in the U.S. Department of Energy under Secretary Bill Richardson. He is currently Senior Assistant City Attorney for Energy for the City of Houston.