{{Short description|American politician (1950–2012)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2012}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = |birth_name = Mario Valentin Gallegos Jr. | honorific_suffix = | image = Mario Gallegos, Jr. 2012.jpg | caption = Gallegos in 2012 | state_senate = Texas | district = 6th | term_start = January 10, 1995 | term_end = October 16, 2012 | preceded = Dan Shelley | succeeded = Sylvia Garcia |order2= |state_house2=Texas |district2=143rd |term_start2=January 8, 1991 |term_end2=January 10, 1995 |predecessor2=Albert Luna, III |successor2=Gerard Torres | birth_date = {{birth date|1950|9|8}} | birth_place = | death_date = {{death date and age|2012|10|16|1950|9|8}} | death_place =Houston, Texas, U.S. |resting_place=Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery<br />Houston, Texas | spouse = | party = Democrat | relations = | children = | alma_mater = University of Houston–Downtown (BA) | occupation = | profession = Firefighter | signature = | website = | footnotes = }}
'''Mario Valentin Gallegos Jr.''' (September 8, 1950 – October 16, 2012)<ref> {{cite web |url = http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/candidates/general/senate/senateaddr.shtml |title = State Senate Candidates for 2002 General Election |accessdate = 2006-12-26 |date = 2002-09-13 |author = Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) |url-status = dead |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080213232650/http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/candidates/general/senate/senateaddr.shtml |archivedate = February 13, 2008 |df = mdy-all }}</ref> was an American Democratic politician in the U.S. state of Texas. He was the senator from District 6 in the Texas Senate, which serves a portion of Harris County.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mario Gallegos |url=https://lrl.texas.gov/legeleaders/members/memberdisplay.cfm?memberID=30 |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=Legislative Reference Library of Texas}}</ref>
==Political career== Gallegos, who originated from the Magnolia Park community of Houston,<ref name="Hewitt100">Hewitt, Paige. "[http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6672807.html Celebrating 100 years at Magnolia Park]." ''Houston Chronicle''. October 18, 2009. Retrieved July 24, 2010.</ref> was a long-time firefighter with the Houston Fire Department<ref name="Senate">[http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/dist6/dist6.htm Senator Mario Gallegos Jr.: District 6] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722093608/http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/members/dist6/dist6.htm |date=July 22, 2011 }} Official State Senate Website</ref> and retired as a Senior Captain after 22 years of service.<ref name="Senate"/> In 1990, he was elected to the 72nd Legislature in the Texas House of Representatives from District 143, where he served two terms, from 1991 to 1995.
In 1994, Representatives Gallegos and Yolanda Navarro Flores and former Representative Roman O. Martinez squared off in the Democratic primary for a recently redrawn Senate District 6. Martinez received a plurality of the votes and faced Gallegos in a runoff. Gallegos secured the endorsement of former opponent Flores and won, and with no other candidates for the Senate seat, Gallegos became the first Mexican American elected to that body from Harris County.{{Citation needed|date=July 2007}}
Gallegos faced no opposition in 1998 and was reelected to the Senate. In July 2001, Gallegos was named one of the worst legislators in Texas by ''Texas Monthly'' magazine in their biennial feature. The authors noted that Gallegos was "a retired firefighter who threw gasoline on every combustible issue," and noted his penchant for injecting race into seemingly innocuous legislation.<ref>{{cite news | first = Paul | last = Burka | author-link = Paul Burka |author2=Patricia Kilday Hart |author2-link=Patricia Kilday Hart | title = The Best and Worst Legislators | url = http://www.texasmonthly.com/2001-07-01/feature2-2.php | format = subscription required | work = Texas Monthly | date = July 2001 | accessdate = 2006-03-12}}</ref>
Gallegos was unopposed in 2002. However, in 2004, Gallegos was again challenged by Yolanda Navarro Flores in the Democratic primary. Amidst two separate lawsuits challenging his residency within District 6 boundaries, and revelations (and another lawsuit) regarding a 17-year affair with former stripper Susan Delgado,<ref>{{cite news | first = John | last = Williams | title = Woman's lawsuit accuses Gallegos of emotional abuse | url = http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2004_3732927 | work = Houston Chronicle | page = A28 | date = 2004-02-06 | accessdate = 2006-03-12 }}</ref> Gallegos won a close contest. In the 2004 general election, he faced Libertarian challenger Tony Deppenschmidt along with a write-in challenge from his former mistress, Delgado. Gallegos won handily with over 90% of the votes.
In July 2005, Gallegos was again named one of the worst legislators in Texas by ''Texas Monthly''.<ref>{{cite news | first = Paul | last = Burka | author-link = Paul Burka |author2=Patricia Kilday Hart |author2-link=Patricia Kilday Hart | title = The Best and Worst Legislators of 2005 | url = http://www.texasmonthly.com/2005-07-01/feature.php | format = subscription required | work = Texas Monthly | date = July 2005 | accessdate = 2006-03-12}}</ref> Nevertheless, Gallegos was sworn in as Governor for one day on May 5, 2007, in a Texas tradition honoring the Senate President Pro Tem.<ref>[http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/dist6/gfad/senate.htm The Texas State Senate: District 6<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
==Personal life== Gallegos attended the University of Houston–Downtown (UHD) where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in social sciences in 2001.
On March 10, 2006, Gallegos released a statement acknowledging that he was in a one-month residential treatment program for his alcoholism.<ref>{{cite news | first = Lori | last = RodrIguez |author2=Don Mason | title = Gallegos receiving alcoholism treatment | url = http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2006_4077245 | work = Houston Chronicle | page = B1 | date = 2006-03-11 | accessdate = 2006-12-26}}</ref> On January 11, 2007, Gallegos announced that he was suffering from cirrhosis of the liver, and would require a liver transplant,<ref>{{cite news | first = Kristen | last = Mack | title = Gallegos tells Senate he needs new liver | url = http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/mack/4465194.html | work = Houston Chronicle | date = 2007-01-12 | accessdate = 2007-01-16 }}</ref> and on January 19, 2007, Gallegos received a liver transplant at the Texas Medical Center in Houston. His liver donor was 16-year-old Robby Joe Trevino Jr. of Fort Worth, Texas who died unexpectedly from cardiomyopathy. According to a statement from Gallegos prior to the surgery, he would miss about 18 days of the regular session of the 80th Legislature.<ref>{{cite news | first = Kristen | last = Mack | title = Gallegos recovering after liver transplant surgery | url = http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4488039.html | work = Houston Chronicle | date = 2007-01-22 | accessdate = 2007-01-22 }}</ref>
Gallegos installed a hospital bed in the office of the sergeant-at-arms at the capitol building so that he could be nearby to prevent discussion of a bill requiring voter identification, against doctors' orders.<ref name="dewhurstbill">{{cite news |url=http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9264314 |title=Monkey and other business |newspaper=The Economist |date=2007-05-31 |accessdate=2007-07-30}}</ref>
In October 2012 Gallegos was hospitalized and later died.<ref>Connelly, Richard. "[http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2012/10/mario_gallegos_obit_near_death.php?ref=trending State Senator Mario Gallegos Hospitalized In "Grave Condition"] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130125122617/http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2012/10/mario_gallegos_obit_near_death.php?ref=trending |date=January 25, 2013 }}." ''Houston Press''. Friday October 12, 2012. Retrieved October 14, 2012.</ref><ref>Holley, Joe. "[http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Gallegos-champion-for-Hispanics-in-state-Senate-3953814.php Mario Gallegos, Senate champion for Hispanics, dies at 62]." ''Houston Chronicle''. Tuesday October 16, 2012. Retrieved on October 18, 2012.</ref>
==Electoral history==
=== 2004 === {{Election box begin | title=Texas general election, 2004: Senate District 6<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |title=2004 General Election |accessdate=2006-03-13 |publisher=Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109062336/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |archivedate=January 9, 2014 }}</ref> }} {{Election box candidate with party link | party= Democratic Party (US) | candidate = Mario V. Gallegos Jr. | votes = 75,318 | percentage = 91.74 | change = -8.24 }} {{Election box candidate with party link | party = Libertarian Party (US) | candidate = Tony Deppenschmidt | votes = 6,614 | percentage = 8.05 | change = +8.05 }} {{Election box candidate | party = Write-In | candidate = Susan Delgado | votes = 160 | percentage = 0.19 | change = +0.19 }} {{Election box majority | votes = 68,704 | percentage = 83.69 | change = -16.31 }} {{Election box turnout | votes = 82,092 | percentage = | change = +51.65 }} {{Election box hold with party link no swing | winner = Democratic Party (US) }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no party | title=Democratic primary, 2004: Senate District 6<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |title=2004 Democratic Party Primary Election |accessdate=2006-03-13 |publisher=Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109062336/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |archivedate=January 9, 2014 }}</ref> }} {{Election box candidate no party with winner | winner = ✓ | candidate = Mario V. Gallegos Jr. | votes = 6,484 | percentage = 53.92 | change = }} {{Election box candidate no party with winner | winner = | candidate = Yolanda Navarro Flores | votes = 5,541 | percentage = 46.07 | change = }} {{Election box turnout no party | votes = 12,025 | percentage = | change = }} {{election box end}}
=== 2002 === {{Election box begin | title=Texas general election, 2002: Senate District 6<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |title=2002 General Election |accessdate=2006-03-13 |publisher=Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109062336/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |archivedate=January 9, 2014 }}</ref> }} {{Election box candidate with party link | party= Democratic Party (US) | candidate = Mario V. Gallegos Jr. | votes = 54,130 | percentage = 100.00 | change = 0.00 }} {{Election box majority | votes = 54,130 | percentage = 100.00 | change = +43.41 }} {{Election box turnout | votes = 54,130 | percentage = | change = +43.41 }} {{Election box hold with party link no swing | winner = Democratic Party (US) }} {{Election box end}}
=== 1998 === {{Election box begin | title=Texas general election, 1998: Senate District 6<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |title=1998 General Election |accessdate=2006-03-13 |publisher=Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109062336/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |archivedate=January 9, 2014 }}</ref> }} {{Election box candidate with party link | party= Democratic Party (US) | candidate = Mario V. Gallegos Jr. | votes = 37,746 | percentage = 100.00 | change = 0.00 }} {{Election box majority | votes = 37,746 | percentage = 100.00 | change = -2.59 }} {{Election box turnout | votes = 37,746 | percentage = | change = -2.59 }} {{Election box hold with party link no swing | winner = Democratic Party (US) }} {{Election box end}}
=== 1994 === {{Election box begin | title=Texas general election, 1994: Senate District 6<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |title=1994 General Election |accessdate=2006-03-13 |publisher=Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109062336/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |archivedate=January 9, 2014 }}</ref> }} {{Election box candidate with party link | party= Democratic Party (US) | candidate = Mario V. Gallegos Jr. | votes = 38,749 | percentage = 100.00 | change = +57.52 }} {{Election box majority | votes = 38,749 | percentage = 100.00 | change = +69.20 }} {{Election box turnout | votes = 38,749 | percentage = | change = -74.55 }} {{Election box gain with party link no swing | loser = Republican Party (US) | winner = Democratic Party (US) }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no party | title=Democratic primary runoff, 1994: Senate District 6<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |title=1994 Democratic Party Primary Runoff Election |accessdate=2006-03-13 |publisher=Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109062336/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |archivedate=January 9, 2014 }}</ref> }}
{{Election box candidate no party with winner | winner = ✓ | candidate = Mario V. Gallegos Jr. | votes = 9,613 | percentage = 57.19 | change = }} {{Election box candidate no party with winner | winner = | candidate = Roman O. Martinez | votes = 7,193 | percentage = 42.80 | change = }} {{Election box turnout no party | votes = 16,806 | percentage = | change = }} {{election box end}} {{Election box begin no party | title=Democratic primary, 1994: Senate District 6<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |title=1994 Democratic Party Primary Election |accessdate=2006-03-13 |publisher=Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109062336/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |archivedate=January 9, 2014 }}</ref> }} {{Election box candidate no party with winner | winner = ✓ | candidate = Roman O. Martinez | votes = 9,026 | percentage = 37.91 | change = }} {{Election box candidate no party with winner | winner = ✓ | candidate = Mario V. Gallegos Jr. | votes = 5,990 | percentage = 25.15 | change = }} {{Election box candidate no party with winner | winner = | candidate = Yolanda Navarro Flores | votes = 4,936 | percentage = 20.73 | change = }} {{Election box candidate no party with winner | winner = | candidate = David Thomas McCullough | votes = 3,857 | percentage = 16.19 | change = }} {{Election box turnout no party | votes = 23,809 | percentage = | change = }} {{election box end}}
=== 1992 === {{Election box begin | title=Texas general election, 1992: House District 143<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |title=1992 General Election |accessdate=2006-03-13 |publisher=Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109062336/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |archivedate=January 9, 2014 }}</ref> }} {{Election box candidate with party link | party= Democratic Party (US) | candidate = Mario V. Gallegos Jr. | votes = 15,939 | percentage = 100.00 | change = }} {{Election box majority | votes = 15,939 | percentage = 100.00 | change = }} {{Election box turnout | votes = 15,939 | percentage = | change = }} {{Election box hold with party link no swing | winner = Democratic Party (US) }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no party | title=Democratic primary, 1992: House District 143<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |title=1992 Democratic Party Primary Election |accessdate=2006-03-13 |publisher=Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109062336/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |archivedate=January 9, 2014 }}</ref> }} {{Election box candidate no party with winner | winner = ✓ | candidate = Mario V. Gallegos Jr. | votes = 4,732 | percentage = 59.75 | change = }} {{Election box candidate no party with winner | winner = | candidate = Don Jones | votes = 1,874 | percentage = 23.66 | change = }} {{Election box candidate no party with winner | winner = | candidate = R.J. 'Reggie' Gonzales | votes = 1,313 | percentage = 16.58 | change = }} {{Election box turnout no party | votes = 7,919 | percentage = | change = }} {{election box end}}
==See also== {{Portal|Texas|Latino and Hispanic American|Biography}} * History of the Mexican-Americans in Houston * Ninfa Laurenzo * Rick Noriega * Ben Reyes * South Park Mexican * Felix Tijerina
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110722093608/http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/members/dist6/dist6.htm Senate of Texas - Senator Mario Gallegos Jr.] *[http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=5440 Project Vote Smart - Senator Mario V. Gallegos Jr (TX)] profile *''Follow the Money'' - Mario Gallegos Jr **[http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=83152 2006] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=63895 2004] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=11802 2002] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=52150 1998] campaign contributions *{{C-SPAN|85596}} {{s-start}} {{s-par|us-tx-hs}} {{TXHouseSuccession box | district = 143 | hometown = Houston | before=Albert Luna, III | after=Gerard Torres | years=1991–1995 }} {{s-par|us-tx-sen}} {{s-bef | before= Dan Shelley}} {{s-ttl | title= Texas State Senator<br />from District 6 (Houston)<sup>(1)</sup> | years= 1995–2012}} {{s-aft | rows=1 | after=Sylvia Garcia }} {{succession box | title = President ''pro tempore'' of the Texas Senate | before = Royce West | years = January 9, 2007– October 13, 2012 | after = Leticia Van de Putte }} {{s-ref|For the 74th through the 77th, Gallegos' home city was Galena Park}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gallegos, Mario Jr.}} Category:Democratic Party Texas state senators Category:Democratic Party members of the Texas House of Representatives Category:1950 births Category:2012 deaths Category:American politicians of Mexican descent Category:Hispanic and Latino American state legislators in Texas Category:People from Harris County, Texas Category:Presidents pro tempore of the Texas Senate Category:University of Houston–Downtown alumni Category:Politicians from Houston Category:Liver transplant recipients Category:21st-century members of the Texas Legislature