The Monitor - Cuellar confident in re-election bid

The Monitor - Cuellar confident in re-election bid

Elizabeth Pierson
Monitor Staff Writer

AUSTIN — U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar talks about his re-election bid to Congress as if the deal is just about done.

He says a September poll from his campaign showed he would receive 65 percent of the vote, compared with 9 percent for fellow Democrat Frank Enriquez and 5 percent for Constitution Party Candidate Ron Avery.

"Things are looking good," Cuellar said last week.

The freshman Democrat from Laredo wants to continue representing District 28, which changed this year after a federal court ordered it redrawn. The district will still take in Laredo and part of San Antonio, but will add Starr and western Hidalgo counties, areas U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, currently represents.

Cuellar is a more conservative Democrat than Doggett, voting often for business interests. He said the district is Democratic, but "moderate-conservative Democratic."

"My friend Lloyd Doggett, we vote together on education and healthcare issues, but when it comes to a little bit more pro-growth, it's a little bit different," Cuellar said. "I certainly am more supportive of business because I want to create jobs."

Born and raised in Laredo, Cuellar went to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. to earn his bachelor's degree. He later returned to Texas to earn several degrees, including a law degree from the University of Texas at Austin.

He then worked as an attorney and customs broker and served in the Texas Legislature from 1987 to 2001. Republican Gov. Rick Perry appointed him in 2001 to the office of Texas secretary of state, a position he resigned nine months later to make a failed run for Congress.

During his time as a legislator and Secretary of State, he worked closely with Rio Grande Valley officials on health, economic development, colonia and other issues, he said.

He says he understands the border because he was raised on it.

"I think that gives me an advantage," he said.

He was elected to Congress in 2005, and since then has funneled at least $1 billion in federal funds and other money to South Texas, most of it for transportation projects in San Antonio and Laredo, he said.

He says the U.S. House passed 11 of 11 amendments he sponsored in his first term. Some were attached to bills that went on to become law; others were not.

Enriquez has accused Cuellar of being too cozy with Republicans in Congress who pushed the idea for a wall between the United States and Mexico.

"The way I see it is he's been a very effective advocate for the wall in one way or another," Enriquez said.

Cuellar, who voted against the legislation last December to erect a wall, said he does not favor the idea. In fact, one of the amendments he sponsored set up a task force to study violence along the U.S.-Mexico border, and he has fought for more local law enforcement funding, he said.

"I don't want to see a wall, but I certainly want to see more resources for the border," Cuellar said.

Cuellar has met with leaders in Starr and western Hidalgo counties to understand specific needs there, he said.

He had plans last week to visit with officials in Pharr regarding drainage problems, "so that way we can hit the ground running once we get this election out of the way," he said.

Cuellar, Enriquez and Avery are fighting for a two-year term that begins in January.

http://www.henrycuellar2006.com/public/press/story.php?storyid=29