Seguin Gazette - Cuellar heads back to D.C. with victory

Seguin Gazette - Cuellar heads back to D.C. with victory

By Melissa Johnson
The Gazette-Enterprise

Published November 8, 2006
U.S. House Rep. Henry Cuellar looked well on his way Tuesday night to retaining his District 28 seat and avoiding a runoff.

With about 20 percent of the precincts reporting, the Laredo Democrat had tallied 68 percent of the vote. Challengers Frank Enriquez, a Democrat, and Ron Avery, a Constitution Party member, were far back.

Cuellar's message to his constituents?

"Thank you Guadalupe County," he said.

Cuellar took a commanding lead in the county early voting totals, earning 58.9 percent of the vote compared to 19.8 percent by Avery of Seguin and 7.7 percent by Enriquez of McAllen.

Cuellar, who is a member of the House budget and agriculture committees, said he will continue to speak his own mind to secure what's best for his district.

"In Washington, I am a strong independent voice, and I do what I think is correct for the district and I will continue doing that," Cuellar said.

Cullar has been lauded for helping communities such as Seguin and New Braunfels fight crime and has secured several grants for law enforcement agencies. On Saturday, Cuellar promised to secure additional funding for the upkeep of Seguin treasure the Sebastopol House State Historic Site, which just recently celebrated its sesquicentennial.

"I will continue doing what I've done and find money for needs that we have, such as housing, education, law enforcement and firefighters," Cuellar said. "Guadalupe County is growing so fast, we need to make sure that we provide the type of infrastructure needed to keep up."

Though the particulars aren't in place, the congressman is looking to set up shop in Guadalupe County so he can be closer to those he serves.

"We're looking at opening up and office in Guadalupe County because of the redistricting," Cuellar said. "Now that they've taken away a large part of Comal County, San Antonio and Hays County, we're looking at setting up an office to be able to provide more services and greater accessibility to those [constituents.]"

Due to an August court decision that redrew its boundaries, District 28 no longer includes a far eastern strip of Comal County but does contain all of Guadalupe County and stretches down to the Mexican border.

Though Cuellar's party has assumed control of the House, the Laredo Democrat was lukewarm about the left's new position.

"Being a moderate conservative Democrat, I don't want the party going to the extreme left," Cuellar said. "Even with the majority there, I want to make sure we continue to bring in what's important to the district."

But no matter what his constituents' political leanings, Cuellar said he will represent everyone equally.

"Whether they are Republicans, Democrats, Independents or also Constitutional Party members, I will be a congressman for everybody," Cuellar said.

http://www.henrycuellar2006.com/public/press/story.php?storyid=34