Ciro Rodriguez polls constituents, "Had enough?"

Ciro Rodriguez (photo)
Former Congressman (28th)

As a new constituent of Congressman Henry Bonilla, former Congressman Ciro Rodriguez is toying with the idea of challenging the seven term Republican incumbent for his 23rd Congressional seat in November.

Speaking to a crowd of nearly 60 loyal supporters on the Southside, Rodriguez asked the quickly asssembed gathering, "had enough?"

The enthusiastic partisan crowd yelled, "yes we have had enough" For the next hour, Rodriguez regaled the crowd with Bonilla's record on veteran's issues, health care and support for the Iraqi War.

Rodriguez reminded the crowd that he voted "No" to the Iraqi War when he served in the Congress and that his record on veteran's issues was beyond reproach to include a stint on the Armed Forces Committee. Numerous veterans from the crowd attested to his unwavering support for veterans in the past.

Army Sgt. Major Benito Guererro (ret) and a member of the Alamo Silver Wings, pointed out that "Ciro has always been with us." Other veterans to include Vietnam veterans shared horror stories about the current Adminstration cutting health benefits to retirees while claiming to be supportive of the men and women who served their country.

One former soldier related that he recently scheduled an appointment with the Veteran's Hospital only to discover that the appointment was for May of 2007.

Bob Salvatore, an AFL-CIO union spokesman said that when the endorsements come out in the next few weeks, "Ciro's name will be high on the list."

Rick Puente, a deputy chair for the local Democratic Party said, "the party has a strategy in place for youth outreach and a plan to get Democrats elected. My family has always supported Ciro and I’ve voted for him in the past and likely will again in the future."

Robert Castaneda, who crunched the numbers for the recent campaign in the 28th Congressional District said, "the race is definitely winnable, now that the Southside is back in the 23rd. Ciro just needs to decide if he wants to run again."

Rodriguez is scheduled to visit Eagle Pass and other counties over the next few days to hear what voters have to say on the special election. He told the crowd that he would make a final decision next Tuesday.

Supporters included Northwest, Northeast and Tejano Democrats, educators from Harlandale, South San and Southside school districts, veterans and LULAC members to include national president Rosa Rosales' son and husband.