"Just a Thought" Column continues in La Prensa of SA, 5-12

Just a Thought: Governor (for a day) Leticia
van de Putte
By Steve Walker

Last Saturday, May 4^th, Governor for a Day Leticia van de Putte was sworn into office by 4^th Court of Appeals Justice Luz Chapa in front of a packed Senate Chamber. Thousands of supporters swarmed the State Capitol to witness the historic event.

Each legislative session there is at least one day when the Governor and the Lieutenant Governor are both out of the state and the Senate Pro Tem takes over the office to officiate over any state business that might need to be done.

Largely ceremonial, the state law however, requires that if both Governor and Lt. Governor are not in the state at the same time, the next in line to govern falls to the Senate Pro Tem at the time of the occurrence.

What makes the event historical is that it is the first time a Hispanic female took over the reins of power as Governor. History will tell you that only two females ever served as Governor in Texas History. The first female Governor Miriam “Ma” Ferguson served from 1924-28 and again in 32-36. Governor Ann Richards served as Governor from 1990-94.

With 22 years of public service that began as a State Representative in 1990 and then elected State Senator in 1999 in a special election, van de Putte continues to make her mark on the state.

In 2004 when she ran for a second full term, I had the opportunity to walk the streets of Balcones Heights where I served as Councilman at the time, with her and her mother, Belle Ortiz. A number of neighbors hosted tea parties for her and I was privileged to speak in her behalf as she canvassed the city. Her signs were everywhere. In nearly every block of the city her signs were in front yards, local businesses and even hung in trees!

In 2005 in my last term on the council one of the apartments requested my assistance as a Councilman to convince the San Antonio School District to assign a bus to transport approximately 20 elementary students from Fredericksburg Road across the freeway to Arnold Elementary School and back. They would not do so.

After shaming the District to do so with a little assistance from the media it happened and the students finally were able to attend school without having to walk across the freeway in harm’s way.

The first person who supported me in the endeavor was Senator Leticia van de Putte. As a public servant she now chairs among other committees, the veteran’s committee to ensure they are taken care of in their time of need.

It is nice to know we have elected officials who do what they were elected to do. I am glad to call her friend.

Anyway, as always, what I write is “Just a Thought.”

Steve Walker is a Vietnam Veteran and former Justice of the Peace and Journalist. His column “Ask the Judge” column ran in La Prensa for the last two years.