| Armando, now a proud graduate of the University of Houston Law Center and practicing attorney, comes from humble beginnings. Growing up in Houston, his mother and grandparents worked hard to keep food on the table and teach him the value of hard work - and the importance of a government that serves its community. While his mother worked at Church's Chicken and his grandfather - a former union steelworker - opened his own welding shop, Armando learned how to use food stamps and navigate the public healthcare system for himself and his siblings.
When he graduated from MacArthur High School, Armando became the first member of his family to earn his high school diploma. At the University of Houston, he helped other working-class kids navigate the education system so that one day they could become the first in their family to earn a college degree, too.
Armando began his long career of public service while still in school through the Texas Legislative Internship Program, where he fielded constituent calls in a Houston City Council office. Inspired by the work, Armando went on to work as an aide for U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, then U.S. Rep. Gene Green.
After six years of serving his community, there was an opportunity for Armando to run for office in his hometown district. He hit the streets of House District 140 - knocking on doors and making phone calls 12 hours a day, seven days a week for a year. When his name came before voters on the ballot, they chose Armando. He campaigned on a platform of improving the health, safety and economic well-being of working families.
For over a decade as a legislator, Armando has remained committed to those principles. Most recently, he brought home wins for HD 140 by securing funding for an $18 million flood control project, supporting the construction of a new food bank/community center and joint-authoring legislation to establish a $3 billion endowment for certain Texas universities - including the University of Houston. In previous Sessions, Armando established the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force, the Institute for a Disaster Resilient Texas, and was instrumental in the construction of the East Aldine Town Center.
Between Legislative Sessions, Armando went back to the University of Houston to earn his law degree. Back home in HD 140, Armando spends as much time as possible with his wife, Debbie, and their two young sons. When not on the baseball field helping his two boys train, Armando and his family are often on the sidelines cheering on their beloved Houston Astros.
Armando is now a senior Member of the Legislature with eight terms under his belt. He has been appointed the Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Articles VI, VII & VIII (which cover natural resources, business and industry and regulatory entities) for the past two Sessions. One of the authors of the state's $320 billion biennial budget, Armando used his position to secure cost-of-living increases for the lowest-paid state employees and invest billions in flood control infrastructure.
He also currently serves as the Vice Chair of the House Committee on Licensing and Administrative Procedures and is a member of the Select Committee on Health Care Reform, the Select Study Committee on Sustainable Property Tax Relief, the Committee on House Administration and sits on the Legislative Budget Board. He is the Chair of the Texas Legislative Study Group - an official caucus that analyzes every bill that comes to the House Floor. Additionally, he serves as General Counsel for the Mexican American Legislative Caucus and is an active member of the House Democratic Caucus, Women's Health Caucus and LGBTQ Caucus.
Armando is a public servant anchored in the principles his mother and grandparents raised him with - the importance of hard work and helping others along the way. |