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Carlos (Charlie) I. Uresti (D-SS19)
Email - Web Site
Capitol: 512.463.0119
FAX: 512.463.1017
District: 210.932.2568
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Senator
Room EXT E1.804 Capitol Station 1100 Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78711
District Office:
2530 SW Military Drive
San Antonio, TX 78224
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| Elected: 2006 Next Election: 2016 | | Spouse: Lleanna DOB: 9/12/1963 |
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BioOccupation- Attorney. Education- St. Mary's University, B.A.; J.D. Legislative Experience- House Member, 1997 - 2006; Senate Member, 2006 - present. Hometown- San Antonio. Party- Democrat. Where there is no vision, the people will perish – Proverbs, 29-18. This is the personal credo of State Senator Carlos I. Uresti, a leader for Senate District 19 and the State of Texas who envisions thriving communities, safe and healthy children, an educated workforce, and responsible growth. A lifelong resident of his district, he is deeply committed to the success of his constituents. Senator Uresti represents the largest geographical senate district in the contiguous 48 states. Senate District 19 spans a 23-county area stretching along the U.S.-Mexico border, from San Antonio to El Paso County. Covering 55,000 square miles, the district contains 62 school districts; spans two time zones; and is larger than 24 states and 25 countries. Born in West San Antonio and raised on the city's South Side, Senator Uresti and his twin brother, Larry, are the youngest of eight children. After graduating from McCollum High School, Senator Uresti enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves at the age of 18 as a Private First Class. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and a Teaching Certificate from St. Mary's University, and was then commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. Senator Uresti rose to the rank of Captain and earned the Navy Achievement Medal during his four years of active duty as a combat engineer. Since graduating from St. Mary's University School of Law in 1992, he has been in private practice in San Antonio, currently with the Uresti Law Firm. Balancing career and family life is important to Senator Uresti. He raised his two sons, Michael and Carlos, Jr. in the same neighborhood in which he spent his formative years. Both Michael and Carlos Jr. graduated from McCollum High School and continued in their father's footsteps in their own way. Michael is a 2005 graduate of Texas A&M University-College Station and is currently attending law school at his father's Alma Mater, St. Mary's University. Senator Uresti became a grandfather on July 22, 2008, when Michael and his wife Jennifer welcomed their first baby, Benjamin Michael. Carlos Jr. graduated from McCollum in 2004 and followed his roots to the same military branch as his father. He is now a Corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves and is attending Texas A&M University-San Antonio. A 1997 special election to the Texas House of Representatives opened the door to state politics for Senator Uresti. He served in the House for nine years and was the chairman of the Committee on Human Services during the 78th Legislature and the Committee on Government Reform during the 79th Legislature. Currently, Senator Uresti is co-chair of the Bexar Metropolitan Water District Legislative Oversight Committee, and is vice chair of two Senate Committees — Administration and Agriculture and Rural Affairs. He is also a member of the Health and Human Services, Natural Resources and Jurisprudence Committees and the Select Committee on Redistricting. Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst appointed him to the National Conference of State Legislatures' standing Health Committee in 2007. He is also a member of the Southern Legislative Conference's Agriculture and Rural Development Committee. Devoted to fighting child abuse and neglect as chairman of the House Committee on Health and Human Services, Senator Uresti led the charge to reform the Child Protective Services during the interim of the 78th Legislature, and brought statewide attention and major reform to protect our children from abuse and neglect. He continues to be a voice throughout Texas for the most vulnerable of our State. Long active in his community, Senator Uresti is the founding chairman of the Blue Ribbon Task Force, a coalition bringing together hundreds of community activists and leaders to fight the causes of child abuse and neglect. He also sits on the Board of Trustees for Communities-In-Schools of San Antonio, which is the nation's largest community-based dropout prevention organization. Senator Uresti is also a member of the Board of Trustees for Wings for Life, a residential facility for at-risk teen mothers and their children. Each year Senator Uresti sponsors a Back-to-School and Health Fair in San Antonio and participates in similar events across the district. Since 2008, he has given away some 30,000 backpacks to students across the district. A fierce advocate for veterans, Senator Uresti formed the Bexar County Veterans' Coalition in 2006. He is a lifetime member of Veteran of Foreign Wars Manuel Alvarado Post 9186, a member of the United States Marine Corps League, the American Legion, and the Alamo Silver Wings Airborne Association. In the 81st Legislature, Senator Uresti co-sponsored legislation granted a full homeowners property tax exemption to veterans who were 100 percent disabled from their military service. He has worked diligently to encourage economic development within Senate District 19, including the Toyota manufacturing plant, the revitalization of Brooks City-Base, the Port of San Antonio, and the Texas A&M University campus in South San Antonio. Senator Uresti is also a voting member of the San Antonio-Bexar County Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Policy Board where is working to create a sustainable transportation infrastructure for the future of the region.
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