(Community Matters) Steven and I are excited about the next generation of Texas’ leaders, our next national leaders.
I’ve spent quite a bit of time with State Rep Joaquin Castro this week. I already knew his brother, San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro but am just getting to know Joaquin. Wow – twin 36 year olds raised in San Antonio’s Hispanic west side – Stanford undergrads and Harvard Law School. Raised by a mom who was always active in helping her neighbors, they’ve inherited her commitment to neighbors and community and have transformed it to political leadership. Both are rising stars nationally.
Mayor Julian Castro is a friend and colleague to Pres. Obama and could just be Texas’ first Hispanic Governor. Joaquin has now agreed to run for Congress in the newly created Congressional District (35) which includes some of East Austin and lots of San Antonio’s west side.
After many discussions with him earlier this week, Steven and I spent time with Joaquin Friday afternoon. I was happy to watch Steven as impressed and inspired as I’ve been. All the right progressive principles and priorities, a fresh perspective on working collaboratively with colleagues, and the youthful perspective that of course environmental stewardship, full equality for LGBT Americans, and the realization that investing in education and health care are contributors to economic development – realizing that these just are inherently right and affordable. We’re enthusiast Joaquin Castro supporters. Hoping our friends will join us in supporting a new generation of leaders.
Community Matters 
I took at look at his campaign web page – admittedly in its early stages – but I would warn him against saying “lowering taxes on small business.” This usually is explained by saying “small businesses” create the majority of new jobs and thus lower taxes will help in job creation….well….sort of. It is the small AND expanding or growing businesses that actually create new jobs. Many small businesses stay just that: small…think of a physicians office or a small law firm – they are small, yes, but will they contribute to job growth: not really…instead we should think about giving incentives and opportunities to young (and espeically working class and minority) entrepreneurs. That would be an economic policy that would be beneficial, progressive and what America needs…saying “lowering taxes on small business” make him sound no different from the Tea Party.
I’m assuming “full equality” includes: supports gay marriage?
MM, yes, that includes marriage equality
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I’m glad to see that Rep. Castro stands so strongly for marriage equality now but it must be somewhat new. I wish he could have been bothered to vote “no” to HJR 6, the enabling legislation which put Texas’ Constitutional Amendment against same-sex marriage on the ballot in 2005. That vote continues to this day to separate the members of the Democratic caucus with a backbone and those without.
I agree his choosing to not vote on the DOMA bill in 2003 sucks, KT. Maybe he and the others who abstained felt courageous by not voting yes for LGBT discrimination. Some probably even saw it as a bold vote for a first term, 20-something representative from a mostly Hispanic & Catholic district a decade ago. I appreciative Joaquin didn’t vote for DOMA like our progressive darlings at the time – including Patrick Rose in the Texas House and Lloyd Doggett in the US House.
Anyhow. . . . I’m thankful Joaquin has matured beyond his first session in the legislature and is now willing to help lead the fight for full equality for LGBT Americans.
Castro’s support for marriage equality contrasts with Lloyd’s opposition. Congressman Doggett voted yes for federal DOMA, and he still opposes same sex marriage. I remember when Lloyd bold faced and proudly told me gay marriages should never be recognized the same as his and Libby’s.
If Lloyd’s changed his position, I’d love to hear about it. But, a close, mutual friend recently confided to me that he still opposed LGBT marriage – not only politically but in his heart.
KT I have to side with Eugene on this one. Taking a position like that about Castro when he didn’t vote for HJR6 is more than Doggett voting for DOMA. Granted it’s the lesser of two evils but it’s not promoting a negative position, which Doggett did. I find your argument to be weak on this matter and ignorant of Doggett’s actions. If you had admitted Doggett’s actions I think your position would have had more credibility.
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