STAFF REPORT
Buda resident and council member Sandra Tenorio has been elected chair of the State Tejano Democrats, the first woman to hold that position in the organization’s history.
Tenorio, who has also served as mayor of Kyle, has been a Tejano Democrat member since the organization’s founding and has served as chair and vice chair of the group’s Austin chapter. She follows former State Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos as chair of the statewide organization.
Tenorio has served as treasurer of the Texas Democratic Party, as a founding member of Texas Democratic Women and a founding member of Capitol Area Democratic Women. She was director of border and immigration issues for former Gov. Ann Richards and has worked for former Agriculture Commissioner Jim High-tower and former Comptroller John Sharp.
At the State Tejano Democrat’s meeting last weekend in San Antonio, members also elected Peter Vallecillo of Van Ormy and Debra Flores-Robles of Lubbock as vice presidents; Sylvia Camarillo as treasurer; and Joseph Nazaroff as secretary.
Speaking at the group’s luncheon, retired Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, commander of coalition ground forces in Iraq from 2003-2004, said he would run for U.S. Senate as a Democrat. Other speakers included U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett and State Rep. Joaquin Castro, both of whom are running for Congress in newly created District 35.
