Community mourns loss of public servant

“A lot of people speak and want to do things, but then there are a lot of people who do things,” said former senator Gonzalo Barrientos. “She did things.”

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Friend, mentor, family, bright, strong and intelligent are all words that have been used to describe the late Sandra Tenorio.

Sandra Tenorio (from 1986 campaign)[/caption]

Born and raised in Kyle, Tenorio worked at her family’s grocery store, Tenorio’s Grocery Store, then located at 110 W. Center St. There, she mainly worked at the cash register, which is perhaps where her love of service grew. After graduating from Hays High School, she was appointed to the Kyle Housing Authority Board as vice chairman in 1981 and to Kyle City Council in 1982. In 1986, at the age of 27, she ran and was elected mayor of Kyle in a 319-97 vote against Richard "Rik" Burnett, becoming Kyle's first Hispanic mayor. After serving three years as Kyle’s mayor, she worked in numerous positions, including Travis County, Department of Agriculture, Comptroller’s office and Buda City Council.

Tenorio has touched many hearts in her lifetime, local attorney and state representative candidate Chevo Pastrano being one of them. To Pastrano, she was a great mentor and was his encouragement to run for office.

“I remember as a teenager that I [would] just recall thinking she was just absolutely beautiful, but she was also a very intelligent woman,” said Pastrano, reminiscing. “She certainly was a huge presence in a room … Everybody really respected her and when she spoke, people listened with respect.”

The list of Tenorio’s positive characteristics go on and on and the many friends she has acquired across the state have never left her side. According to many, she was a bright light in their lives, whether she encouraged, supported or taught them.

“Sandra was our best friend. She made you feel valued. She makes you feel important,” said Pastrano. “I’m so grateful for [Tenorio], because if it had not been for her, I would have never confronted this possibility in my life … There are a lot of people struggling right now because they realize that who they identified as one of their best friends is gone.”

Despite her passing, Tenorio’s legacy will live on. For more than 30 years, she was a leader in politics. Tenorio took the political world by storm, inspiring those around her.

According to Lucy Johnson, former Kyle mayor, Tenorio was a force to be reckoned with.

“[She would] forcefully argue her point, take no prisoners and demand actions on important issues, particularly when it came to [League of United Latin American Citizens] or the Latino causes in Texas,” she said.

Johnson was the youngest mayor Kyle had seen at the age of 26. She was only one year younger than Tenorio was when she won her term. Having sat in the same seat as Johnson in a world dominated by older men, Tenorio never failed to mentor and protect the young politician.

“She was there in a way to mentor me, particularly when I was 26 and mayor. Honestly, at times [I was] scared of doing the wrong thing or saying the wrong thing — almost scared of my own shadow,” explained Johnson. “She was there to mentor me and she’d take me out for margaritas and tell me stories.”

Johnson also explained that there was a time when an older man dismissed everything she presented at the meeting and Tenorio, not liking one bit of it, “jumped up from the table and was like, ‘Do you know who you’re talking to? This woman has won three campaigns in as many years and I don’t see any credentials on your end.’”

As someone who was constantly prepared and did not take nonsense from anyone, she was someone Johnson could look up to.

One of Tenorio’s biggest achievements was the development of the Kyle Correctional Center. At the time, it was extremely controversial, as residents were convinced that crime would rise and the city would become a dangerous place. But not only did it provide hundreds of jobs, it also gave inmates an opportunity to contribute to the community.

Former Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos joked that she was a part of a “gang,” as he called it, of several women who were passionate about doing things not only in politics, but for people.

When describing Tenorio, he stated that she was a person who would naturally radiate positive energy.

“It’s who you are, your home, how you grew up, the love you got from home. Learning from your mistakes and it’s even better when you learn from other people’s mistakes,” said Barrientos. “She was down to earth and had common sense. She had that family background and so she was a natural.”

Tenorio was also involved in the Texas Democratic Party, State Tejano Democrats and other organizations that promoted minorities in politics during the '70s.

“A friend of 40 years, Sandra used her local government positions in Hays County to respond meaningfully to the needs of her neighbors, making a difference in the lives of so many. No Democrat sought office in Hays County without consulting her. Her political engagement reached across the state, and her professional endeavors reached often neglected small rural communities,” said United States Rep. Lloyd Doggett. “While she was certainly an advocate for Hispanics, she stood by me even when my district was gerrymandered to ensure a vigorous Hispanic opponent. Compassionate, committed to building a Texas that offers more opportunities for all, a loyal and insightful friend who will be greatly missed.”

Tenorio was highly respected in the community and will be missed by many.

“I can’t speak highly enough of her. She was a great person. Not only did she want people to do good things in government, but she just wanted for people to be good people,” said Pastrano.

A pillar in the Hays County community, Tenorio will be honored with a proclamation at the Aug. 15 Kyle City Council meeting.