Jose Menendez becomes San Antonio's newest senator
David Saleh Rauf March 4, 2015 Updated: March 4, 2015 11:37 p.m.
1of5Jose Menendez walks into the Senate with his wife Cehlia Newman-Menendez to be sworn in by Orlando Garcia, U.S. District Judge from San Antonio at a special ceremony in the Senate at the Capitol in Austin on March 4, 2015.Photo: Tom Reel, San Antonio Express-News
2of5Jose Menendez is sworn in as a Texas Senator by Orlando Garcia, U.S. District Judge from San Antonio at a special ceremony in the Senate at the Capitol in Austin on March 4, 2015.Photo: Tom Reel, San Antonio Express-News
4of5Jose Menendez speaks after he is sworn in by Orlando Garcia, U.S. District Judge from San Antonio at a special ceremony in the Senate at the Capitol in Austin on March 4, 2015.Photo: Tom Reel, San Antonio Express-News
5of5Jose Menendez is congratulated by Lt. Governor Dan Patrick after he is sworn in by Orlando Garcia, U.S. District Judge from San Antonio at a special ceremony in the Senate at the Capitol in Austin on March 4, 2015.Photo: Tom Reel, San Antonio Express-News
AUSTIN — José Menéndez became San Antonio's newest state senator in a ceremony Monday that featured the Alamo City Democrat taking the oath of office and urging his new colleagues in the upper chamber to chart a bipartisan course regardless of what "political price may come."
In a 10-minute address to a packed Senate chamber, Menéndez waxed personal at times, reflecting on his experience growing up as a child born to two immigrants and who started kindergarten without knowing how to speak English.
But the thrust of his messaging revolved around the idea of lawmakers from both parties coming together to improve the state.
"I'm here to say that I'm ready to work with each and every one of you," said Menéndez, who was sworn in by U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia. "I rarely care or worry about what's your party politics what I worry about and care about is what's in your heart."
He later added: "It is our duty as elected officials not only to defend the Constitution … we have to be there to make the tough decisions for the right reason. Sometimes it's easier for us to make votes that are politically correct, to say things that are politically correct. And that's why sometimes I think people loose faith in what we do."
Elected to the Texas House in 2001, Menéndez served in the lower chamber until he trounced fellow San Antonio Democrat state Rep. Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer by almost 20 percentage points in a February runoff. He replaces Leticia Van de Putte, who is running for San Antonio mayor.
A hallmark of the abbreviated campaign between Menéndez and Martinez Fischer was the mud fight between the two lawmakers that have served together for 14 years. Menéndez made his willingness to work with Republicans the lynchpin of his campaign, and it became the largest point of contention for his opponent.
As a result, Fischer painted Menéndez as a disloyal Democrat, courting GOP votes and embracing some of their policies. Menéndez fired back with ads portraying Martinez Fischer as too liberal and unable to work with the GOP majorities.
"A lot of things have been said lately, and yes I am proud to be a Democrat," Menéndez said during the ceremony, directly addressing the criticism from the campaign trial. "But you also should know … I'm here to work side-by-side with whoever wants to get the job done."
Around 100 people from San Antonio attended Wednesday's ceremony, Menéndez said.
A day earlier, he bid farewell to his colleagues in the Texas House with a similar message focused on bipartisanship.
"Whatever the issue is," Menéndez told the House on Tuesday, "we need to remember that we fight for one Texas."
drauf@express-news.net
David Saleh Rauf
David Saleh Rauf reports on politics from the Express-News' Austin bureau.
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