HispanicBusiness

Antonio "Tony" Garza Chairman Texas Railroad Commission, Austin, TX

In November 1998, Texas voters chose Tony Garza as the first Hispanic Republican elected to a statewide office. Less than a month later, his colleagues elected him chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission. He has participated actively in the presidential electioneering of Texas Governor George W. Bush, accompanying the candidate on a summer swing through California.

Mr. Garza also serves as second vice-chairman of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, representing Texas on one of the nation's oldest and largest interstate groups, which brings together 39 oil and gas producing states.



Henry Gomez Vice-President of Corporate Affairs HBO, New York, NY

Mr. Gomez is the highest-ranking Hispanic at HBO and one of the highest-ranking in the Time Warner empire. He oversees all media outreach regarding HBO's domestic and international operations and is responsible for creating and implementing the network's affiliate marketing communications, regional press initiatives, and special events. He has successfully run three times for a seat on the school board in his hometown of North Bergen, New Jersey. He is a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, New Jersey School Boards Association, New Jersey Community Development Corporation, and the Democratic Roundtable.



Alberto "Al" Gonzales Justice Texas Supreme Court, Austin, TX

Although he had never before tried a case, this former Texas Secretary of State was appointed Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas in November 1998. For the previous three years, he had served as one of the top legal advisors to Texas Governor George W. Bush, acting as chief elections officer and as a liaison to Mexico. A graduate of Harvard Law School, he serves as a trustee of the Texas Bar Foundation.



Ron Gonzales Mayor City of San Jose, San Jose, CA

The first Hispanic mayor of San Jose since California's statehood, Ron Gonzales hit the ground running when he took office in January. In his first 100 days, he initiated two programs - the San Jose Teacher Housing Program and the San Jose Future Teachers Scholarship - aimed at making San Jose the most "teacher friendly" city in California. Previously, Mr. Gonzales served eight years on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors and managed the education program at Hewlett-Packard.



Antonio Gonzalez President Southwest Voter Registration Education Project and William C. Vasquez Institute, Montebello, CA

Thanks to the Southwest Voter Registration Project (SVREP), Hispanic voter turnout for the California governor's race during the November 1998 elections increased 18.4 percent from the 1994 figure, while Hispanic voter registration for the 1998 election grew 21.6 percent compared to 1994. Mr. Gonzalez has focused sister organization William C. Vasquez Institute on research and advocacy on U.S.-Latin America relations.



Juan Gonzalez Columnist New York Daily News, New York, NY

The Village Voice calls him "the most radical person in the above-it-all world of New York daily journalism." A New York Daily News staff columnist, he received the 1999 George Polk Award for commentary in recognition of his columns about the racial divide in the United States. He was the only Hispanic in 13 categories to win a Polk award. The recipient of many other journalism honors, Mr. Gonzalez is author of Roll Down Your Window: Stories of a Forgotten America (1995).