Gilbert Peña

Gilbert H. Peña
Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 144th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 13, 2015
Preceded by	Mary Ann Perez
Personal details
Born	1949 Galveston, Texas, USA
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Cynthia Hernandez Peña
Children	Four children
Residence	Pasadena, Texas
Alma mater	Texas Southern University
Occupation	Retired
Religion	Christian

Gilbert H. Peña (born 1949) is the incoming 2015 Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 144 in Harris County, Texas.^[1]

Background

Born in Galveston, Peña moved to Houston with his family when he was nine years of age. Of a modest background, he held an assortment of jobs, often two at a time, over his working career and is now retired. He obtained a bachelor's degree in Political Science in 1996, when he was forty-seven, from Texas Southern University in Houston. He and his wife, the former Cynthia Hernandez (born 1958), have resided since 1992 in Pasadena, Texas. The couple has four children. ^[2]

Political life

Peña unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for the District 144 seat in 2012 but was defeated by intraparty rival, David Pineda, who polled 1,437 votes (58.2 percent) to Peña's 1,030 (41.8 percent).^[3] Pineda was narrowly defeated in the November 6, 2012 general election by the Democrat Mary Ann Perez.

In 2014, Peña was unopposed for the Republican nomination for District 144, which includes the San Jacinto Monument, the Houston Ship Channel, and Battleship Texas. Peña calls himself a conservative, which was represented prior to 2013 by Barbara Legler and her late husband, Ken Legler of Pasadena, who died in office in 2012. Mrs. Legler did not contest the seat, as Pineda defeated Peña for the nomination that year. In the November 4, 2014 general election, Peña turned the tables on Representative Perez. He won the seat by 152 votes, 6,015 votes (50.6 percent) to Perez's 5,863 (49.4 percent).^[4]

Peña outlined ten reasons that voters should support him, including policies for the creation of more jobs, the enhancement of family safety, health care, and reform of the state educational system. He stresses his support for Christian morality and values.^[2]

References

1. "Gilbert Peña". Texas Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
2. "Meet Gilbert Peña". Take Back House District 144. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
3. "Republican primary election returns, May 29, 2012". Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
4. "General election returns, November 4, 2014". Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved December 10, 2014.