Everything Garry Mauro said at a Celebration of Life event for Tejano Democrats leader Juan Maldonado

Rio Grande Guardian's Podcast

When I ran the Bob Krueger campaign, I was his campaign manager, San Juan had just elected a majority of city councilmen who were Hispanic. Because, let's face it, the white Anglo political establishment was running everything down here.

And when Bob Krueger put his campaign together, he put Juan front and center. And when they wanted to have a campaign meeting, all of Juan's people were sitting at the table because, somebody said it earlier, Juan just wanted a seat at the table. And once he had a seat at the table, hell, he was running everything. Let’s be honest.

I'm so proud that I got to be friends, not only with Juan Maldonado… you know, most people, when I ran for office, thought I was Hispanic. I'm really Sicilian. Thank God my name was Mauro because I would never have got elected.

But I am so pleased to have been a friend. You know, in 1972, when I was 23 years old, I worked for Ralph Yarborough and somehow I got named chairman of Young Texans for McGovern. And so from ‘72 on I got to see everybody in politics. And I'm going someplace with this.

You know, Billy Goldberg, Jess Hay, Mickey Leland, Ed Wendler, George McGovern and, yes, Juan Maldonado. He was a hero of mine. I knew a lot of elected officials who were a lot more powerful. I should probably put Bill Clinton into that category, too. But he was a real hero of mine. And you know what all those people have in common with Juan? And this is where I will keep it short. Juan was absolutely fearless.

I remember when I called him up on the phone and said Juan, a lot of people think a Democrat needs to run against George W. Bush for Governor but the polls don’t look too good. What do you think? And he said, you have an obligation to run, Gary. You can't (give Bush) a free ride.

Juan Maldonado was fearless. And he expected those around him to be fearless as well.
Editor's Note: Go to the Rio Grande Guardian website to read the full commentary former Texas Land Commissioner Garry Mauro gave at a Celebration of Life event for the late Tejano Democrats leader, Juan Maldonado.

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