Interesting article.
Cuellar's heavy baggage
Freshman representative's fellow Democrats distrust him, and Republicans aren't too happy with him either.
By Chuck Lindell
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
WASHINGTON — Few first-term representatives arrive on Capitol Hill carrying more political baggage than U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Laredo Democrat with much to prove in the next two years.
Already viewed with suspicion for joining Republican Gov. Rick Perry's administration as secretary of state in 2000, when the Texas Republican Party was working hard to woo Hispanic voters, Cuellar defied Democratic leaders last year to challenge, and defeat, a popular four-term incumbent in Rep. Ciro Rodriguez, D-San Antonio.
Cuellar emerged victorious in the primary after 419 additional ballots were discovered in two of his stronghold counties, erasing Rodriguez's 145-vote win — but only after two recounts, four court decisions and five months of controversy. He easily beat a Republican and a Libertarian in November.
It wasn't an ideal way to start a congressional career, and Cuellar's challenges didn't end with the defeat of Rodriguez.
More...
http://www.statesman.com/hp/content/shared/tx/legislature/stories/01/19cuellar.htmlWow, this dude "calls himself pro-gun, pro-free trade, anti-abortion and anti-gay marriage." I can't really figure out from the article why he's a Democrat....