Student Publications
University of Houston
151C Communications Bldg
Houston, TX 77204-4015
713.743.5350

©1991-2007
Student Publications,
All rights reserved.

Last modified:

Contact:
ktruitt@uh.edu

News

Alumna ready for life in House

Hernandez wins runoff against fellow alumna, turns focus to Austin

by JESSICA ROBERTSON
Senior Staff Writer

The runoff election between two UH alumnae for a seat in the state House ended in victory for Ana Hernandez, a 1999 political science graduate. Hernandez won last month's election with 61 percent of the vote.

Hernandez, 27, will represent east Houston and Pasadena in the District 143 seat, which was left vacant last year when Rep. Joe Moreno died in a car crash. Hernandez said her work as an aide for Moreno in three continuous legislative sessions from 1998 to 2004 prepared her to represent the heavily Democratic district. 

"I know (the constituents') needs, and I know the issues of working in the district," she said. "In a district like 143, you really have to have a grassroots campaign, and we spoke to many of the voters in person."

Laura Salinas, Hernandez's opponent, is a recent graduate of the C.T. Bauer College of Business and served as UH student regent for two years. A special election for the seat between Hernandez, Salinas and four other candidates in November did not produce a winner with a clear majority of votes.

Hernandez said her immediate concerns for the district are providing funding for children's health care and creating legislation to minimize pollution. She will discuss air quality regulation with other elected officials next month in a town hall meeting.

She also plans to fight against tuition deregulation laws that allow universities to set their own tuition rates during the next regular legislative session. Deregulation prevents many students from affording an education, Hernandez said.

"It's something we need to revisit (in the Legislature) because it's hurting our students," she said.

An internship with Sen. Rodney Ellis in the Texas Legislative Internship Program during her junior year at UH provided opportunities and connections in the state political field, Hernandez said.

"The internship really opened a lot of doors for me and taught me about politics," she said.

The internship program led to a position working for Rep. Jessica Farrar in 1998. Hernandez later became Farrar's chief of staff.

After receiving her bachelor's degree, Hernandez attended the University of Texas School of Law and served as director of development for the Texas International Law Journal. She received her doctorate from UT in 2004. 

Hernandez took a leave of absence from her job as an attorney at ConocoPhillips Co. to concentrate on her campaign. 

She is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Young Lawyers Association and the Mexican American Bar Association of Houston. 

She also helped to establish Latinas on the Rise, an educational and mentorship program, in 1998 and served as the program's executive director for two years.
 

Send comments to dcnews@mail.uh.edu