I, along with my wife Julia and two sons, Ruben and Ricardo, am honored to announce my candidacy for the 15th U.S. Congressional District of Texas.
As a former educator, current trial attorney, and Army veteran that served my country honorably in the Afghanistan war, I am eager to bring my strong voice to highlight the unique challenges facing our district.
I was born in the Rio Grande Valley and grew up in Edinburg, Texas. I come from very financially humble beginnings but a beginning that is rich with a loving grandmother and father who instilled integrity, love, education, a hard work ethic, and patriotism to my core. Surrounded by my family who encouraged and supported my dreams and passion for learning, I understood early on that education would be the key to brake my bonds of poverty; a key I continuously pass along to others.
I earned a Bachelor’s in Business Administration in International Business with a minor in Biology from the University of Texas Pan American, today known as, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. While there, I ran for student office to serve my fellow classmates and was President of the International Business Association. It was my early attempt to bring to the forefront issues that affected us in that sphere.
I went on to become a licensed educator and lent my talents and motivation to teach Chemistry and Physics to high school students for five years in Edinburg, TX. This time was perhaps one of the most rewarding and eye-opening experiences of my life. While teaching, I was blessed to be able to positively and directly impact the lives of nearly a thousand high school students. I understood that if I could just motivate one student to choose a better path in life, I will have affected that student’s life and his future children for generations. As a teacher on the frontlines, I understand the unique concerns of our parents, teachers, and students. I understand the effects underfunding has on learning, as well as the effects of bureaucracy on teachers and administrators.
I volunteered to join the war in Afghanistan to fight for our freedom in the US Army. My love for country has not been proven with just words, but rather with actions. I was awarded one of the most prestigious medals, the Bronze Star, as a symbol of my dedication, skilled work, leadership, and meritorious service to my country and fellow soldiers. I consider this to be one of my greatest accomplishments. I am passionate about the safety and security of our country and that of my fellow Americans. I have firsthand knowledge of how the decisions in Washington D.C. affect our soldiers and their families. It is crucial we have a strong national defense that is both feared and respected as to prevent war. We must have a robustly trained, well-equipped, and ready force to win any war asymmetrically.
Through hard work, grit, and determination I attended the University of Houston Law Center—a top-ranking law school as ranked by U.S. News & World Report—with my young family in tow and graduated with a Juris Doctor degree. I passed my Texas bar exam on the first try and today I am a civil trial lawyer with numerous trials, thousands of depositions, and hundreds of successful negotiations under my belt.
As a member of Congress, I will continue to fight for my fellow veterans and district. Like all challenges I have faced, I will not backdown and I promise to uphold our values and our Constitution. I have continuously set goals to help better my community and I’ve achieved them. With your support, and God’s blessing, I will make sure that the needs of the 15th Congressional District will be met.
With honor and integrity,
Ruben Ramirez, J.D.
Proud Candidate for TX15 CD
Editor’s Note: The above guest column was penned by veteran, educator and lawyer Ruben Ramirez of Edinburg, Texas. Ramirez is running for the 15th Congressional District of Texas in the 2022 Democratic Party primary.
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