Flag at Half-Staff for Houston Senator

Have you noticed that the Texas flag is flying a little lower than usual today?

Governor Perry has ordered that all flags on state property be flown at half-staff in honor of the life of Houston Sen. Mario V. Gallegos Jr., who died from liver disease at age 62.

Gallegos served in the Texas legislature for 22 years after retiring from his career as a firefighter. He was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1990 and then to the Texas Senate in 1994 where he represented Senate District 6.

That’s the district where our office is currently located and where many of our patients live.

Throughout his career, Gallegos fought for issues which affected the Hispanic community. Recently, he voted against a bill requiring voters to show photo identification and in 2011, he opposed a measure sponsored by state Sen. Dan Patrick, requiring women seeking an abortion to undergo a sonogram.

“There were very few issues that Mario and I agreed upon,” Patrick said yesterday, “but throughout my six years in the state Senate he always treated me with kindness and courtesy and professionalism. And he was a friend.”

Gallegos is being honored today for his public service to the people of Texas and the people of Houston.

The Texas flag will continue to be flown at half-staff until Saturday.