A veteran politician among the ranks of the Democratic Party in the United States, Eddie Rodriguez has dedicated most of his life to serving the people of Texas, representing District 51 since he assumed office in 2003. This is a biography of Eddie Rodriguez depicting his predominantly political life.
Background
He was born on July 1st 1971, and subsequently raised in Rio Grande Valley; Eduardo Rene Rodriguez, otherwise known as Eddie Rodriguez, is an American politician serving as a member of the Texas House of Representatives for the 51st district. He was elected in November 2002 and assumed office in January 2003.
Education and Career Background
He went to and graduated from McAllen Memorial High School. He studied government at the University of Texas at Austin and earned his Juris Doctor in 2008 from the University Of Texas School Of Law.
Eddie Rodriguez attended the University of Texas-Austin for both his bachelor’s degree and his law degree. From 1997 to 2002, he then went on to serve as chief of staff to former state Representative Glen Maxey, who would later become his District 51 predecessor. In addition to that role, he worked as executive director of the Travis County Democratic Party from 1996 to 2001. He had earlier worked as assistant director of staff for Draco Group Homes from 1993 to 1996.
He has served as a founding board member of Austin Pets Alive, Alliance for Public Transportation (APT), Hispanic Technology Institute of Austin (HTIA), the Anti-Defamation League, and Habitat for Humanity, ZACH Theater, and the Economic Growth Business Incubator. These have immensely contributed to the depth and competence of Eddie Rodriguez, as his involvement in diverse engagements has significantly expanded his knowledge capacity.
Rodriguez is further self-employed as a business development consultant in Austin, appealing to his entrepreneurial prowess. He is chairman of the Texas House of Representatives Farm-To-Table Caucus, Vice-Chair of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus (MALC), and a member of the House Democratic Caucus, the Environmental Caucus, the Manufacturing Caucus, and the Legislative Study Group. He is as well a member of the One Texas PAC.
Born and raised in Rio Grande Valley, Eddie Rodriguez grew up into quite the versatile politician that his people needed as their 51st District representative in Texas. He successfully graduated from the McAllen Memorial High school before proceeding to the University of Texas, where he studied governance. He later earned his Law degree from the same University in 2008.
These academic credentials sufficiently equipped him to begin his career, which would grow into an impressive long-term political career representing his people. Eddie Rodriguez got his career up and running when he first became Representative Glen Maxey’s chief of staff and as well as the executive director of the Travis County Democratic Party. These were positions that adequately prepared him for the demanding task of being a representative himself.
After successfully being elected to the State Legislature both in 2002 and 2014 as House Representative from District 51 Southeast Travis County and East Austin, Texas, Eddie Rodriguez embarked on a mission to serve his people through implementing his legislative duties, which had both social and economic aspects to them. These legislative agendas included; housing, education, nutrition, job creation, health, economic development and hunger, among other issues that he endeavored to work on in his pursuit to improve the quality of life for his people.
Eddie Rodriguez also displayed an excellent understanding of entrepreneurship as well as its importance to the economic development of the region. He subsequently served in various capacities, including the House Committees on Economic & Small Business Development and Environmental Regulation, chair of the YMCA caucus, vice chair of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus and as well founded and chaired the Texas House Farm-to-Table caucus. Through these and other significant engagements, he was able to positively influence and improve the livelihoods of his people.
