Biography:

Solomon Ortiz was born in Robstown, Texas, and lives in Corpus Christi, Texas. He graduated from Robstown High School in 1955 and attended Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, but did not graduate.

He served in the Army, 1960-62, as a military policeman and criminal investigator, then worked as an insurance agent. He was elected Nueces County constable in 1964, serving from 1965-68. He was elected a Nueces (Texas) County commissioner in 1968 and was re-elected in 1972, serving 1969-76, becoming the first Hispanic in that post. He served as Nueces County sheriff from 1977-82, the first Hispanic to hold that job.

Ortiz was first elected to the U.S. House in 1982.

Ortiz, who is divorced, has two children.

Past Campaigns:

Solomon Ortiz was first elected to the U.S. House in 1982, with 64 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Jason Luby, a former mayor. He was re-elected in 1984, with 64 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Richard Moore, a college professor.

Ortiz had no Republican opposition in 1986, 1988 or 1990. He defeated Republican Jay Kimbrough in 1992 with 57 percent of the vote. He defeated Republican Erol Stone in 1994 with 59 percent. In 1996, he was re-elected with 65 percent of the vote against Republican Joe Gardner. Ortiz was re-elected in 1998, defeating Stone with 63 percent of the vote.

Oitz was re-elected in 2000 with 63 percent of the vote. He won re-election in 2002 with 61 percent of the vote.

Before coming to Congress, Ortiz served in various county offices in Texas, including sheriff.

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