Valley mourns pioneer congressman

By DINA ARÉVALO
Port Isabel-South Padre Press
editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com

The Rio Grande Valley is in mourning after the death of former Congressman Eligio “Kika” de la Garza II Monday. He was 89.

De la Garza, a Mission native who served as the Democratic representative of Texas’ 15 congressional district from 1965 to 1997, was the first Mexican American from the Valley to serve in Congress. According to a statement released by the Texas Democratic Party, de la Garza served as a founding member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and served under several presidents, including Lyndon B. Johnson and Bill Clinton.

Clinton took to Twitter Monday to express his condolences. “Kika de la Garza was a good man, very effective congressman, valued friend, & a champion for opportunity and social justice,” the former president wrote. “I’ll miss him.”

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