One on One with Tony Gonzales
In an age of hyper-partisanship, sightings of moderate congressman are rare—more common than Yeti sightings, yet far less frequent than reports of UFOs. But we were beginning our morning at The Texas Tribune Festival where such encounters are possible, and thus began an educational hour covering the border, the deficit, and the ability of the parties to work together.
Although Representative Gonzales is recognized as a moderate, this is Austin, TX, and he was not greeted with a particularly moderate crowd. To his credit, Gonzales sensed this early on, and he played along, occasionally cueing the crowd to boo him—a request to which the crowd cheerfully complied, most heartily when the congressman noted he was opposed to late-term abortion.
Topics such as the deficit and the border were only slightly less polarizing. Gonzales congratulated VP Harris on her recent attention to the border, and while he noted that her shifting positions on border security might be worthy of more attention from the media, he welcomed Harris’s concern, highlighting the fact that his congressional district contains more than 800 miles of the US-Mexico border.
Gonzales also noted that he expected the Republicans to lose the House in the November election, noting that “we have no one but ourselves to blame.” The moderator, Jake Sherman, returned to this and similar topics repeatedly.
Gonzales believes that Ted Cruz will retain his seat; and he will vote for Donald Trump for President, although he stopped short of offering a prediction of the presidential outcome.
What he was most adamant on is that the parties do need to find common ground, and that doing so will involve giving up positions that hyper-partisans do not want to give up. This willingness to compromise has cost him within his own party, where he has been robustly challenged in the last two primaries, although he managed narrow victories in each. It’s also prompted stiff competition from Democratic challengers in his district. Amidst this electoral environment, such moderates are likely to remain rarities, to the detriment of the country’s civic health.
But with the optimism of youth, and in an environment created to promote civic education, we moved with enthusiasm to our next session, eager to see Luci Baines Johnson.
A Conversation with Katie Rogers and Luci Baines Johnson
by Katherine Burnett
It’s not every day you are given the opportunity to watch a former president’s daughter speak on her personal memories of her father running the country; fortunately, we were able to seize the opportunity! Luci Baines Johnson, the daughter of Lyndon B. Johnson, and Katie Rogers, White House Correspondent for the New York Times, discussed the significance of the role of the First Lady of the United States.
Luci Baines Johnson, clearly the panel’s central attraction, discussed topics such as her father’s decision to not run for a second term. While the media have long portrayed LBJ’s decision as relating to the Vietnam War, Ms. Johnson took strong exception to that view.
Her father, she noted, wasn’t even fully convinced he should run in 1964, let alone 1968. With concerns about his health and his desire to spend more time with his children and grandchildren, Johnson stepped down not because of the war, but because of his other obligations and because he chose to do what he saw as being best for the country–a decision she compared to Biden’s recent decision to suspend his campaign for reelection.
Katie Rogers covered the modern changes in the traditional role of the first lady, mentioning influential figures such as: Hillary Clinton, Melania Trump, and Jill Biden. The session ended with high praise after Mrs. Johnson closed out the conversation with a thought-provoking quote: “Be able to grow from that experience and never lose the appreciation for the opportunity to learn.”
And this is something we decided to act on immediately, by meeting Ms. Johnson and seeking to soak-in even more of her wisdom.
A Conversation with Rick Perry and John Sharp
by Chrissy Biello
From being the longest serving governor in Texas history to the 14th U.S. Secretary of Energy, Rick Perry has a wealth of knowledge. Not to mention, John Sharp, a former member of the Texas State Senate and the Chancellor of the Texas A&M University System since 2011. From living on the same dorm floor in college, to running against one another in the 1998 Texas Lieutenant Governor election, it is evident the two have a long history.
Rick Perry began speaking on past Texas A&M leaders, noting how there have been many great ones. He ensured to pinpoint James Earl Rudder, President of Texas A&M from 1959 to 1970, highlighting how he changed the trajectory of the university forever by allowing women to be admitted in 1963. He continued to stress that he was an exceptional person and anyone who had met him, could testify to this.
Perry then pivoted to illustrate how John Sharp is also one of those exceptional leaders for the Texas A&M University System, stating that remarkable things happened on his watch. Chancellor Sharp then, of course, quickly asked, “is somebody filming this?”
When asked about the future of Texas and whether it would ever be a blue state again, Chancellor Sharp explained that it depends on the swing; if the state goes too far one way, then it will usually go back the other way or in the middle. He expressed how since the 2012 presidential election, there has been a decrease in the percentage that the Democratic Party candidates have lost in Texas. He emphasized that if this trend continues, we will see that Harris will lose Texas by less than seen before, predicting that it would be by three to four percent.
Seeing the dynamic of former Governor Perry and Chancellor Sharp was both fascinating and educational, especially with their never-ending banter! With this being my first time at the Texas Tribune Festival, it was a great first day of discovering all of what the sessions and activities will offer.
A Visit to the Texas Capitol
Former SHAIP Intern, Current Chief of Staff: Melva Gomez
by Michelle Moya
After exploring the Austin Capitol’s unique offerings…
and infrastructure…
…LEAP students delved into the professional world of Melva Gomez, Chief of Staff to Texas State Representative Caroline Harris Davila, former SHAIP intern, and former LEAP Ambassador.
Upon entering, the first thing that caught our attention was the large broadcasting of the committee on insurance taking place. It introduced those of us that are planning to apply to the Austin Internship with a real-life outlook on the issues we will be surrounded by.
Next, we learned of the skills Gomez brought to her Austin internship, as well as the professional development gained from that experience. Aside from all the upsides, she also spoke about the challenges she faced and advised us on the ways to overcome these situations.
After her inspirational words, we went into Representative Davila’s office. Gomez explained the influence Davila has had during her term, noting that the young representative passed Texas Senate Bill 490 and showing us the signed bill by Governor Greg Abbott!
Melva Gomez took us on a journey through the influential role she has played in her community and beyond. She emphasized the significance of kindness and how it fosters a collaborative and friendly environment, especially in political surroundings. Before leaving, we were given the opportunity to take a group picture behind Representative Davila’s desk with Ms. Gomez!
J.M Lozano
by Caitlin Nortonen
After an educational and informative afternoon, we rushed to the Austin Capitol and met with Matt Lamon, Chief of Staff for Representative J.M Lozano.
Katherine, Saara, and I had the great opportunity to have a conversation with Mr. Lamon in his office!
He began by giving us a brief tour of Representative Lozano’s office and provided a short debrief of the 88th Legislation session. He gave us a better understanding of who Representative Lozano is and the District he represents–six counties in the Corpus Christi area. Knowing the district, we learned from both Lamon and Gomez, is key to knowing the world in which the legislator lives.
The group learned more about committees, too. Lozano serves as the Chair of the Urban Affairs committee, while also serving as a member of the redistricting; transportation; and youth, health, and safety committees. Most intriguing to us was this latter committee, which examines the health, safety, and rights of the Texas youth, specifically within the criminal justice system. Lozano chaired this committee in May of 2022, when the school shooting in Uvalde shone a harsh light on the implications of mental health struggles that many youth experience.
A Taste of Ethiopia
by Maggie Betancourt
We concluded our evening with a bit of a “Taste of Ethiopia,” where a stimulating Ethiopian cuisine was experienced. Questions were immediately raised by the group, such as “What is Injera?” or “Bakla – who?”
Although many of the members were unfamiliar with Ethiopian cuisine, everyone was excited to try a world of flavors they have never had before. After some interesting appetizers…
…the server arrived as she placed each dish in the middle of the table, ranging from spicy lentil stew, known as Shiro Wot, to deliciously tender Beef Tibbs. All of the meals came with a side dish known as injera, which is a type of flat bread that is meant to be eaten with all main courses.
Embracing the culture of Ethiopia, which believes that food is a way for people to bond, we all shared each other’s dishes and elaborated on our favorite aspects. Although everyone was fully satiated from trying each other’s meals, this didn’t mean we couldn’t go for a desert dish (or two). Professor Yawn treated the group with the most buttery and flaky baklava, and the most decadent chocolate cake that we’ve ever had, capping a full day with another enriching and educational experience.
Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics 