The following is a summary of a profile published in the El Paso Times:
Antonio O. Garza, who serves as Texas' chief elections officer in his post as Secretary of State, is also a senior advisor to Governor George W. Bush, especially on border issues and relations with Mexico. Garza, who hails from the border community of Brownsville, Texas was the first and only Republican who has ever served as a county judge anywhere along the Texas-Mexico border. Garza was just 28 when he decided to run in the Democrat controlled county. He served two terms as Cameron County judge from 1988 to 1994 before being tapped by Governor Bush to serve as Secretary of State.
As Secretary of State, Garza has been busy intervening in a water crisis facing Mexican communities along the lower Rio Grande and helping to relieve tensions with Mexican truckers after Texas began enforcing U.S. safety regulations, in addition to advising Governor Bush on relations with El Paso Mayor Larry Francis and other border matters. In a September 12 article in the El Paso Times on Garza, Governor Bush stated that his Secretary of State has full access to the governor and can give him advice "any time he wants". The Governor added that he "welcomes (Garza's) suggestions and input."
Garza's border savvy was useful most recently when El Paso Mayor Francis met with Governor Bush regarding his frustrations over traffic congestion and transportation needs arising from NAFTA. Garza sat in on the meeting with the Governor and was able to personally relate to the pressures and problems facing border communities from his experiences as County Judge.
Garza's responsibilities as Secretary of State include handling elections, corporate filings and serving as the state's chief protocol officer on how to do business in Texas. As part of his duties as the state's chief election officer, he visited El Paso in early September to encourage high school seniors to register to vote and then get out and cast their ballot in elections. Garza said he tries to get students to recognize that government decisions in a democracy will affect their lives as young people for a much longer period than his own. Garza, who has a law degree from Southern Methodist University, has no definite plans for his political future, beyond serving with Governor Bush. At this point he has claims no interest as a potential candidate for governor himself some day.
Source: El Paso Times