Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - Youth a top issue in JP race

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Saturday, April 8, 2000

Youth a top issue in JP race
Democrats Gonzalez, Madrigal support education programs
By Dan Parker
Caller-Times

Joe A. Gonzalez
Party: Democrat
Age: 55
Education: Miller High School, 1964; Associate's Degree, Del Mar College, 1974; Bachelor's degrees, Texas A&I University at Corpus Christi, 1975, and Texas A&I University at Corpus Christi, 1977
Occupation: Retired deputy chief of security and background investigations, Federal Bureau of Prisons
Family: Married, three children

While Joe A. Gonzalez touts his law experience in the race for the Democratic nomination for Nueces County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1, Place 1, Ray Madrigal says one of his top qualifications is strong community involvement.
   Both candidates in Tuesday's runoff election said addressing youth issues is their top goal.
   Gonzalez said he would like to set up a program in which juvenile offenders would receive counseling along with their families on substance abuse, family values, careers and the importance of education.
   "(The) key is working with a family, not just an individual," Gonzalez said.
   Madrigal said he wants to make sure youths stay in school by talking to them about the importance of education. He also is considering pushing for more truancy officers to be hired.

Ray Madrigal
Party: Democrat
Age: 57
Education: High school equivalency, 1961; Corpus Christi State University classes
Occupation: Wedding photographer
Family: Single, four children

   Madrigal said he is most qualified because he has an associate's degree in legal assistance and has been involved in community work. He also said he has served on the city's Human Relations Commission, Sister Cities Committee and Traffic Advisory Commission and has volunteered for the Nueces County Dispute Resolution Center.
   "I was able to solve a lot of differences between parents and children, between business people and customers and between landlords and tenants," Madrigal said.
   Gonzalez said his main qualification is experience in the law.
   He is a retired deputy chief of security and background investigations for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, a position he held in Dallas.

Willie J. Blalock
Party: Republican
Age: 42
Education: A 1975 graduate of Carroll High School. Completed law enforcement courses at Del Mar College in 1990 and was state-certified same year. Working toward intermediate peace officer certification.
Occupation: Nueces County deputy constable for Justice of the Peace for Precinct 6 for eight years.
Family: married, five children.

   Other positions Gonzalez has had with the Federal Bureau of Prisons include deputy chief of affirmative action programs and U.S. penitentiary hearing judge.
   He is a former Corpus Christi police officer, has been a state and federal parole officer and is a licensed professional counselor.

Tish Walker
Party: Republican
Age: 29
Education: A 1988 graduate of King High School. Received an associate of arts degree at Del Mar College in 1991 and a bachelor of science in criminal justice from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in 1995.
Occupation: Public health technician for the Nueces County Health Department.
Family: married, one daughter

   Madrigal, a photographer, is one of the founders of the Corpus Christi Coffee Club, a weekly political and community affairs radio and TV program that brings political candidates and issues to the public.
   Madrigal has been a member of the League of United Latin American Citizens since 1967.
   The justice of the peace position provides a salary of $39,790, with the judge also receiving a $3,000 car allowance.
   Madrigal said he has raised $3,000 to $4,000 for his campaign and has spent nearly all of it. Gonzalez said he has spent nearly all of his campaign funds, which he estimated at $15,000.


Staff writer Dan Parker can be reached at 886-3774 or by e-mail at parkerd@caller.com

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