TX-SEN: Wes Clark Endorses Rick Noriega

Recognizing America’s need for leaders who possess the necessary experience to protect national security while preserving the rights of citizens, one of the most highly-decorated military officers since General Dwight D. Eisenhower today endorsed Rick Noriega for U.S. Senate.

General Wesley K. Clark noted State Representative Noriega’s military experience and legislative accomplishments as grounds for his support.

“At a time when we are facing increasingly serious foreign policy and national security challenges, while needing to repair this Administration’s assault on the Constitution, Lieutenant Colonel Noriega’s leadership and knowledge will be of paramount importance,” Clark said. “I am excited that Rick Noriega has, once again, answered the call to serve.”

Rick Noriega is a state Representative from Houston and a Lieutenant Colonel in the Texas National Guard who served a tour of duty in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. He joined the Army in 1979 in response to the Iranian Hostage Crisis. Since 2005, Lt. Col. Noriega served as Laredo Border Sector Commander in Operation Jump Start and as the Incident Commander at the George R. Brown Convention Center for evacuees to Houston in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

“Veterans Day is next week, and I can think of no greater way to honor those who have served our country abroad than to support a fellow veteran’s bid to serve our country in the United States Senate. Rick Noriega’s background as a military man for nearly three decades will provide a vital perspective and fill a needed gap among our leaders as they work to rebuild international alliances and confront the many obstacles to peace and prosperity here, and around the world,” Clark added.

In his five terms in the Texas Legislature, Representative Noriega has committed himself to education, health care, veterans’ issues, and to ensuring that all Texans have the opportunity to succeed. During the 2007 legislative session, Rep. Noriega helped stop several partisan bills that would have eroded Texans’ voting rights.

“General Clark’s support underscores our nation’s need for leaders who have first-hand experience to deal with problems around the world,” Noriega said.

Wes Clark is a retired four-star General in the United States Army. He served all over the world, culminating in his role as NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander. In that position, General Clark successfully commanded all NATO forces in the Kosovo conflict, sparing 1.5 million Albanians from ethnic cleansing without a single Allied casualty, as he was responsible for peacekeeping operations in Bosnia.

Since running for the Democratic nomination for President in 2004, Clark became a senior fellow at the Burkle Center for International Relations at UCLA’s International Institute, and currently serves on the boards of a wide range of non-profit public service organizations. A Rhodes Scholar and graduate of the United States Military Academy (West Point), as well as the Ranger and Airborne schools, Clark is the author of Waging Modern War: Bosnia, Kosovo and the Future of Combat and Winning Modern War: Iraq, Terrorism and the American Empire.

In 2004, Wes Clark founded WesPAC “on the belief that a truly secure America demands sound, wise leadership and a renewed commitment to the values that have made our nation great: service, integrity, and accountability.” Among WesPAC’s primary goals is electing “Democrats to the White House and Congress in order to implement new policies that will restore our nation’s security and prosperity, comprehensively address the threats facing America and our allies while respecting civil liberties, and replace the current unwise policies established by this Republican Administration and Congress.”

Rep. Noriega is seeking the seat of Texas’ one-term junior Senator, John Cornyn. He lives in Houston with his wife, Melissa, who was reelected Tuesday to the Houston City Council, and their two sons.

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