HD 40: Pena Endorsed By Soechting (UPDATED)

State Rep. Aaron Pena (D-Edinburg) has been endorsed in his re-election campaign in House District 40 by former Texas Democratic Party Chairman Charles Soechting.

Pena faces second-time challenger Eddie Saenz, an Edinburg engineer, in the March 4 Democratic Primary.

Soechting, who served as TDP chair from 2003-2006, first endorsed Pena in 2004 when Sanez challenged him in that election cycle. Calling Pena a “good Democrat,” Soechting praised the Edinburg legislator for his service:

“I have known Aaron and his family for over 30 years and it is a pleasure to endorse him,” said Soechting. “Aaron is a good Democrat and I encourage every Democrat to come out and vote for him.”

Pena has come under increasing fire since 2004 for his support of House Speaker Tom Craddick (R-Midland). In response to Soechting’s endorsement, Pena thanked Soechting praised his experience in Democratic politics:

“I thank Charles for his friendship and support,” said Representative Peña. “Good Democrats like Charles have spent years laboring in advancing the cause of working Texans. I am proud to have spent many years working with good people like Chairman Soechting. These years of experience money cannot buy.”

Although criticized for his vote for Speaker Tom Craddick, Pena has been a reliable vote for House Democrats on many issues of interest to progressive Democrats in the Texas House, and has carried legislation to make voter-verified paper trails mandatory in Texas elections. And, though he received little public credit for it, Pena laid the ground work, through his proposed legislation, for the consideration of a shield law for the media in Texas in the 80th Texas Legislature. Pena authored the first Shield Law bill filed in the last session of the legislature. Although a shield law didn’t pass last session, this was the closest one has come to passing in several sessions.

Pena has a long history of Democratic activism. He got started in politics at age nine as a volunteer for Hubert Humphrey’s Democratic Presidential campaign. And, he worked for Democratic State Representatives in the capitol, for the Texas Democratic Party, and for U.S. Senator Bob Krueger. He also helped draft the National Platform at the Democratic National Convention that nominated Al Gore for President in 2000. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 2004. Pena has served as chair of the Texas New Democrats and the Tejano Democrats as well.

Pena’s opponent, Eddie Saenz, has come under criticism following an arrest for Driving While Intoxicated, a Class B Misdemeanor, late last year, and for missing campaign appearances earlier this year.

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