Republican incumbent John Garza was elected during the Republican sweep in the 2010 mid-term elections, but this year former San Antonio City Councilman Philip Cortez ended election night with 53 percent of voter support to win the seat.
Cortez said he pledges to fight any additional cuts to the Texas education system when he takes office in January.
“I will fight them tooth and nail because those dollars are for our children and for the resources that teachers need to ensure we are properly educating the future leaders of this great state of Texas,” Cortez said.
Among other issues, Cortez also said that the state’s 50-year water plan is not properly funded.
“Water is an important issue," said Cortez, "fighting for our senior citizens, ensuring that our veterans are taken care of, and also ensuring that we bring more jobs and economic development to the area are going to be my top priorities."
District 117 includes a small part of Southwest San Antonio – a portion Cortez’s former City Council District – and the entire West Side of Bexar County.
Joining Cortez in the State House will be fellow former City Councilman Justin Rodriguez who won the District 125 seat. Cortez says the two of them plan on working together along with the rest of the San Antonio delegation.
