González, Charles A. (Charles Augustine), 1945-

Charles Augustine González (born May 5, 1945) is an American teacher, lawyer, and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he notably represented Texas's 20th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1999 to 2013.

Born in San Antonio, Texas, he graduated from Thomas A. Edison High School there before earning a B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin and a J.D. from St. Mary's University. González served as a technical sergeant in the Texas Air National Guard from 1969 until 1975. He then began practicing law until 1982 when he began rising through the ranks of the court system. He served first as a municipal court judge, then later as a judge in county and then district court, both of which are elected positions. After his father, Henry B. González, announced his retirement from the U.S. House, Charles González resigned his judgeship to campaign for his father’s seat. Winning the Democratic primary in a runoff, he easily won the general election.

González earned a reputation as a respected mediator in the national legislature, underscoring his efforts to protect the civil rights of individuals across the country. He worked to protect homebuyers and family businesses in his district, especially small and independent health care providers. His work on behalf of the nation’s Hispanic community placed him in leadership positions across Capitol Hill, and his advocacy for Spanish-language telecommunications and support for the nation’s education system contributed to his popularity in Texas. With his no-frills approach to the national lawmaking process, González was elected vice president of his class of first-term lawmakers in 1999. Shortly thereafter, the Democratic Party appointed him chairman of a task force investigating the results of the 2000 presidential election. He was also an active member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), chairing its civil rights task force during the 107th Congress (2001–2003) and helping to organize opposition against several administration nominees.

During his seventh term in the House, González announced he would not seek re-election. He retired at the conclusion of the 112th Congress in January 2013.