Ortiz, Solomon P. (Solomon Porfirio), 1938-

ORTIZ, Solomon P., a Representative from Texas; born in Robstown, Nueces County, Tex., June 3, 1937; attended Robstown High School, Robstown, Tex.; attended Del Mar College, Corpus Christi, Tex., 1965-1967; United States Army, 1960-1962; insurance agent; Nueces County, Tex., constable, 1965-1968; Nueces County, Tex., commissioner, 1969-1976; Nueces County, Tex., sheriff, 1976-1982; elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-eighth and to the thirteen succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1983-January 3, 2011); unsuccessful candidate for reelection to the One Hundred Twelfth Congress in 2010.

<p>After arriving in Washington in 1982, Solomon P. Ortiz joked that his “sense of direction” had become his biggest “weakness.” “I went in one building, went out a different way and had to walk around the block three times before I figured out where I was,” he said. Despite at first feeling “overwhelmed by the big buildings, the marble, the pillars and the responsibility,” Ortiz earned a reputation as a moderate Democrat who was comfortable working behind the scenes and as a tireless champion of his district in southeast Texas. His ability to voice local concerns in national and international conversations was a staple of his legislative style in the House. “Here,” he said shortly before taking the oath of office, “your vote may have an impact worldwide.”1

Solomon Ortiz’s path to the House began in Robstown, Texas, known as the “Biggest Little Town” in the state.2 The eldest son of migrant workers, he was born on June 3, 1937.3 His family struggled to make ends meet, and after his father died he left Robstown Public High School to work as a printer’s aide at the Robstown Record. In 1960 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and earned his general equivalency degree. The military sent Ortiz to France, where he learned the language and worked with the military police. After leaving the Army, Ortiz ran for the office of county constable back in Nueces, Texas, and won in an upset. It was the year before Congress passed the Voting Rights Act, and America’s electoral system was still segregated. “My mother took out a $1,000 loan—a fortune for a migrant family in 1964—to bankroll my first campaign,” Ortiz remembered. “The money was mostly to help offset the poll tax for Hispanic voters whose priority was putting food on the table for their families.” After three years in the constable’s office, Ortiz won election as Nueces County commissioner, becoming the first Hispanic American to sit on the county board. He remained in the commissioner’s office until 1976, when he was elected the first Hispanic sheriff in county history. During his early political career, Ortiz attended Del Mar College from 1965 to 1967. Ortiz and his wife, Irme Roldan, were married in 1970 and had two children together, Yvette and Solomon, Jr., but the marriage ended in divorce.</p>

<p>After the 1980 Census, Texas picked up three seats in the U.S. House. One of the new districts, the 27th, had been drawn to include the region stretching from Corpus Christi south along the Gulf Coast to the city of Brownsville at the U.S.-Mexico border. Many of the district’s residents were Hispanic middle-of-the-road Democrats, and after federal officials approved Texas’ new federal congressional map in 1982, Ortiz emerged early in the race as a front-runner for the new House seat.</p>

<p>Solomon Porfirio Ortiz (born June 3, 1937) is a former American politcian who served as the U.S. representative for Texas's 27th congressional district, based in Corpus Christi, serving from 1983 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party. In 2010, Ortiz was defeated by Republican challenger Blake Farenthold. Ortiz's son, Solomon Ortiz, Jr., is a former state representative.</p>

<p>Solomon Ortiz was born in Robstown, Nueces County, Texas; his family had immigrated from Mexico. As a boy, he held several odd jobs, including working as a shoeshiner and an ink fogger for The Robstown Record's letter press. Ortiz befriended, and became fascinated with, law enforcement officers. He attended Robstown High School until the age of 19, when he dropped out after his father's death to help support his family.</p>

<p>Ortiz joined the United States Army in 1960, serving two years and earning his GED. He received basic training at Fort Hood, Texas, and served a tour of duty in Verdun and Vitry-le-François, France. Expressing his interest in law enforcement, Ortiz was reassigned to the 61st Military Police Company Criminal Investigation Office and received advanced military police training at Fort Gordon, Georgia.</p>