Bustamante, Albert G. (Albert Garza), 1935-

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Albert Garza Bustamante (born April 8, 1935) is an American teacher, legislative aide, and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Texas's 23rd district from 1985 to 1993. Bustamante was a one-time Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

Born and raised in Asherton, Texas, he began school at the age of nine, unable to read or speak English. Hampered by this late start, Bustamante struggled academically, but managed to graduate from Asherton High School in 1954. He joined the U.S. Army that same year, serving as a paratrooper until 1956. Bustamante attended San Antonio College from 1956 to 1958 before transferring to Sul Ross State College in Alpine, Texas. Financing his final semester of education with a $250 loan from a school janitor, he graduated with a degree in secondary education in 1961. Bustamante taught at Cooper Junior High School in San Antonio and coached football and basketball for seven years. In 1968 Bustamante got his start in politics as a constituent aide in the San Antonio-based district office of U.S. Representative Henry González. He worked there for three years. In his first run for elective office in 1972, Bustamante was elected as a Bexar County, Texas, Commissioner. He then was elected as a county judge in 1978 and served on the state's Jail Standard Commission.

Bustamante challenged nine-term incumbent Abraham Kazen in the Democratic primary for Texas's 23rd congressional district. No Republican had filed in the heavily Democratic, Hispanic-majority district. He defeated Kazen in an upset, all but assuring his election in November. He was reelected three times. Bustamante’s position as a moderate Democrat often defined his congressional career, and he sought to balance the needs of his Anglo and Hispanic constituents. He was an active member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, eventually serving as chairman in the 100th Congress (1987–1989). While in Congress, he served on the Armed Services Committee. He served on the Procurement and Military Nuclear Systems Subcommittee, the Subcommittee on Energy, and the Natural Resources Subcommittee. He was also a member of the House Task Force on Drugs and Crime, in which he advocated for tighter border controls to keep out illegal drugs from Mexico. Bustamante called for deficit reduction, but also believed that more money should be spent on education and health care.

In 1992, Bustamante filed for reelection even as he was investigated for fraud and racketeering. His reelection chances were further hampered by redistricting after the 1990 United States Census, which carved the 28th district out of most of Bustamante's territory and left a heavily Republican section of western San Antonio in the 23rd. Although Bill Clinton carried the district, Bustamante lost to Republican Henry Bonilla by a 21-point margin, the largest margin of defeat for an incumbent that year.

Bustamante was later convicted of accepting bribes and racketeering in 1993 and sentenced to 42 months in prison. Since his release, Bustamante has faded from politics. He currently lives in San Antonio with his wife, Rebecca.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Bustamante, Albert Garza, 1935-. Albert Bustamante papers, 1980-1992. University of Texas at San Antonio, John Peace Library (JPL)
referencedIn Albert Bustamante Papers MS 91., 1980-1992 The University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries . Special Collections
referencedIn Campos, Marc,. Oral history interview with Marc Campos, 1996 [videorecording]. University of Texas at Arlington, Central Library
creatorOf Bustamante, Albert Garza,. Oral history interview with Albert Garza Bustamante, 2004 [videorecording]. University of Texas at Arlington, Central Library
referencedIn Múzquiz, Virginia, 1925-2002. Oral history interview with Virginia Múzquiz, 1996 [videorecording]. University of Texas at Arlington, Central Library
referencedIn Castro, Rosie, 1947-. Oral history interview with Rosie Castro, 1996 [videorecording]. University of Texas at Arlington, Central Library
creatorOf Bustamante, Albert G., 1935-. Albert G. Bustamante : commercials , 1984. University of Oklahoma, Political Community Archives
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith American G.I. Forum. corporateBody
associatedWith Bexar County (Tex.). Parks Dept. corporateBody
associatedWith Bonilla, Henry. person
associatedWith Bustamante family. family
spouseOf Bustamante, Rebecca Pounders. person
associatedWith Campos, Marc, person
associatedWith Canales, Tony. person
associatedWith Castro, Rosie, 1947- person
associatedWith Cisneros, Henry. person
associatedWith Clinton, Bill, 1946- person
associatedWith Communities Organized for Public Service (San Antonio, Tex.) corporateBody
associatedWith Congressional Hispanic Caucus (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith Democratic Party (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith Falcon Food Services and Management, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith García, Evaristo Eddie. person
associatedWith Gonzalez, Henry B. (Henry Barbosa), 1916- person
associatedWith Gonzalez, Henry B. (Henry Barbosa), 1916-2000. person
associatedWith Gutiérrez, José Angel, person
associatedWith Heard, Oliver S. person
associatedWith Jackson, Jesse, 1941- person
associatedWith James Fenimore Cooper Junior High School (San Antonio, Tex.) corporateBody
associatedWith Lowell, Abbe D. person
associatedWith McCain, John, 1936- person
associatedWith Múzquiz, Virginia, 1925-2002 person
associatedWith National Rainbow Coalition (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith Noriega, Manuel Antonio, 1934- person
associatedWith North, Oliver. person
associatedWith O'Neill, Tip. person
associatedWith O'Shea, Pete. person
associatedWith Peña, Albert. person
associatedWith Penfield, Peter. person
associatedWith Plau, Judge. person
associatedWith Reagan, Ronald. person
associatedWith Reeves, Blair. person
associatedWith Resolution Trust Corporation (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith San Antonio Independent School District (Tex.) corporateBody
associatedWith Solis, Lalo. person
associatedWith Sul Ross State College. corporateBody
associatedWith Torrijos, Omar, 1929-1981. person
associatedWith United States. Central Intelligence Agency. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Congress. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Congress. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Congress. House. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Congress. House. Committee on Armed Services. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Congress. House. Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs. Subcommittee on Financial Institutions Supervision, Regulation and Insurance. Resolution Trust Corporation Task Force. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. House of Representatives. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Oklahoma. Political Commercial Archive. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Texas at Arlington. Center for Mexican American Studies. corporateBody
associatedWith Velasquez, George. person
associatedWith Wright, Jim, 1922- person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Alpine TX US
San Antonio TX US
Asherton TX US
Subject
Advertising, political
Apportionment (Election law)
Bribery
Campaign funds
Campaign literature
Political campaigns
Counterrevolutionaries
County government
County government
County hospitals
County officials and employees
County officials and employees
Drug control
Drug traffic
Financial security
Hispanic American legislators
Hispanic American legislators
Hispanic American legislators
Hispanic American politicians
Hispanic American politicians
Hispanic American politicians
Illegal arms transfers
Lawyers/Judges
Mexican American agricultural laborers
Mexican American college students
Mexican American judges
Mexican American judges
Mexican American legislators
Mexican American migrant agricultural laborers
Mexican American neighborhoods
Mexican American politicians
Mexican Americans
Mexican Americans
Mexican Americans
Mexican Americans
Mexican Americans
Mexican American soldiers
Mexican American teachers
Nuclear disarmament
Political corruption
Politicians
Politics/Politicians
Politics, Practical
Race discrimination
Racketeering
Radioactive waste disposal
Ranching
San Antonio History
Savings and Loan Bailout, 1989-1995
Solidarity
Tax collection
Television advertising
Television in politics
Veterans
Occupation
Teachers
Judges
Laborers
Legislative assistants
Representatives, U.S. Congress
Activity

Person

Birth 1935-04-08

Male

Americans

English,

Spanish; Castilian

Information

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