Rodriguez, Ciro, 1946-

Ciro Davis Rodriguez (born December 9, 1946) is an American educator and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he notably represented Texas's 28th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1997 to 2005 and the neighboring 23rd congressional district from 2007 to 2011.

Born in Piedras Negas, Coahulia, Mexico, his family settled in San Antonio, Texas in 1951. He graduated from Harlandale High School and briefly attended San Antonio College before earning a B.A. from St. Mary's University in San Antonio in 1973. Two years later he won a seat on the Harlandale Independent School District Board and served until 1987. In 1978 Rodriguez earned a master’s degree in social work from Our Lady of the Lake University. He later worked as an educational consultant and a county caseworker. From 1987 to 1996, he returned to Our Lady of the Lake University, where he taught at the Worden School of Social Work. In 1987 Rodriguez won election to the Texas house of representatives. During his decade in the state house, he sought to equalize funding between Texas school districts and to promote employment through the private redevelopment of San Antonio’s Kelly Air Force Base, which was closed in 1995.

When Representative Frank Tejeda succumbed to brain cancer shortly after being sworn into the 105th Congress (1997–1999), Rodriguez won the March 1997 special election to fill the vacant seat. In Congress, Rodriguez focused on a range of issues that affected his constituents. A vocal supporter of veterans, the Texas Representative advocated increased educational opportunities and improved health care for current and retired military personnel. Redistricting in 2003 drastically changed Rodriguez's constituency, causing him to lose the 2004 Democratic primary to Henry Cuellar. Rodriguez's 2006 bid against Cuellar also fell short.

Following a 2006 Supreme Court decision that redrew congressional boundaries in a handful of Texas congressional districts, Rodriguez ran in the 28th congressional district held by Republican Henry Bonilla. After placing a distant second in the general election, Rodriguez managed to beat Bonilla in the subsequent runoff. In the 110th Congress (2007–2009), Rodriguez received a spot on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee. He also secured a seat on the influential Appropriations Committee and served on both panels through the 111th Congress (2009–2011). Rodriguez lost to Republican Quico Canseco in 2010. Returning to the 23rd district ahead of the 2012 elections, he lost to State Representatrive Pete Gallego in the Democratic Party primary runoff. Rodriguez ran for Justice of the Peace in Bexar County Precinct 1, Place 2 in 2014. He was unopposed in both the primary and the general election. His term of office began January 1, 2015.