Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor a pillar of our community, Mayor Patrick ``Pat'' Rios of Rockport, Texas. Pat has led the city of Rockport as the mayor for the past 4 years and his term ends this month. This position was the culmination of his decade-long elected public service, where he previously served as Ward 3 council member and mayor pro tem from 2012 to 2018. Before public service, Pat was an entrepreneur and small business owner. He eventually entered the healthcare industry and rose to senior levels before his retirement in 2010. Anyone who has met him knows Pat is a fierce advocate for the city of Rockport. This was evident from the moment he took the helm in his role as mayor; a moment that was characterized by Hurricane Harvey's havoc and devastation in 2017. The hurricane made landfall along the Charm of the Texas Coast. Under Pat's leadership, the city that was first hit aggressively moved forward with the ``first to recover'' mantra that speaks to the heart of the resolute Texas spirit. Due to Pat, the city has made remarkable progress in rebuilding and is poised to be stronger than ever. Pat is a shining example of community leadership and stewardship. I have greatly enjoyed working with him, especially in this recovery effort during his tenure as mayor, and I wish him and his wife, Patricia Ann, and his entire family the best during his well-deserved retirement from public service. Honoring World War II and Korean War Veteran Luis A. Valls”