A.D. Ibarra

-Eagle Pass

State Representative Alfonso Nevarez welcomed family, friends and colleagues to his new offices located on the premises of La Mansion on Williams Street in Eagle Pass.

"I feel welcomed because so many of my family and friends are here, because I consider all of you my friends and many of you my mentors," the newly elected representative eloquently stated in his brief address.

Nevarez was equally introduced by Chamber of Commerce President Billy Davis who expressed our collective pride in having him as our voice in Austin with an amazingly accurate analogy, "Leaders are like Eagles, they don't flock, you find them one at a time," before bringing on the legislator to address the gathering as he introduced us to his colleagues in Austin which include Chief of Staff Obie Salinas, who said, "I feel like today, this ceremony signifies so much for District 74," which Nevarez said if it were a state, it would be the 38th largest in the United States, "And for Eagle Pass and Maverick County constituents having their representative here will do really good things for the community.  We welcome anyone to come by our offices or call (512) 463-0566."

Lauren Cacheaux, Nevarez' General Counsel who helps prepare him to propose his legislation before committees, was also on hand to greet well-wishers and to inform The News Gram of their collective accolades, accomplishments and achievements.  Cacheaux, an attorney who hails from Mc Allen said that her greatest satisfaction thus far in her short time in Nevarez' office is having participated in the passing of HB 5 regarding public education.

     "What it does is it reduces the amount of over-testing which occurs over the course of the school year," stated the General Counsel who also meets with lobbyists and reads over legislation that may affect our district, "It also gives more flexibility to students to choose an extra elective and not be held to the exorbitant amount of required courses they must enroll in."

     Jay Jackson, Nevarez' Legislative aide from Fort Worth, is a Political Science and Communications major at Stephen F. Austin University in Nacodoches, says he ties up loose ends for the State Representative and also does a lot of reading of legislation.  When asked what his studies have focused on in this day and age of economic issues, Jackson mentioned that he is learning a lot about water which, he says is not talked about much in the scope of his classes, but which is a vital, dare I say critical issue across the state and around the world which needs to be taken into serious consideration by legislators everywhere.

     Nevarez informed The News Gram that this week he was steadfast in rallying his support against the voucher system, "I am against the use of public funds for private schools.  I went to a private school. but I don't believe taxpayer's money should fund private education."

     "Yesterday was a long day of arguing budget," stated Nevarez, "But a very important day for all of us," he closed by saying, "Welcome to my office."