Topic: Ciro Rodriguez

Ciro Davis Rodriguez (born December 9, 1946) is a Democratic Congressman who has represented Texas's 23rd congressional district since 2007. The district stretches from El Paso in the west to San Antonio in the east—a distance of some 500 miles. He previously represented the neighboring 28th district from 1997 to 2005.

Rodriguez has served in public office for over 30 years, first on a school board, then as a member of the Texas House of Representatives. After leaving Congress in January 2005, he joined with his former chief of staff, Jeff Mendelsohn, to create Rio Strategy Group LLC, a boutique government relations firm to assist clients at the local, state and national levels.

Rodriguez was born in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, but was raised and received his education in San Antonio, Texas. When Ciro Rodriguez was young, his mother died suddenly and he dropped out of school. After working at a gas station for a year, he decided to go back to school and attended two different summer schools to catch up. He graduated with his entering class from Harlandale High School and then briefly attended San Antonio College, but subsequently graduated from St. Mary’s University with a B.A. in Political Science. He received his Master of Social Work from Our Lady of the Lake University.