Foto: Ervey Martinez, Corpus Christi Army Depot
Solomon Porfirio Ortiz, born in 1937, is a former Democratic congressman who represented the 27th district of Texas, based in Corpus Christi, in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1983 to 2011. In 2010, Ortiz was narrowly defeated by Republican Blake Farenthold, ending his long career in Congress. His son, Solomon Ortiz Jr., was also a state representative.
Ortiz was born in Robstown, Texas, to a Mexican immigrant family. During his youth, he held various temporary jobs and developed an interest in law enforcement. He left school at the age of 19 to help his family after his father's death. In 1960, Ortiz enlisted in the Army, served for two years, and completed his GED. During his service, he received training in the area of military police, which strengthened his interest in public security.
In 1965, Ortiz was elected a Nueces County police officer, becoming the first Hispanic to serve on the county commissioners' court in 1969. In 1976, he was elected sheriff, an important achievement for Latino representation in the county.
When the 27th District was created in 1982, Ortiz ran on a platform of employment incentives and a focus on education. He won the Democratic primary, and in the general election, he won 64% of the vote. He was re-elected 13 times, rarely with less than 60% of the vote. His closest race occurred in 1992, when he won with 55%.
In 2010, Ortiz lost by a narrow margin to Farenthold, in a dispute that involved a recount. He ended up conceding victory with a difference of only 770 votes.
Ortiz is considered a moderate democrat, with a combination of social conservatism and economic liberalism. He is anti-abortion but tends to follow his party on economic issues, reflecting a balanced stance that has helped him maintain diverse support in his district for nearly three decades.
