Template:Character
Bio
Matthew V. Santos was born in St. Joseph's Hospital in Texas. One of seven children born to Luis and Marita Santos, Matt grew up in the Second Ward – the oldest Mexican-American neighborhood in Houston and home to six generations of the Santos family. Surrounded by his extended family, Matt was taught the value of kinship, of responsibility and service, and of the Catholic faith – lessons he carries with him every day.
From the time he was able to add and subtract, Matt worked at his uncle's small hardware shop in the East End. It was a family business, and Matt fully expected to work there after graduation. But as he was entering his senior year at Austin High School, Matt met Sergeant Rick Alvarez, a Marine recruiter who was a permanent fixture on the local basketball court.
The Marines seemed like a good option for Matt, and his recruiter encouraged him to aim higher than regular enlistment. He applied for admission to the Naval Academy in Annapolis. To secure a nomination for the Academy, Matt visited the Houston office of his 18th District Congressman. He immediately took an interest in the politics, federal and local, that shaped his community. He knew, at that point, that he had found his calling.
After four years in the Academy, he graduated as a Marine Second Lieutenant, with a degree in engineering. He served his country as a fighter pilot in the Gulf, and then joined the Marine Reserves, where he has continued drilling and training for the last thirteen years. But Matt could not ignore the enticement of the political world he had glimpsed years before. He returned to Houston, where he quickly immersed himself in community service. Elected to City Council, Matt focused on revitalization projects for the Second Ward, where his extended family still lived. He founded a neighborhood watch program, and oversaw the rebuilding of several recreational facilities.
Two years later, Matthew Santos was elected mayor of Houston – the first Hispanic mayor the city had seen. Under his guidance, the city opened four new health clinics to serve Houston's families and created a new housing assistance program to make rent and bills more affordable for the city's two million residents.
After four years at the helm of Houston, Matt was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, and has won reelection twice since. He is currently serving his third term.
When he entered the House of Representatives six years ago, Matt Santos wanted to improve the daily lives of his 18th district constituents, and the lives of all Americans who, like him, needed some encouragement to succeed. During his tenure, he has helped provide more education grants to low-income college students, and health insurance for millions of children. On the Ways and Means Committee, he has led the movement for temporary assistance for needy families, and worked diligently on job creation and worker assistance for hardworking Americans.
Matt has never forgotten the lessons he learned as a young man in Houston – lessons in faith and perseverance that have fortified him through his political and lifelong journey. He seeks to serve the American people as he has served his family, his country, Houston and the 18th District of Texas.
Matthew Santos is married to Helen Santos, and together, they have two children, Peter and Miranda. [NBC.com]
Resume
- Gulf War Veteran
- City Hall Council of Houston, Texas
- Mayor of Houston
- U.S. House of Representatives (D-TX)
- Democratic Presidential Nominee