Terry Canales is a Democratic member of the
Texas House of Representatives
The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Texas Legislature. It consists of 150 members who are elected from single-member districts for two-year terms. As of the 2010 United States census, each member represents abo ...
, serving since 2013. Terry Canales was born in Hidalgo County and is a native of South Texas. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2012 to represent District 40, which encompasses the heart of Hidalgo County. The cities within District 40 include Edinburg (Hidalgo County Seat), Elsa, North Pharr, San Carlos, La Blanca, Faysville, and portions of McAllen and Weslaco.
Biography
Terry Canales earned his
Juris Doctor by the age of 24. Following in the footsteps of his father
Terry A. Canales, a former State District Judge, and his uncle Arnulfo Gonzalez Jr., Canales graduated from
St. Mary's University School of Law
St. Mary's University School of Law is one of the professional graduate schools of St. Mary's University, a private Catholic university located in San Antonio, Texas.
Academics
The School of Law has an enrollment of about 770 students, pursu ...
. Upon passing the Texas State Bar Exam, Canales opened his own law practice in
Edinburg, Texas. He specializes in Oil and Gas litigation, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, Family Law, Real Estate, and Municipal Law.
His father, Terry A. Canales, was the first Hispanic state representative to represent Jim Wells County, serving from 1973 to 1977. His sister Gabriella "Gabi" Canales served from 2002 to 2004.
He is also the sixth member of his extended family to serve in the Texas House of Representatives. Perhaps the most recognized of Rep. Canales' family is his great uncle,
José Tomás Canales
José Tomás Canales (March 7, 1877 – March 30, 1976) was an American businessman, lawyer, and politician based in Texas. He served five terms in the State House, where he was the only Mexican-American representative at the time. He is best kno ...
, a Brownsville Democrat who served a total of five terms between 1905 and 1921. He was a founding member of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), and is most famous for defending the Hispanic community against the injustices perpetrated by the Texas Rangers.
Legislative committees
Canales is currently serving as a member of the following committees:
*Criminal Jurisprudence, Member
*Energy Resources, Member
*Water Desalination, Member
Election history
2012
References
External links
*
Legislative pageOfficial website
Living people
Democratic Party members of the Texas House of Representatives
Hispanic and Latino American state legislators in Texas
1979 births
People from Edinburg, Texas
St. Mary's University School of Law alumni
21st-century American politicians
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