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Video: Mayor Castro Makes Case For Re-Election

Eileen Pace
/
Texas Public Radio
Mayor Castro celebrates the passing of the Pre-K 4 SA initiative on election night with his family.

Mayor Julián Castro is holding a re-election rally on Feb. 2 to "officially" announce his run for mayor in 2013, but a video released yesterday already makes his intentions clear.

Castro took some big political strides in his second term in the office, and the announcement effectively puts an end to talk that he will run for a higher office anytime soon.

"There are exciting things that are happening right now in San Antonio," said Castro in the video announcement, "and every single day that I've been mayor, I've enjoyed coming to work to pursue a vision of becoming a brainpower community that is the liveliest city in the United States."

In the November General Election he saw the passing of his much-touted Pre-K 4 SA education initiative, and it will now be up to him to make sure the program is a success. There are still many questions about the program -- like where all the centers will be, what is the curriculum, and how do you get all the kids to and from each center -- and with the first of the four centers to open in the Fall of 2013 he needs to make serious ground.

Castro was first elected to the office in 2009 and easily won re-election in 2011; with his latest bid for 2013 he is going for a three-peat.

The national story continues...

Castro has defined himself as the quintessential Hispanic politician -- he is well-educated, consistently supports immigration issues and is proud of his family's journey to the United States -- and with his recent step onto the national stage as a keynote speaker at the Democratic Convention (and appearance on Fox's "The X-Factor") his national role will only continue to grow.

Political watchers in Texas and around the nation are keeping a close eye on the brothers Castro; both Julián and his twin brother Congressman Joaquín Castro are now becoming go-to spokesmen for issues with Latinos in politics.

My journalism journey began with an idea for a local art and music zine and the gumption to make it happen with no real plan or existing skill set.