I met Paul Valenzuela as a young 27 year old campaigning for the Texas Legislature my first time. He had been appointed to the Pecos County Commissioner’s Court and was running for his first full term.  Though he had his own race to run, he took the time to mentor me, to guide me, and frankly in the end he took my race into his own hands as well. That began a long-term close relationship with a man who was very proud of his family, his community and his country.