Leticia Rose Van de Putte

VAN DE PUTTE, LETICIA ROSE (1954~) Leticia Rose Van de Putte, state legislator, who worked as a pharmacist for more than 25 years, represents a large portion of San Antonio and Bexar County. A former-five term state representative, she is now serving her second term as a Texas State Senator for District 26. In 2002 she became the Chair of the Senate Hispanic Caucus and in 2003 she became the Chair of the Texas Senate Democratic Caucus. Nationally, Senator Van de Putte is the current President of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators and has been actively involved in the work of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) for several years. For NCSL, she has served on many committees, subcommittees, task forces, been a speaker at committee meetings and hearings, serving as moderator or panelist on a variety of topics and issues. She was Host Committee Co-Chair of the 2001 NCSL Annual Meeting in San Antonio; served as a member of the Executive Committee for three years, and was elected by her colleagues in 2004 at the Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City to the prestigious office of Vice President of NCSL.

Over the past two decades, Senator Van de Putte has been honored with numerous awards such as the NAMI Texas Legislative Champion Award, the United Way of San Antonio "Children's Championship Award", League of United Latin American Citizens' "Legislative Recognition Award", the Mexican American Unity Council "Albert Pena, Jr. Life Time Achievement Award", the American Lung Association "Public Policy Award", the Hispanic Journal Magazine "The Best of the 77th Legislature", the Texas Monthly Magazine "Session Player 77th Legislative Session", the Texas Pharmacy Association "Pharmacist of the Year", The American Legion Department of Texas 20th District Certificate of Appreciation, and numerous others. She is a strong advocate for children, health care, education, and economic development issues and has consistently authored and sponsored bills to assist families in securing opportunities. Senator Van de Putte has been a key author of bills that reformed our welfare system, revamped our Juvenile Code, and insured children. Multiple civic organizations and community groups have recognized Senator Van de Putte as one of the most effective, hardworking, sincere, and influential legislators in Texas.

Senator Van de Putte currently serves as Chair of the Veteran Affairs and Military Installations Committee, and also is a member of the Senate Committees on Education, Administration, and Business and Commerce.

The Senator was a Kellogg Fellow at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government in 1993. She received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Texas at Austin, College of Pharmacy, and she is a 1973 graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School in San Antonio, Texas. Senator Van de Putte, born on December 6, 1954 currently lives in San Antonio with her husband of 27 years, Pete, and has six great children: Nichole, Vanessa, Henry, Gregory, Isabella, and Paul, three of whom are in college and one in medical school.

Information taken from Senator Van de Putte's website, http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/members/dist26/dist26.htm#top.