Senator Eliot Shapleigh - El Paso, Texas

“Live Strong, Really Care, Let Live”

“Right now, in all Texas, El Paso is the best place to be. One reason is this—each day, we live strong, really care and let live.” Just what does that mean?

Let’s take look at some Texas history. In the 1940’s and 50’s, Texas was the last large Southern state. Across the South, Governors like Ross Barnett blocked black students access to the University of Mississippi, and here in Texas, Governor Shivers ordered Texas Rangers to prevent black students from entering high school. Jim Crow laws systematically discriminated based on race. Here in El Paso, Hispanics were forced to drink from public water fountains that said ‘colored only’.

A bell now rings out for justice from the besieged heart of what is perhaps the world's most violent city. Concluding a 13-day trek from Mexico City, a group led by women brought the large bell fashioned from keys donated in memory of femicide victims to embattled Ciudad Juarez early this week.

State Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, El Paso's tireless adovcate for the poor and underpriveleged, announced today that he will not be running for re-election in 2010.

"While other public service may lie ahead, I will not run for the Texas Senate in 2010," Shapleigh said in a statement. "In public life, especially in Texas during this decade, doing what's right, not what's expedient is what matters. I am grateful to the people who elected me for the opportunity to serve."

In our family, public service is the highest calling. While other public service may lie ahead, I will not run for the Texas Senate in 2010. During each day of the last decade, we have endeavored to do our very best for the people of our great community and state. In public life, especially in Texas during this decade, doing what’s right, not what’s expedient is what matters. I am grateful to the people who elected me for the opportunity to serve. Here in God's Country, good, hardworking, honest leaders will rise to the challenge—the work will go on—the dream will never die

UTEP students seeking master's degrees in business administration soon will be able to mingle with bankers and other Downtown executives.

Starting in October, the University of Texas at El Paso is moving its College of Business Administration MBA programs to the Chase Building.