Texas Senate
Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose.
Lyndon B. Johnson
Senator Carlos F. Truan
Leonardo Olivares held a variety positions with progressive responsibilities culminating in his appointment as Chief-of-Staff for the Dean of the Texas Senate.
​
As Director of the Senate International Relations, Trade and Technology Committee he help develop Texas public policy during advent of the the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Internet. Olivares supervised the committee's work on state's transportation, housing, technology and other infrastructure issues.
​
Major Accomplishments
-
Required comprehensive Cost-Benefit Analysis of agency programs by the Legislative Budget Board to reflect total costs and benefits of proposed programs during development of the state's $79.8 billion budget.
-
Secured unprecedented $350.0 million for South Texas Initiative (STI) for historically under-funded universities; Developed first comprehensive summary of STI financing.
-
Received Senate approval for 90 percent of Senator’s legislative program.
-
Received Outstanding Service Awards from: the Texas State Student Association; the Texas Association of Continuing and Adult Educators; and the Texas Council of Adult Education Coop Directors.
Senator Rodney Ellis
​Olivares was Senator Ellis' Legislative Assistant responsible for public education policy during one of the Legislature's Special Session to reform the Texas public school finance system.
He supported Senator's legislative program which resulted in:
-
$7.0-11.0 million in additional funding for Houston Independent School District.
-
Senate passage of the Houston Downtown Management District.
​
He also was responsible for:
-
Editing Senator's newsletter which was distributed to all registered households in Senatorial District.
-
Writing speeches, targeted issue letters and contributed to editorials for local print media such as the Houston Chronicle.
Senators Barrientos, Lucio & Zaffirini
While an undergraduate at UT-Austin, Olivares started his public service as an Legislative Intern.
Texas Senator Gonzalo Barrientos
Olivares supported Senator Barrientos' public relations program during the Texas Legislature's 70th Regular Session. He researched, wrote and edited the Senator's newsletter, and analyzed and reported responses of a constituent opinion poll. He also composed press releases and drafted speeches.
​
Olivares worked with Eddie Lucio when he was first elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1987. His primary responsibility was to research, draft and submit commemorative resolutions for engrossment by the Texas House. Through these efforts, Lucio became the freshman lawmaker who authored the most House Resolutions.
​
Texas Senator Judith Zaffarini
Olivares served as an Intern for the Senator while he was attending the University of Texas School of Law.
​
