8/3/2019 Tejano Democrats Roast Toast Texas Representative Garnet Coleman

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 Photos & Report compliments ofAllan R. Jamail

Senatorial District 6 - - (SDEC)Texas State Democratic Executive Committeeman 

50 year proud member of the AFL-CIO. 

MOST DESERVING THE ROASTING & TOASTING OF GARNET COLEMAN... 

The Fifteenth Annual Roast & Toast Banquet of the Harris County TejanoDemocrats (HCTD) was my eighth consecutive banquet to attend and they justkeep getting better and better. The Sheraton Suites Houston near the Galleria was the place where a largenumber of Houston's leaders gathered Friday evening to honor StateRepresentative Garnet F. Coleman who has been named more than once as oneof the state's best Legislator's. 

The guests were called to order and welcomed by Jason Cisneroz the new Chairof the Harris County Tejano Democrats. Chairman Cisneroz will be leading theTejano organization as they reach out to the Hispanic community to increasetheir education and participation in the political process in an attempt toincrease Hispanic voter turnout in elections.

Each guest was served a piece of deliciously baked chicken topped with a saucealong with sides of sauteed asparagus and potatoes. Finishing the meal off was alarge piece of chocolate cake with a cream cheese frosting topped with choppedpecans. 

Houston's Mayor Annise Parker was introduced by Master of Ceremony Chris Bellas the first of the eight Roasters & Toasters for the evening in the crowded GreenBrier Ballroom. After her roasting of Coleman she then gave him high praises asall subsequent Roasters did for his outstanding accomplishments as a Legislator. 

ROASTERS & TOASTERS... 

Following the Mayor to Roast & Toast Coleman was State Senator Rodney EllisSenate District 13, State Senator Mario Gallegos Senate District 6 (first Hispanic

Senator elected to serve Harris County), State Representative Jessica FarrarDistrict 148 (longest serving Hispanic member from Harris County in the TexasHouse of Representatives), State Representative Ana Hernandez Luna District143, State Representative Armando Walle District 140, State Representative CarolAlvarado District 145 and Houston City Councilwoman At Large, Position3 Melissa Noreiga. 

PLEASE SEE THE END OF THIS REPORT TO LEARN MORE OF REPRESENTATIVE COLEMAN. 

8/3/2019 Tejano Democrats Roast Toast Texas Representative Garnet Coleman

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Harris County Tejano DemocratsChairman Jason Cisneroz at the podiumwelcoming the night's guests. Master of Ceremonies Chris Bell seated. 

Houston's Mayor Parker shows her sense of humoras she brought laughter from everyone during her

time of Roasting & Toasting Reprsentative Coleman. 

State Representative Garnet Coleman of House District 147 does some heavy roasting as well to those who had justpreviously roasted him. 

8/3/2019 Tejano Democrats Roast Toast Texas Representative Garnet Coleman

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 Left to right: HCTD Secretary Belinda Castro & HCTD Treasurer Lenora Sorola Pohlman presents Harris County Democratic Party Chairman Gerry Birnberg an appreciation award for all his support he's given the organization during his 8 years of service as Chair. 

Left to right: Whitney Whitmire & dadSenator John Whitmire Dean of the Senate representing Senate District 15. 

Attendees of the Roast & Toast filled the Green BrierBallroom to support the 15th Annual Roast & Toast

Tejano banquet. 

Garnet F. Coleman was elected in 1991 to represent the people of Houston'sDistrict 147 in the Texas House of Representatives.

8/3/2019 Tejano Democrats Roast Toast Texas Representative Garnet Coleman

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Representative Coleman is the Chair of the County Affairs Committee, the SeniorRanking Member of the Public Health Committee, and serves on the CalendarsCommittee. Representative Coleman has served as Chair of the Legislative StudyGroup, a non-partisan House Caucus dedicated to the development of sound public

policy, since 20003. He also has the honor of being a past chairman and currentmember of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus.

Representative Coleman's work in the legislature has been instrumental toexpanding access to health care for Texans. Representative Coleman authored andpassed legislation that will allow rural hospitals to directly hire doctors. Thislegislation will help to bring quality physicians into the community, save physiciansthe cost of opening a practice, and increase access to quality care for the Texanswho live in rural communities. Representative Coleman was one of the originalauthors of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in Texas, a programthat makes health insurance available to more than 500,000 children from workingfamilies. He helped simplify access to Medicaid for more than 600,000 Texaschildren, and worked to secure an increase of $161.5 million for at-risk child careservices.

Representative Coleman's dedication to enacting sound public does not stop at thestate's borders. Because of his commitment and record on health care,Representative Coleman was selected by the White House to serve as a member ofPresident Obama's State Legislators for Health Reform, a select working group of

only 32 state legislators from across the country. He is on the Board of theProgressive States Network, an organization that promotes and advances keyprogressive economic and social policies. He also serves on the Board of theDemocratic Legislative Campaign Committee, a national organization that works toelect Democratic majorities in state legislative chambers across the country, andis a member of the Democratic National Committee.

Representative Coleman's legislative efforts have been recognized. The Center forPublic Policy Priorities honored him with the Hobby Visionary Award, which was

established to recognize a Texan whose service best exemplifies the leadershipand foresight demonstrated by Former Lieutenant Governor Hobby. He was alsoselected as a "People's Friend" by the Texas Observer in 2009, and on twooccasions, was named to the prestigious Texas Monthly "Ten Best Legislators List."

Outside of his legislative work, Representative Coleman remains active and involvedin the Houston community. He serves on the boards of the Mid-Town

8/3/2019 Tejano Democrats Roast Toast Texas Representative Garnet Coleman

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Redevelopment Authority and the Ensemble Theater. In 1991, RepresentativeColeman founded S.M.A.R.T. Kids, a youth development program that providestutoring for inner-city students. He also serves as president and CEO ofApartments for America, Inc., a non-profit affordable housing corporation.

Raised in Houston, Representative Coleman attended Howard University inWashington, D.C. and in 1990 graduated from the University of St. Thomas cumlaude with a Bachelor of Arts. He also completed the prestigious HarvardUniversity Senior Executive Program for State and Local Government. In 2010,Representative Coleman was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Lettersfrom Texas Southern University.

Representative Coleman and his wife, Angelique, reside in Houston's UniversityOaks neighborhood. They have two children, Austin and Evan.

State Honors: 

  Center for Public Policy Priorities Hobby Visionary Award, 2010  Texas Medical Association Friend of Medicine Award, 2010  Texas Academy of Family Physicians Patient Advocacy Award, 2009, 1999  Texas Hospital Association Advocacy Tribute Award, 2009, 2007, and 1999  Texas Association of Counties Champion of County Government Award, 2009  Capitol Inside Honorable Mention in Best of the Legislature, 2009  Named People's Friend by the Texas Observer, 2009  Mental Health America of Greater Houston Legislative Award, 2009  Cenikor Annual Elected Official Award, 2009  Harris County Medical Society Patient Care Champion Award, 2009  The Gathering Place Founder's Award, 2009  Texas State Nurses Organization President’s Award, 2008

  Children at Risk Legislator of the Year for Children, 2007  Texas Southern University Jordan Leland School of Public Affairs George

“Mickey” Leland Community Leadership Award, 2007 

Texas State Employees Unions and the Working People of Texas For HumanServices Award, 2007  Texas Progressive Alliance Legislator of the Year, 2007  Texas Monthly Ten Best Legislators List, Honorable Mention, 2007, 1999

and 1997  Texas Democratic Women Oscar Mauzy Humanitarian Award, 2006  National Alliance for the Mentally Ill - Texas Legislator of the Year, 2005

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  Texas Monthly Ten Best Legislators List, 2001 and 1995  Texas Association of Community Health Centers Health Care Champion, 2001  Coalition of Texans with Disabilities Public Servant of the Year, 2001  Children At Risk Voice for Children Award, 2001 

Women Legislators' Lobby Women's Health Leader, 2001  Houston Community College Trailblazer Award, 2000  Texas Physical Therapy Association Legislator of the Year, 2000  Mental Health Association in Texas Ring of Honor Inductee, 2000  Texas Freedom Network Hero for Children, 2000  Texas Association for Home Care People's Choice Award, 1999  Texas Mental Health Association Legislator of the Year, 1999  Texas Association of Community Health Centers Legislator of the Year,

1999 

Texas Medicine Best Legislators Award, 1999  Texas Monthly Ten Best Legislators List, Honorable Mention, 1999 and 1997  AIDS Action Leadership Award, 1998  Texas Council of Child Welfare Boards Legislator of the Year, 1998  Texas School Health Association John P. McGovern Award, 1998  Texas Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Legislator of the Year,

1997  Texas Committee to Prevent Child Abuse Legislator of the Year, 1997  Texas Alliance for the Mentally Ill Legislator of the Year, 1997 and 1995  Texas 4-H Youth Development Foundation Outstanding Service Award, 1996  University of St. Thomas Outstanding Young Alumni Leadership Award, 1996  Texas Observer Top Legislators, 1995  Texas Association for the Education of Young Children Elected Official of

the Year, 1995  Prairie View A&M University Distinguished Public Service Award, 1993

National Honors: 

  National HIV/AIDS Partnership Red Ribbon Award, 2005

  Eli Lilly Reintegration Award, 2005  Outstanding Black Caucus Chair, 2004  Center for Voting and Democracy/ Common Cause Hero of Democracy

Award, 2003  Governing Magazine, Public Officials of the Year List, 2001  Families USA Foundation Consumer Advocate Award, 2000  National Black Caucus of State Legislators Legislator of the Year, 2000

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  National Alliance for the Mentally Ill Distinguished Service Award, 1997  American Psychiatric Association Jacob R. Javits Public Service Award, 1997  Hispanic Journal Ten Best Legislators List, 2001  Flemming Fellowship, 1995