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Representative Solomon Ortiz Jr. Visits Premier of Corpus Christi

When a Corpus Christi freshman asked, “Why should we vote? Nobody cares what we think,” State Representative Solomon Ortiz Jr. answered with the story of a recent election in which a judge only won by 500 votes.
Ortiz was visiting Premier High School of Corpus Christi to participate in Government lessons, and encourage students to register as voters and participate in democracy.
Continuing with his discussion of the value of an individual vote, he asked students “What if the students of Premier High School had to vote on next year’s principal and the election were to be between Miss Rodriguez and another person you knew nothing about? What if only five people were to vote because everybody assumes Miss Rodriguez is going to win? What if the new principal is horrible?”
Ortiz went on to explain that most students wouldn’t be able to complain because they didn’t vote. “If everybody has that attitude, nothing will change,” he continued.
One student responded, “So people don’t vote because they assume everybody else will do it; but then, not many people actually go out.” The Civics lesson had been understood.
Premier High School students additionally asked Ortiz if he gets mad when they make commercials making fun of him (referring to a commercial two years ago when his opponent depicted him as a puppet).
He responded by saying that you have to learn to control your temper and not let little things get to you. He explained he wouldn’t have come so far if he let all those people stand in his way.
“Overall it was a good visit,” declared Principal Kate Rodriguez. “The students participated well and learned a great deal.”