Margaret Gómez is a product of the Austin Independent School District, having attended Becker Elementary, Fulmore Junior High and graduated from William B. Travis High School.
She has labored for the Austin community on issues ranging from the South Texas Nuclear Power Plant to the Save Our Springs Initiative as well as many other community infrastructure needs. For more than 25 years, she has been politically active in efforts to achieve leadership that reflects the make-up of the Travis County community. Her work on various campaigns has run the gamut from Austin City Council, local Democratic Party races, state races and Presidential races. Margaret has served on the City of Austin Campaign Reform Task Force and twice on the City of Austin Charter Revision Committee. Margaret is a graduate of the City of Austin Citizens Police Academy. She is also a lifelong Democrat and a member of the Travis County Democratic Party Finance Council.
Commissioner Gómez was elected constable in 1980 against a 14-year incumbent, becoming the first Mexican American women to serve in that capacity in Travis County. She was re-elected three times, receiving as much as 75% of the vote. She resigned from that post in the fall of 1993 to successfully seek the office of county commissioner, Precinct Four. On January 1, 1995, Travis County Commissioner Margaret Gómez was sworn into office, becoming the first Mexican American women to ever serve in this capacity in Travis County.
Margaret has received numerous awards including “Woman of the Year,” by the Texas Women’s Political Caucus, (1980); “Outstanding Hispanic Woman” by LULAC, (1993); and was twice named “Fund Raiser of the Year” by the East Austin Optimist Club. She is actively involved throughout her community in promoting the importance of education. She volunteered with “Reading is Fundamental,” (RIF), for several years and participates in career day at elementary and junior high schools as well as at St. Edward’s CAMP program. In 2001, Avance Austin named Commissioner Gómez, “Outstanding Latina Leader.”In February 2009, she received an Alumni Achievement Award from St. Edward’s University.
Margaret graduated summa *** laude from St. Edward’s University in May, 1991. In December, 2004, Commissioner Gómez received her Master’s in Liberal Arts from St. Edward’s University with a 4.0 GPA. She was inducted into the 4.0 Club on April 30, 2005. She is featured in St. Ed’s pamphlets promoting both New College and Master of Liberal Arts educational programs as well as online. As of November, 2005, Commissioner Gómez serves on the Master’s in Liberal Arts (MLA) Advisory Council at St. Ed’s. On December 16, 2006, she was the keynote speaker at the graduating ceremony at St. Edward’s.
In her capacity as county commissioner, Margaret has actively participating on the following boards, committees, and Commissioners Court subcommittees and has achieved more than the minimum 16 continuing education hours each year:
- Capital Area Rural Transit System (CARTS)
- City of Austin EMS Quality Assurance Team (QAT) for six years
- Travis County Purchasing Board Chairperson (12 years)
- Travis County Transportation and Natural Resources Oversight Subcommittee (South)
- Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Capital Metro)— Chair
- Travis County Administrative Operations Subcommittee
- Planning and Budget Oversight Subcommittee
- Community Justice Council
- Conference of Urban Counties (CUC), Executive Board Member, 2001-2003. Policy Committee Member, 2000-2006
- City of Austin Parks and Recreation Board-Colorado River Park Planning Committee
- Texas Hispanic County Judges and Commissioners Association, Chairperson, 1995-2007
- Health and Human Services Subcommittee
- South Texas County Judges and County Commissioners Association, President 2002-2003
- City of Austin/Travis County Subcommittee
- Texas Colorado River Floodplain Coalition, 2001-2007
- E-Government Oversight Committee
- Sobriety Center Committee
- Jail Overcrowding Task Force
- Justice and Public Safety Subcommittee
- Travis County/Hospital District Subcommittee addressing mental health issues
Commissioner Gómez has successfully supported Travis County Bond Elections every five years since 1995 to invest in the local economy as well as in the infrastructure of the local mobility of traffic. Two bond elections were approved by the voters to invest $90 million for the purchase of right of way for SH130. Drainage projects have been approved by the voters since flooding in prevalent in Precinct 4, Southeast Travis County.
In November, 2004, she successfully supported and received voter approval for the construction of commuter rail, adding another mode of transportation to address traffic congestion in Austin/Travis County.
During her service on the Commissioners Court, Commissioner Gómez has voted to give homeowners 20% homestead exemptions. For the elderly and disabled, she has voted for 20% plus $65,000. In addition to that, she has voted to reduce the tax rate by 13 cents from 1995 to 2009.
Feb 24 2010, 12:38 AM
