State Senator Carlos I. Uresti is a leader for Senate District 19 and the State of Texas. Senator Uresti envisions thriving communities, safe and healthy children, an educated workforce, and responsible economic growth. A lifelong resident of his district, he is deeply committed to the success of each District 19 community.
Senator Uresti represents almost 800,000 people in District 19, one the largest geographical legislative districts in the United States. District 19, which covers more than 35,000 square miles and contains all or part of 17 counties, two international ports of entry, eleven state parks, 51 school districts, 2700 miles of highways, and more than 23,000 producing oil and gas wells in both the Eagle Ford Shale and Permian Basin. The district is larger than 12 states and 82 Nations, and contains over one third of the Texas-Mexico border.
After graduating from McCollum High School, Senator Uresti enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves as a Private First Class at the age of eighteen. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a Teaching Certificate from St. Mary’s University, and was then commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. During his four years of active duty as a combat engineer, Senator Uresti rose to the rank of Captain and earned the Navy Achievement Medal. Since graduating from St. Mary’s University School of Law in 1992, he has practiced law in San Antonio and is currently with The Uresti Law Firm, P.C.
Sen. Uresti addresses the crowd at an April 2015 Child Abuse Awareness Month event at the Capitol.
Balancing career and family life is important to Senator Uresti. His wife, Lleanna, is a former school counselor and now the full-time Realtor and mother of two children, Sebastian and Katalina. Senator Uresti raised his two sons, Michael and Carlos, Jr., in the same neighborhood where he grew up. Both Michael and Carlos Jr. graduated from McCollum High School and have followed in their father's footsteps in their own ways. Michael is a 2005 graduate of Texas A&M University at College Station and obtained a law degree from his father's Alma Mater, St. Mary’s University School of Law. Carlos Jr. graduated from McCollum High School in 2004 and followed his roots to the same military branch as his father. He graduated from Texas A&M University in San Antonio as a Corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves and is now attending St. Mary’s University School of Law.
A 1997 special election to the Texas House of Representatives opened the door to state politics for Senator Uresti. He served in the House for nine years and was the chairman of the Committee on Human Services during the 78th Legislature and the Committee on Government Reform during the 79th Legislature. Senator Uresti was elected to the Texas Senate in 2006, riding on his reputation as a champion of children, seniors, and veterans. During over twenty years of public service as a State Representative and Senator, Senator Uresti has authored, co-authored, and sponsored numerous bills that have provided:
Protection for children, including landmark reforms of Child Protective Services (CPS) and Adult Protective Services (APS), special training for CPS employees who are hired for or promoted to a supervisory position, the release of certain information on child deaths involving abuse or neglect, and the creation of a statewide Blue Ribbon Task Force to create new policies and strategies to combat child abuse and neglect;