FORT WORTH -- Former labor leader Linda Chavez-Thompson said she thought her retirement years would be spent puttering around the garden.
Instead, Chavez-Thompson is spending most of her time on the campaign trail as the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor. She beat Marc Katz, owner of the popular Katz's Deli & Bar in Austin, and former Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle in the March primary.
She now takes on well-financed Republican incumbent David Dewhurst in November.
"I'm what the State Board of Education considers a figment of your imagination -- a Latina who is about to make history," she told a crowd of more than 60 Democrats gathered at Joe T. Garcia's restaurant on the city's north side.
Chavez-Thompson, who calls San Antonio home now, was born in West Texas and there learned a strong work ethic, picking cotton at age 10 for 30 cents an hour. She dropped out of school in ninth grade at her father's request, she said, to work and help support her family.
She ultimately became the first female vice president of the national AFL-CIO and vice chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee.
"We need to energize the people about how they can make a difference in this election," Chavez-Thompson said. "What Rick Perry and David Dewhurst don't understand is that people are tired -- they are sick and tired -- and they want change.
Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/04/08/2101203/democrat-chavez-thompson-seeks.html#ixzz0kvrbyBRn
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