AUSTIN – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued the following statement today after the swearing-in ceremony of newly elected Texas State Senator Peter P. Flores, R-Pleasanton. Flores was elected in a special election last month to represent Senate District 19, a sprawling 17 county district which includes the South Side of San Antonio.

“I want to congratulate the Texas Senate’s newest member, Sen. Pete Flores, whose historic victory is a testament to his hard-work and commitment to the people of his district. Pete is a man of faith and a principled conservative with a long history of public service. I am proud to have him in the Texas Senate. I look forward to working with him.”

Patrick noted that Flores is the first Republican to be elected to represent Senate District 19 since 1876 and he is the first Hispanic Republican to serve in the Texas Senate. His swearing in ceremony was attended by hundreds of supporters from Senate District 19 including the Honorable Roy Barrera, Jr., of San Antonio, the Master of Ceremonies. Other speakers included the Atascosa County Judge, Robert Hurley, and former Val Verde County Sheriff, D’wayne Jernigan.

Flores is a retired Colonel Game Warden for Texas Parks and Wildlife. He grew up in South Texas and graduated from high school in Laredo and attended Laredo Junior College before graduating from Texas A&M University in College Station. He was the first Hispanic Director of Law Enforcement for the Texas Parks and Wildlife. Flores is a graduate of the Governor’s Executive Development Program and the National Conservation Leadership Institute’s Fellowship Program, and served as vice president of the National Association of Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs (USA).