Last month, after 30 years of official public service, 20 in the state Senate, Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos announced he will not seek another term and will step down at the end of 2006, to pursue other opportunities – and to continue to work for Texans. It’s been a long and distinguished run, and it’s not over yet – the unresolved public school finance debate will continue into the next year, so no doubt the senator will have much to say on that issue and its direct connection to support for public school employees, especially teachers. Announcing his farewell, Barrientos reiterated his consistent passionate defense of “the common good,” and looking back he said simply, “What I did more than anything else was follow my heart.” So may he continue, for all our hearts.
