Officers & Committee

President
Linda Figueroa
A Robstown native and Charter Member of the Coastal Bend TDW Chapter, Linda enjoys a well-earned reputation for tackling tough tasks without flinching which has served her well on the City’s Ethics Commission and the party’s Ballot Board. Currently in her second term on the Party’s County’s Executive Committee, Linda has attended more than a dozen County Conventions, nine State Conventions, two National Conventions and helped elect countless local Democrats to office, with the help of her close-knit family circle of hard-working women - from grandma to aunts to sisters to the youngest of nieces.

Secretary
Ann E. Smith
Peace and justice in South Texas have no greater advocate than Ann Smith who has traveled to Ireland, Wales, Great Britain, Central and South America, the Soviet Union and China in search of a greater global perspective on peace and tolerance. She joined the local fight against segregation during the turbulent sixties, worked for 15 years with a group of philanthropic foundations and now coordinates community action locally with for HealthCare Now, the Clean Economy Coalition and the Progressive Populist Caucus. At 78 years of age, she’s an active protester who looks forward to her first arrest.

Treasurer
Glenda Turner
A retired Navy nurse, Glenda studied electronics and became an Instrument Mechanic working on helicopters at the Corpus Christi Army Depot for more than 28 years. She was the first and only African-American woman to be elected President of a major union, the International Association of Machinist and Auto Workers Union. Glenda got involved in politics during the civil rights movement living through the struggles of separate-but-equal laws governing education, health care and voting. She admires the late Texas Congresswoman Barbara Jordan for her courage to always ask the right questions.

Committee

Communications
Stacey Barrera
At 25 years of age, Stacey serves as President of the Coastal Bend Young Democrats, legislative aide to State Representative Solomon Ortiz, Jr. and on the County’s Executive Committee. Stacey’s political path is a natural extension of her family’s legacy of public service; her mother Diana is the County Clerk and her grandmother, Mary Tapia administered elections for decades before that. She worked for the party in 2008 as Primary Election Staff and holds a Bachelor’s degree in History and Women’s Studies.

Education
Gloria Caceres
For more than twenty years, Gloria has devoted her life to public service as a legislative Chief of Staff, long-term substitute teacher and fierce community advocate. Her wealth of experience working with the government, the Port, Texas A&M, Del Mar, las colonias, industry and local commerce. She’s a firmly believer that women need to be a part of their own government, and has led by example as a champion for women and families contributing her time and talents as a Charter Member of the Coastal Bend TDW Chapter, immediate Past-President of the State TDW and on several civic groups, boards and commissions including the County’s Juvenile Detention Center and Jail Diversion Committee.

Fundraising
Coretta Graham
Attorney at law and member of the State Bar and Women Lawyer’s Association, Coretta received her Doctor of Jurisprudence from Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern Univeristy and her Bachelors in Chemistry from Rutgers University. A former president of the NAACP’s local chapter, Coretta’s photo wearing a Martin Luther King, Jr. shirt appeared in the Washington Times commemorating the 75,000 NAACP members who converged on the nation’s capitol for President Barack Obama’s inauguration. She is a dedicated public servant who generously contributes her time and talents on numerous boards and committees.

Membership
Esther Martinez
A lifelong Democrat, Esther serves on the County’s Executive Committee and joined TDW because of its emphasis on women’s values as a longtime board member of Planned Parenthood of South Texas, the local League of Women Voters and the Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas. She retired from the Social Security Administration following a 32 year career and put her daughters through college as a single working mom. She commits her passion and energies to support her numerous causes and works to ultimately influence the person who holds the pen that writes that bill.

Parliamentarian
Barbara Cline
At 82 years of age, Barbara is a Coastal Bend institution and considered the Mother Hen of the Nueces County Democratic Party. Barbara has served in virtually every level of the party structure and has trained countless Democrats; she was elected County Chair, Precinct Chair and has been an election judge since 1962. A keen businesswoman Barbara volunteered with the Girl Scouts for 25 years and has been recognized on the House floor by the Texas Legislature. A Charter Member of the Coastal Bend TDW Chapter, Barbara serves as Treasurer of the State TDW.

General Counsel
Christina Ysassi
Attorney at law, Chris …a Charter Member of the Coastal Bend Chapter.