Rolando Pablos
111th Secretary of State of Texas
In office
January 6, 2017 – December 15, 2018
GovernorGreg Abbott
Preceded byCarlos Cascos
Succeeded byDavid Whitley
Commissioner of the Public Utility Commission of Texas
In office
September 20, 2011 – March 1, 2013
GovernorRick Perry
Preceded byBarry T. Smitherman
Succeeded byBrandy Marty Marquez
Personal details
Born (1967-09-26) September 26, 1967
Sonora, Mexico
Political partyRepublican
EducationSt. Mary's University, Texas (BS, JD)
University of Texas at San Antonio (MBA)
University of Houston (MA)

Rolando Burgoa Pablos (born September 26, 1967) is an American executive, attorney, and Republican politician from the U.S. state of Texas.[1] He was sworn in as the 111th Secretary of State of Texas on January 5, 2017.[2] On December 6, 2018, Pablos announced his resignation as Secretary of State effective December 15.[3]

Background

Born in Sonora, Mexico,[4] Pablos grew up in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, and El Paso, Texas.[1][5] He graduated from Cathedral High School in El Paso.

Education

In 1992, he graduated from St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas, with a bachelor's degree in biology. He then earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio,[6][7] a master's in Hospitality Management from the Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Houston, and in 1998 a Juris Doctor from St. Mary's University School of Law.[8]

Pablos was described as the "driving force" behind the creation of the San Antonio campus of Hilton College, at which he formerly served as adjunct lecturer of hospitality law.[9]

Career

Pablos formerly served as a Texas Public Utility Commissioner and then chaired the Texas Racing Commission.[1] He was nominated to serve as Texas Secretary of State by Republican Governor Greg Abbott and confirmed by the Texas Senate on February 14, 2017.[10][2][11]

In March 2017, Pablos made his first international diplomatic mission to Mexico City, during which he affirmed the strong economic relationship between Texas and Mexico. After the trip, Pablos said he was "highly encouraged" by his meetings and discussions with both private and public sector officials, including representatives from the SENER, Mexico's energy ministry.[12]

Pablos co-founded Uriel Americas and served as chief executive officer of the Borderplex Alliance, a bi-national economic developmental corporation.[1]

In August 2017, as a new school year loomed, Pablos urged high school principals to register qualified students for voting. The principals, noted Pablos, are required under the state election code to serve as deputy voter registrars, in which capacity they are expected to distribute voter registration applications to students who will turn eighteen by election day.[13]

Writing in World Oil magazine in November 2017, Pablos expressed optimism that Mexico's energy reforms enacted in 2013 would provide Texas and Mexico "a new opportunity" to collaborate in cross-border energy trade, through what he calls the "Texas-Mexico Energy Nexus," adding that "the potential is enormous for Texas energy leaders to expand in a newly privatized Mexican energy market."[14] Pablos had made cross-border energy integration the focus of a Texas Border Trade Advisory Committee[15] meeting earlier that year.[16]

In March 2018, Pablos welcomed Aga Khan IV to Texas during his Diamond jubilee visit to the United States.[17]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Tilove, Jonathan (December 5, 2016). "Abbott taps Rolando Pablos to succeed Secretary of State Carlos Cascos". My Statesman. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  2. 1 2 Litton, Andra (January 6, 2017). "El Pasoan Rolando Pablos Sworn in as Secretary of State". El Paso Proud. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  3. ↑ Silver, Johnathan (December 6, 2018). "Texas Secretary of State Rolando Pablos announces resignation". Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Texas nombra al hispano Rolando Pablos nuevo Secretario de Estado".
  5. ↑ Chapa, Sergio (December 5, 2016). "Austin attorney named Texas Secretary of State". Austin Business Journal. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  6. ↑ "UTSA Spring 2018 Commencement keynote speakers announced". utsa.edu. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Rivard ReportRolando Pablos, Author at Rivard Report". Rivard Report. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Biography of Secretary of State Rolando B. Pablos". Office of the Texas Secretary of State. State of Texas. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
  9. ↑ Dusang, Kaylee (February 3, 2017). "UH alum appointed at Texas Secretary of State". The Daily Cougar. Retrieved March 27, 2017.
  10. ↑ Sterling, Ed (December 13, 2016). "Abbott nominates Pablos as Texas' Secretary of State". La Vernia News. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Texas Senate Confirms Rolando Pablos As Secretary of State". Office of the Texas Secretary of State. State of Texas. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
  12. ↑ "Secretary Pablos Meets With Government Officials, Industry Leaders in Mexico City". Office of the Texas Secretary of State. State of Texas. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
  13. ↑ Rolando Pablos, "Calling all high school principals to register young voters," San Antonio Express-News, August 18, 2017, p. A11.
  14. ↑ "The Texas-Mexico Energy Nexus". worldoil.com. November 10, 2017. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  15. ↑ "Border Trade Advisory Committee". dot.state.tx.us. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Secretary Pablos Convenes Second Border Trade Advisory Committee Meeting, Renews Focus On Cross-Border Energy Integration". sos.texas.gov. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Secretary Pablos Welcomes His Highness The Aga Khan To Texas". sos.texas.gov. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
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