Former educator announces candidacy for position on TSC Board

Ramon Champion Hinojosa, a former teacher and former superintendent of two Texas school districts, this week announced his intent to run for a position on the Texas Southmost College Board of Trustees.

The election is May 12.

Hinojosa is currently in his third year as a member of the board of the directors of the Brownsville Public Utilities Board.

The 75-year-old Brownsville native was an educator for 38 years, spending some of that time in Brownsville, according to a biography he provided.

He earned a master’s degree in education at Texas A&I in Kingsville after graduating from St. Mary’s University in 1960 with a bachelor’s degree in English and political science.

But he started out at TSC, transferring to university after a year, he said.

In his biography, the candidate said he wants to help TSC develop a new vision that will allow it to provide a quality education at a reasonable cost while remaining on firm financial footing.

"TSC was the first step for me in acquiring a higher education," he said. "I want to make sure that the opportunity to provide that first step in the ladder remains accessible and affordable to our future generations."

After earning his degree, he taught in Brownsville at an elementary school, Faulk Middle School and later Hanna High School.

He was superintendent of the West Oso Independent School District in Corpus Christi from 1976 to 1990 and held the same position at the Rio Grande Independent School District from 1995-1999.

He retired in 2000 and currently owns an educational and business consulting firm called RHL and Associates, he said.

Two positions on the TSC Board of Trustees will be filled in the election scheduled for May 12. Early voting will be April 30 through May 8. Incumbent trustees David Oliveira and Roberto Robles have both said they will not run for re-election.