Former mistress accuses (Texas Senator) Gallegos of emotional abuse

A woman claimed in a lawsuit Thursday that state Sen. Mario Gallegos inflicted emotional and physical pain during a 17-year affair.

In the lawsuit, Susan Delgado also asks for $14,000 to repay cash loans she said she made to Gallegos.

In a prepared statement, Gallegos' attorney, Mike Gallagher, expressed outrage at the allegations and said the suit will be "appropriately and vigorously fought."

Delgado, 39, a former stripper who now works as a waitress at a strip club, also seeks unspecified "exemplary damages" for distress she said Gallegos inflicted, including "spankings, slappings and hair pulling" during "intimate relationships."

Included in the allegations were a Sept. 20 incident at a motel on the Gulf Freeway, where she said Gallegos threw her to the floor during a spat.

Gallegos, who faces opposition in the Democratic primary in March, did not directly respond to the allegations.

Gallagher said that a Houston police investigation found the allegation of physical abuse Sept. 20 to be "baseless and not credible." Gallagher said Gallegos "fully cooperated with all authorities in that investigation and was completely exonerated."

"In circumstances such as this, it has become commonplace to make allegations that focus elections on all issues than those relative to how well Senator Gallegos has served his district," Gallagher wrote in the statement.

Delgado said she has had no contact with the campaign of Houston Community College trustee Yolanda Navarro Flores, Gallegos' opponent in the March 9 primary.

On Jan. 26, a constituent filed a lawsuit in state district court alleging that Gallegos does not live in Senate District 6, which he has represented since 1995, and asked the court to order him off the ballot.

Gallegos has said that he and his wife spend most of their time at the home of his mother, former Houston school trustee Olga Gallegos, who lives in the district.

The lawsuit is based on the homestead tax exemption that Gallegos and his wife claim on another residence outside the district.

The ONE mention of party affiliation doesn't happen until the LAST paragraph in this Houston Chronicle article:

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/2391672

Feb. 6, 2004, 8:32PM

Gallegos asks forgiveness for affair with ex-stripper

By LORI RODRIGUEZ Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle Minority Affairs Writer

State Sen. Mario Gallegos on Friday publicly admitted to having a relationship with an ex-stripper, then apologized to his family, colleagues and constituents for what he called a "shameful" mistake.

"I have asked God for forgiveness," Gallegos said at a news conference in his attorney's downtown offices. "The mistake that I have made is a personal one, one that I am ashamed of. But as shameful as it was, it was private. It has nothing to do with my service in the Texas Senate.

"My record speaks for itself."

Gallegos made the comments one day after Susan Delgado filed suit, claiming the state senator inflicted emotional and physical pain during a tumultuous 17-year affair that began after they met in an eastside strip club where she now waits tables.

Flanked by his wife, Theresa, and his mother, former school trustee Olga Gallegos, as well as other family members, the senator in a brief statement never addressed the allegations in the lawsuit.

Delgado is seeking $14,000 to repay cash loans she said she made to Gallegos. She also seeks unspecified "exemplary damages" for demeaning intimate acts that allegedly included spankings and slappings.

Among the allegations cited is a Sept. 20. incident in a Gulf Freeway motel where Delgado, 39, says Gallegos threw her to the floor during an argument. Delgado also accuses Gallegos, 53, of harassing and stalking her at home and work after she repeatedly tried to end the relationship.

Except for Gallegos' brief statement, attorney Mike Gallagher said he has instructed his client and family members to refrain from comment during litigation.

"It was a grievous mistake," Gallagher said. "He has admitted he had a relationship with Delgado. We are admitting only that. Everything else is denied."

Gallagher said he suspected "monetary and political gain" prompted the lawsuit, an allegation Delgado has denied. When reporters persisted in asking Gallegos specific questions regarding the loans and inappropriate behavior, Gallagher ushered the senator and family members out.

"He's made an admission today which I think took great courage," Gallagher said.

This is the second lawsuit filed against Gallegos this year. On Jan. 26, a constituent filed a lawsuit claiming Gallegos does not live in the state senatorial district he has represented since 1995. Gallegos has said he and his wife spend much time at his mother's home, which is in the district.

In the March 9 Democratic primary, Gallegos is facing Houston Community College trustee Yolanda Navarro Flores, a former state representative. Delgado has said she has had no contact with the Flores campaign.

The article you linked does not mention his party affiliation once -- not even when reporting that he is in a race against Flores is it mentioned that it is a Democrat primary race. sheeeeeesh!

Gallegos apologizes for affair, denies abuse allegations

By Nancy Holland / 11 News

HOUSTON -- State Senator Mario Gallegos apologized Friday for his longtime affair with Susan Delgado -- but his lawyer denied allegations in her lawsuit which include everything from spanking to stalking.

Gallegos issued the apology at a news conference with his wife, three children and mother at his side.
"I want to apologize to my wife for the pain that I've caused her. I want to apologize to my family. I have asked God for forgiveness...," Gallegos said. "I want to apologize to the colleagues, to my colleagues in the Texas Senate and I want to apologize to the people of my district."

Delgado filed a $50,000 lawsuit against Gallegos on Thursday. His attorney, Mike Gallagher, believes she sued for money and for political reasons.

Gallegos said it's a personal issue that has nothing to do with his work as a legislator.
"The mistakes that I have made is a personal one," Gallegos said. "One that I am ashamed of. But as shameful as it was, it was private. It had nothing to do with my service in the Texas Senate."

Gallegos said he has no intention of dropping out of the race for District 6.

In Gallegos district, the woman running against him, Yolanda Flores refused interview requests and instead sent a campaign worker to read a statement.
The allegations are very serious," Anne Santiago said. Flores office would not answer questions.

But in the heavily Hispanic district one man, who wouldn't go on camera, told us he'd heard versions of the Gallegos story for two weeks and theorized it was politics.

At this point in the flap, Gallegos can only hope for more voters like those at Let's Celebrate. At the local panaderia, political pecadillos aren't the ingredient that make the final decision.

"When I do vote I think of the issues that he's against or for and then I basically just go from there and say, 'well, is he going to do this, you know, what I think he should do or not and his personal affair," said Olivia Wong. "Personal business should be maybe something people shouldn't think about when they vote."

Even if some voters do feel that way, Gallegos next election seems like it may not be a cakewalk.

Gallegos issued the apology at a news conference with his wife, three children and mother at his side. "I want to apologize to my wife for the pain that I've caused her. I want to apologize to my family. I have asked God for forgiveness...," Gallegos said.

Another Hillary Clinton type wife --- why bother apologizing when the woman is so glad for the political and social connections that she lives with adultery? No affair goes on for 17 years without the spouse being complacent about it. It sounds like the apology is for the benefit of the voters.

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