Eddie Bernice Johnson

During the election, I had three male opponents and we went into a runoff. The front runner for the men was a native of Dallas who had run at large before, but I had a higher profile than him from my community service.

I came up in a family oriented towards the sick, so I always felt an obligation for doing something.

The health effects of air pollution imperil human lives. This fact is well-documented.

This was the first time a woman in Dallas had won public office of any kind - even women questioned whether or not I was qualified, whether or not I could take it.

Dallas was a Black and White society at that time; it didn't have the diversity it has now.

We have to think about the future and what it is we want to accomplish from this party.