Former Austin City Council Member John Treviño Jr. and political trailblazer has died, a source confirmed with KVUE.
Treviño, considered one of the most prominent Hispanics in the community for many years, died at the age of 78 after a short illness, KVUE's news partners at the Austin American-Statesman reported.
Treviño served as mayor pro tem in 1978 and served for three months as acting mayor in 1983. Mayor Steve Adler released a statement following news of his death:
On the Austin City Council, Mayor Treviño created opportunities for small and minority-owned businesses, pressured the city to increase hiring of women and people of color, led efforts to increase access to health care for the poor and needy pushed for a more equitable distribution of social services, and promoted better representation of women and people of color on boards and commissions. If there was a door closed to people of color, John Treviño Jr. opened it.
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