20 Facts About Gabe Cazares

Gabe Cazares was born to Mexican parents on 31 January 1920, in Alpine, Texas, as one of nine children.

Gabe Cazares's family moved to Los Angeles, where he worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps.

Gabe Cazares attended Los Angeles City College on a track scholarship, where he set a record for the junior college 2-mile run which stood for 11 years.

Gabe Cazares attended Fresno State College and Texas Christian University, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology, and the University of Maryland, College Park.

Gabe Cazares received his master's degree in business management from Jackson College in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Gabe Cazares joined the Army Air Forces in 1941 three weeks after the attacks on Pearl Harbor and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Gabe Cazares retired from military service in 1966 to become a stockbroker.

Gabe Cazares moved to Clearwater, Florida soon afterwards and became a social activist, campaigning for desegregation and improved housing for minorities.

In 1975, Gabe Cazares was elected mayor by a margin of fewer than 500 votes in a campaign that he entered as an underdog.

Gabe Cazares's resounding victory was noteworthy because he was a Democrat and Hispanic in a largely Republican city then home to few Hispanics.

Gabe Cazares twice ran unsuccessfully for Congress, in 1976 against US Rep.

Gabe Cazares resigned as mayor in 1978, but was elected county commissioner in 1980.

Gabe Cazares held that post until Republican George Greer defeated him in 1984.

In 1991, Gabe Cazares was elected to the Common Cause National Governing Board.

Gabe Cazares called it dangerously insensitive to Florida's large Spanish speaking population.

Gabe Cazares became an outspoken critic of Scientology after the church decided in 1975 to move major operations into Clearwater.

Gabe Cazares wondered why church folks from Los Angeles, California, would travel all the way to Florida to provide Clearwater with moral guidance.

Gabe Cazares investigated the United Churches of Florida and discovered that the leaders of the group lied about their intentions.

Gabe Cazares was sued by the Church of Scientology for $1 million after he said that the city was being taken over.

Gabe Cazares questioned the church's motives, its purchases of downtown property using fictitious names, and the way its security guards carried Billy clubs and mace.