Public Service
Noriega was a Project Manager for Communities in Schools, and taught in the Houston Independent School District and in the Houston Community College System before becoming a staff member for the Texas State Senate. In 1993 he joined the Government Affairs Department of Houston Industries, Inc. (now CenterPoint Energy, Inc.). He became a manager in the company's Economic Development Department after winning the Democratic nomination for Texas State Representative.
Noriega was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1998 and served five terms, 1999 to 2009. He acted as the Budget and Oversight Chair of the Defense Affairs and State-Federal Relations Committee, and also sat on the Appropriations Committee.
During his 2004 to 2005 service in Afghanistan Noriega's wife served in the legislature in his place, the first person to serve under provisions of a 2003 amendment to the Texas Constitution allowing the designation of another person to hold the full rights and privileges of office while a legislator is on active military duty.
Noriega's House district was mostly Hispanic and low income, and included many residents who never completed high school.
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