Daniel Hernandez, Gabrielle Giffords' 'Hero Intern,' Wins School Board Seat

Daniel Hernandez Jr., the 21-year-old intern in Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' (D-Ariz.) office who ran towards gunshots during the Tucson shooting, won a seat on an Arizona school board on Tuesday.

He was elected to a vacant seat on the Sunnyside Unified School District governing board, which covers southern Tucson and adjacent areas in Pima County. He received 61.8 percent of the vote to opponent Sherrie Burdic's 36 percent. Hernandez has said that he wants a career in public service.

Hernandez lost a bid earlier this year to become the student government president at the University of Arizona, where he is a political science major expecting to graduate in 2012.

After shots rang out the day that Giffords was shot, Hernandez ran toward her, was the first person to attend to her, and tried to stop her bleeding, possibly saving her life. He became a national hero in the January shooting that killed six and severely injured Giffords.

Despite his quick thinking, Hernandez rejected being called a hero. President Barack Obama and Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer saluted Hernandez in a memorial service at the University of Arizona in January.

Comments

[Cacey]

11:49 AM on 11/11/2011

I'll salute Hernandez for a couple of reasons. First of all his actions during and I underline the word during the shooting. Most of those criticizing him would have been running for cover. And second for starting at the bottom. This has been a tactic of those on the Right, the graduates of Oral Roberts Law School and LIberty University for some years. It is nice to see someone from the left who is qualified doing the same. And it is also nice to see the people of Tucson paid attention to his qualifications at the bottom of the ballot.

[hoochie-coochie]

09:38 AM on 11/11/2011

Interesting. This kid runs toward danger to help a fellow human being and his character is questioned. Another guy turns his back on years of child rape, and people riot because his character is questioned.

Good luck, Daniel. I hope to see you in the Governor's seat one day.

[azlegalcitizen]

03:48 AM on 11/11/2011

Even tho he was the biggest hero on the campus of U of A he couldn't win a simple student body president's office. This gay, sourpuss with no personality won't ever go any further in poltics, his chips on his shoulders will prevent his further political career. He had his 15 minutes of fame.

[rondohatton2012]

10:15 AM on 11/11/2011

Good point.

[l78lancer]

02:41 AM on 11/11/2011

People are put into office all the time not because they are talented, but because of some other unrelated act like heroism, nepotism, popularity, wealth, etc. At least this young man is going to school and is politically active. Having some guts could be helpful. Besides with many school boards across the country the board members know nothing about schools, or education, nor have they been students in years. They get in because of politics and stay forever and accomplish nothing. That's why so many school districts have failing schools and so many districts are mismanaged. They are there for the prestige of the position and to collect a few bucks for being on the board. If he is truly interested in doing the job, that school district will be the better for it.

Congratulations. Good for him.

[Cha Cha 123]

11:49 AM on 11/10/2011

Fact Check I wonder if he was not Latino would all these comments about him have been made? The tone of some of these comments requires them to be flagged… to racist.

[rondohatton2012]

10:16 AM on 11/11/2011

Thank you, God.

[Lulo]

11:05 AM on 11/13/2011

You know it. Look at all those Arizona pale faces, just fuming mad another Latino gets ahead.

[Len Buckley]

10:25 AM on 11/10/2011

Is Joe the Plummer quailified to be a Congressman. No but he has the right to run and let the people decide.

[Dustee]

10:55 AM on 11/10/2011

Joe *Duh* plummer has a right to run even if he can't read or write.

[rondohatton2012]

10:19 AM on 11/11/2011

Is Barack the Community Organizer qualified to run for President? No, but he won anyway.

[Lulo]

11:05 AM on 11/13/2011

That's SENATOR Barack Obama to you momo.

[Zork4]

07:11 PM on 11/23/2011

He was a community organizer before he finished Law School. You forgot civil rights lawyer, Constitutional Law Professor, three-term State Senator and United States Senator. He was well qualified to run, beat a strong candidate in Hillary Clinton and won election by a solid margin. He inherited a staggering mess and has had mixed results fixing it. We are definitely better off than we would have been if the GOP had control of the Presidency. The idea that a tax cut on the rich is the best answer to any problem is bankrupt.

Obama at least knew that China had nuclear weapons.

[gintz4947]

09:58 AM on 11/10/2011

What a wonderful young man. Wishing him best of luck in his public service.

[rondohatton2012]

10:17 AM on 11/11/2011

"Wonderful?"

[lunarsnowstorm]

09:15 AM on 11/10/2011

Even a moron can do a heroic deed. That doesn't mean I want to put him in office for his actions. The driving factor should be is he qualified for the job. I'm not trying to take anything away from Daniel. I'm sure he is qualified, Just saying just because someone thinks you are a hero doesn't mean you are the right one for the job. Any way, I wish Daniel good luck and good fortune on his new career.

[arecibo48]

11:30 AM on 11/10/2011

If you believe he is qualified, why bring up the subject and stain his victory? He definitely is qualified to be a school board member; he did not run for president (for example, the pizza man).

[lunarsnowstorm]

01:52 PM on 11/10/2011

I'm not staining his victory. Just making a point. So don't get your liberal panties in a bunch.

[Edward R Voccola]

08:33 PM on 12/25/2011

I agree...Please explain how "running to the Congresswoman and holding her head, possibly stopping the bleeding" somehow made him a "hero". ANYONE who practices emergency medicine will tell you that making a comment like that is ridiculous. Lets face it, the kid wants to break into politics, period. He is just a "convenient hero" for the moment. It gets his political career started. I'm sure he will make a great politician. As a paramedic of 30 years, I can say that the LAST thing to do to a patient with a GSW to the head is put pressure on the wound! But then...I'm a medic. I'm not looking to get into politics.......

[NAVRETRD]

08:03 AM on 11/10/2011

GREAT IS HIS REWARD IN HEAVEN.

[Pushing70]

08:00 AM on 11/10/2011

Good for Mr Hernandez I wish him a great career.

[flying hawk]

07:58 AM on 11/10/2011

I am not putting him down ,But he is only 21 he has a serious health problem with his weight.
I hope he can do something before it's too late.

[arecibo48]

11:31 AM on 11/10/2011

You are doing exactly what you say you are not doing; shame.

[Cacey]

11:45 AM on 11/11/2011

While I agree with you in terms of his weight, he may run for governor of New Jersey.

[Zork4]

07:13 PM on 11/23/2011

On the Weight Watchers ticket.

[Irishtimesguy]

07:55 AM on 11/10/2011

Funny how I'm just guessing none of you live in Arizona where he was elected and know nothing more about him except he ran and assisted with first aid, but he's qualified in your minds to be on teh school board and projected to be governor by the idiot below. How about this, he couldn't even get elected president of student government. I'm betting those people voting actually knew him. He won this due to the publicity and sympathy, that's it. Lets see how far he really goes in the future.

[yankeedonnie]

09:10 AM on 11/10/2011

He showed something others may not have.....he ran to help while others may have run the other way.....he did the brave thing and that is a fact we know. If you think not being class president means he isn't qualified I would argue that his actions show that he has something in his heart that says he cares and in public service That is What Counts.

I wish him the best

[Ron Weaver]

10:41 AM on 11/10/2011

Yeah. Funny just because you are capable of throwing down a few words here really doesn't mean you have anything of quality to say only that you can type. We will see how far that goes for you in the future.

[annalrichard]

06:31 AM on 11/10/2011

Mr. Hernandez,Jr. deserves the seat he won. We just need more people like him in America. He's a hero, for sure! Congratulations! Mr. Hernandez!

[Irishtimesguy]

07:56 AM on 11/10/2011

Why? What are his qualifications expecially at age 21!

[fuzzyclothes1961]

09:38 AM on 11/10/2011

everyone in politics has to start somewhere........this is his starting point.. man u need to calm down about him WINNING his seat. I'm sure u didnt vote for him (he didn't need your stinking vote). the ppl voted him in CONGRATS TO HIM!!!!!!!!!

[Ron Weaver]

01:00 PM on 11/10/2011

What qualifications and experience do you need to set on a school board?

[Tom Airhart]

05:29 AM on 11/10/2011

All the best to you, Mr. Hernandez.

[fridakahlofan]

03:49 AM on 11/10/2011

Yeah! Hee, hee, taking seats of those elected that don't serve all the people one seat at a time, it's going to be painful for the repubscons.

Today, the school board, tomorrow a higher office, so and so on.