Do you plan to live here in washington and if so, where . Rep. Elect fernandez we have an apartment nearby, my wife and i. We will be traveling back and forth and try to spend as much time in the district as possible to keep hearing peoples problems and understand what we need to work for. We dont want to lose touch of our community and its needs. Tell us about your wife and her influence on you. Rep. Elect fernandez well, she is a School Teacher and a principal. She is my rock. She has been a great asset during my campaign and even here, she is sitting right back there. She is a very positive influence. Representative elect gonzales, we appreciate your time. Thank you for talking to cspan. The publican representing 19th district. Why did you decide to run for office . Well, like a lot of americans, i was very frustrated union. E state of the and i thought that washington as just broken and dysfunctional, and not solving facing lems that were in our country. Three children, a 5, 4, and 2yearold and i wanted to in safe, they grew up strong and free america. I have some experience in serving with president bush and being here ann thought that would bode well for my district. Seemed to be right. I felt like i needed to do my country and e my im so honored to get an opportunity. What were you doing before you earned a house seat . I was president of a Healthcare Innovation company and the company owns a health didnt run the health system. Was starting and growing a medicine company. One of the ways we were using telemedicine was to bring Specialty Care into the Population Center where im from to Rural Communities through partnerships with community hospitals. George w. Bush. Talk about your experience working for him. Great friend and mentor, and strong leader, and somebody that obviously, has made a tremendous impression upon me, as a young that grew, in my 10 years of service with him, as governor and then president. An adviser to him in the white house, so i was there on 9 11. All those things really did of ct me and my view governing and leading. He was a strong leader when it came to national security. I think he understood his first job was to keep the American People safe. Projecting strength and exercising our military responsibly, i think, was that kept the world more stable and kept the American People safer. That was something that i talked during the campaign. I would harken back to george w. Commanderinchief as opposed to the last eight years of commanderinchief of barack obama. We did talk a lot about that. Hes from midland, texas, which the neighboring community and neighboring district with my district. Ran for the seat, and the only time he was beat in a political race was for the in 1978. And so there is some interesting history there. But, hes a guy, especially as overnor, that was very result oriented. He brought people together. A lot of folks dont remember governor, hen he was speaker of the house, who was from west texas as well, hes a the lieutenant was a democrat. They did it. So when i, as a young impressionable guy that wanted world, in he olitics, i watched a guy work with people of all ideological persuasions, and certainly the aisle, to actually do good by the people. I dont think it was successful and i think that was to gret of his when he came washington as president but that was an impression and influence leader. As a in washington, what was your position, what were you advising him on . Assemblehelping him to his Leadership Team in the white house on agriculture and energy resources. L so i would work with the cabinet the Senate Confirmed medical appointments. And i would meet with him every and i would present those appointment options to him and make a recommendation. Texas, too. In i did it for gubernatorial appointments. Difference is, we didnt there is not a cabinet form of executive government there so hey were board and commission members, volunteer citizens, doing part time governance as people likeull Time Assistant secretaries and undersecretaries for this, that, and the other. The former president give to win theice on how seat that he lost . Leading st advice was to xample and what it did impress upon me how one should lead. Govern. Should how one should approach public office. Think he had a tremendous regard for the office of the presidency. And, so i looked at it with great esteem. I think it was his dad that said, its the Public Public calling and oble Public Service is a noble calling. Think that was his greatest contribution to me, and the fact that he supported me and mrs. Bush, was meant a whole lot to me because i dont think he really endorsements, but we certainly considered that one and hes very popular. Become more popular as time has gone by, and i think istory has proven that his focus and his strong stance post policy was actually good for the world and good for america. But hes i would say hes tremendously popular in his own back yard which is west actuall. It worked out for me but im with him. Have served and sider him a friend somebody thats shaped my career and perspective on leadership. What are your aspirations up here in washington . Just make a difference. Safer, country stronger, more prosperous so that my kids have an opportunity. In le ask me all the time, the campaign, will you take the pledge for this . Will you pledge to never do this. Look, my pledge is to uphold the constitution, my live the best i can to my christian principles, and, then my pledge is to make decisions that will make this for ry better and stronger my children. Thats my pledge. Speaking of your family, will hey be joining you out here in washington, d. C. . You know, they will. Ive got a young family and, i long way from here, and it takes a lot it takes half back. To get so while im going to spend a lot of time in the district i unencumbered by Family Responsibilities and i also dont want to be here all without any family. I want, when i can go home and and read them a story, pray with them, eat with them, so well try to make it as possible. I understand well make sacrifices but as i toll my where do you live and i counciled with others, im sacrifices to do this job, im not willing to sacrifice my family for this job going to try to find that balance that will take time, try to learn the rhythm of job that im so excited, and for me, since i was wanted to change the world, and i knew this was the rea, the arena that i would do later. Here i am 28 years i feel the weight of that responsibility, especially with the election. People saying were tired of business as usual. We want to change the course and the culture of washington. Sign me up. I want to do that. Why im here. Representative elect joey arrington, thank you very much cspan. King to thank you, greta. Join us on tuesday, january 3 for live coverage of the opening day of the new congress. Watch the official swearing in reeletted members of the house and senate. And the election announcer tonight on cspan, a forum of the candidates running to be chair of the Democratic National committee. The symposium from westminster college, hearing from a cancer doctor and astrophysicists. Later, a conversation with a congressman from texas. Announcer the president ial inauguration of donald trump is friday, january 20. Cspan will have live coverage of the events and ceremonies. Watch live on cspan and cspan. Org