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Jeb Bush Jr. son of former Governor of Florida Jeb Bush – is back in the news again. He’s been reportedly urged by Republicans to contemplate running for the seat vacated by retiring Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. While his father is no stranger to the political limelight, his mother – Columba Bush – often keeps a very low profile.
Columba Bush, of Mexican origin, added a touch of cultural distinction to the Florida Governor’s Mansion. She was born in Leon, Mexico, and immigated to the United States in 1971. Her life history is replete with strength and determination. She was a teacher before she married Jeb.
As First Lady of Florida, Columba Bush focused on education and literacy initiatives. She championed bilingual education programs and advocated for increased access to quality education for all children. Her philanthropic efforts extended beyond Florida, as she actively supported organizations working to improve the lives of underprivileged children in Latin America.
There is no denying the fact that Columba Bush has had immense influence on her husband’s political career. Certainly, her background and experiences have shaped his views on immigration and education. Though she may have a preference to be out of the public spotlight, Columba Bush has played an integral part in her husband’s life and has left an indelible mark in the lives she has touched.
Columba Bush’s Wiki
Columba Bush was born on August 17, 1953, in León, Guanajuato, Mexico. Her mother, Josefina Gallo Esquivel, raised her as Columba’s parents divorced when she was 10, resulting in a complicated relationship with her father.
At Columba Bush’s age of 63, she still has a strained relationship with her father. She stayed in León with her mother and went to a private Catholic school called the Instituto Antonia Mayllen.
Columba has an older sister, Lucila del Carmen Schmitz, who was born in 1951. She also has an older brother, Francisco Jose Garnica, born in 1949.
Jeb Bush and Columba Bush’s Wedding
Columba Bush and Jeb Bush met as teenagers. Columba was 16 years old when she met Jeb, who was 17 at the time, in León. Jeb helped build a school in the village of Ibarrilla as part of a course he took.
When asked about his wife, Jeb said, “My life can be defined in one real, powerful way, which is B.C. and A.C.: Before Columba and After Columba.” He further added, “I fell madly in love with her — love at first sight. Whatever I was doing beforehand, I vaguely remember. But my life got organized after that.”
After dating for a while, Jeb and Columba walked down the aisle on February 23, 1974, in Austin, Texas. When they got married, Columba could not speak English, so a part of the ceremony was spoken in Spanish. In 1979, Columba became a U.S. citizen.
Columba Bush and Jeb Bush’s Kids
Columba and Jeb have three children: Noelle Bush, George P. Bush, and John Ellis “Jeb” Bush Jr. George P. Bush was born on April 24, 1976, in Texas.
He followed in his father’s footsteps and is currently serving as the Commissioner of the Texas General Land Office. Their daughter, Noelle, was born on July 26, 197,7 in Texas and works for a software firm in Orlando, Florida.
John Ellis “Jeb” Bush Jr. was born on December 13, 1983, in Miami and works for a Miami Commercial real estate firm.
Both Noelle and Jeb Jr. have had run-ins with the law. In 2002, Noelle was arrested on charges of fraudulently purchasing prescription drugs. Additionally, she was sentenced to 10 days in prison after being caught hiding cocaine while at a court-ordered rehabilitation center. In 2005, Jeb Jr. was arrested for public intoxication, as well as resisting arrest.
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Columba Bush’s Career
When Columba became Florida’s First Lady, she wanted to stay out of the limelight. However, she soon used her position to bring attention to organizations, including the Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, and Arts for Life.
Back in 2015, Columba Bush wrote an op-ed for the Des Moines Register, asking the Iowa Coalition to support the movement against domestic violence.
The President and CEO of the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Tiffany Carr said about her meeting with Columba, “I figured this would just be one of those obligatory first lady things that lasted about 15 minutes, but we took her to a couple of shelters and she had this immediate connection with people.”
