Representative Ismael "Kino" Flores was first elected to represent HD-36 in 1996. He is a current member of the Border and Intergovernmental Affairs and Appropriations committees and previously served as chairman of the Licensing and Administrative Procedures Committee.

His previous posts include memberships on the Ways & Means and Redistricting committees, the Select Committee on Teacher Health Insurance and the Select Committee on State Bond Revenues.

Flores cites as his legislative accomplishments his efforts to author or support bills that expanded health care services and employment opportunities and improved the infrastructure of his South Texas district.

Other legislative accomplishments include authoring and sponsoring a bill authorizing the placement of a Tejano Monument on the Capitol grounds.

Flores attended public schools in La Joya and earned his diploma in 1977. He enlisted in the United States Army and served three years at Fort Bliss in El Paso. In El Paso, he attended El Paso Community College and subsequently completed his college education at the University of Texas-Pan American in Edinburg.

Flores was named the Texas Society of Architects’ “2003 Distinguished Statesman of the Year,” a State Association of Fire Fighters' “Legislator of the Year,” received recognition from the Combined Law Enforcement Association of Texas, and has been inducted into the Texas Association of Realtors Hall of Honor. He was named a “Friend of Texas Charities” by the Bingo Interest Group. Flores was also officially proclaimed a "Goodlife - Buen Vida" member of Benavidez Elementary of the La Joya I.S.D. in 1999.

Flores received the TAMACC “Leadership Award” in 1997 and 1999 for his contributions to the Hispanic community, and the Upper Valley Associates of Life Underwriters' “Outstanding Legislator Award in 1997.”

In 2009 a Travis County grand jury indicted Flores for allegedly failing to comply with required financial disclosure laws and the veteran lawmaker subsequently decided to not seek reelection in 2010.

Flores has been married to the former Debra Garcia for more than three decades. The couple has two children, Ismael Jr. and Eric. Flores and his family reside in Palmview, Texas.