Guerra and DeShazo throw barbs
Tue, 2016-10-18 23:17
News Staff
Plus, two opinions: Pro and Con
By G. Romero Wendorf
Amid the ongoing heated debates over whether or not a Healthcare District should be created in Hidalgo County, often the people running for local office find themselves in the midst of the heated rhetoric.
Last week, the McAllen Rotary Club invited the candidates running for Texas House District 41 -- “Bobby” Guerra, the Democrat incumbent; and his opponent, former McAllen ISD Board Trustee Hilda Garza DeShazo, Republican – to speak at a luncheon and answer a number of questions about a wide variety of topics important to taxpayers and border residents. Saving the best for last, perhaps, each was asked to weigh in on the Healthcare District, pro or con.
On hand, too, were Democrat Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, the incumbent state senator for District 20, and his opponent, Republican Velma Arellano.
The Rotarian asking the Healthcare District question posed it this way:
“Do you support or oppose Proposition 1, which, if passed, will create a Healthcare District in Hidalgo County, raising property taxes (approximately 5.9 cents) per $100 property valuation?
“If you do support it, who will be the primary beneficiaries of it?
“If you oppose Proposition 1, then how can the county residents who don’t qualify for Medicaid (get adequate medical care)?”
As expected, on the senatorial front, Democrat Hinojosa supports it, while his challenger, Republican Velma Arellano, opposes it.
The interchange between Guerra and DeShazo, however, proved more interesting because their personalities clash nicely, and provide nice fodder for newspapers stories such as these.
Newspapers don’t want candidates to get along. We want them to throw verbal barbs at one another. Spice up the story. Shoot some darts. Call each other names. Forget nice. Nice doesn’t sell newspapers.
Thankfully, Guerra and DeShazo didn’t disappoint.
Hilda Garza DeShazo was first up to speak.
I’m against it, she said.
“I am opposed to it. I am very disappointed when our elected officials (the Valley Democratic delegation) decided to bring this back (to the county) when clearly, 60 percent of constituents in House District 41 (voted against it in 2014), which tells me that we are not being adequately represented, and that the majority of our voices are not being heard. This is an issue (the Healthcare District) that voters do not want.”