Exclusive Insider Analysis on Each Candidate in Texas Gubernatorial Race
By Stephen Raines
Debra Medina a registered nurse and Republican activist from Wharton County comes to the campaign for Governor of the State of Texas with a non-traditional perspective on politics. With polls showing her between 3 and 7 percent she would have to pull off one of the greatest surges ever to overtake her opponents both seasoned with multiple victories statewide representing the Republican Party.
In a season where political ads in the Republican primary have attempted to establish who should be allowed to carry the mantle of true conservatism Medina definitely draws the position for furthest to the right on the political spectrum. A vote for Medina really boils down to opposition to the 20 year record of statewide office for Governor Rick Perry and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and a vote for the values Medina represents and the change she hopes to bring to the Republican Party.
To understand Medinas candidacy you need to know her history with the Republican Party. Two years ago at the State Convention of the Republican Party Medina challenged Tina Benkiser for the chair of the party advocating for greater adherence to the party platform and a push for a platform similar to the policies of Congressman Ron Paul her political mentor. Benkiser won the election after a remarkable amount of drama on the convention floor.
Medina later sued the State Republican Party over operation of the state convention. Regardless of the outcome of the suit the possible scenario of Medina winning the nomination for governor of the political party she filed suit against would be highly improbable. Imagine the next administration at Texas Tech hiring Mike Leach as chancellor.
While a victory in the election looks improbable Medina continues to press on vibrantly and charismatically with stops across the state. As mentioned before her political views mirror those of Ron Paul with staunch libertarian positions on taxes health care border security gun control and a very firm position against abortion and end-of-life decision making authority.
She promises to end the revised franchise tax which she calls the business margins tax.
On spending she promotes eliminating some state agencies as a way to lower state spending overall.
Apparently she views Governor Perrys administration and the Texas Legislature as not thrift enough in spending.
The central theme of her campaign rhetoric is reform and more specifically reform of the party. Here are some new rules (taken from her website) for the Republican Party.
The Republican Party of Texas should adopt:
** A rule that adds to the content of the Application for Place on the Primary Ballot the requirement that the candidate signs the following pledges:
- I solemnly swear or affirm on my honor to support or do no harm to Pro-Life Legislation and oppose intrusions of the Federal Government upon the authority of the citizens of Texas to determine the legal limits of the State with regards to Life.
- I solemnly swear or affirm on my honor to support the adoption of zero-based budgeting for all items included in the State of Texas bi-annual budget limit government spending and stop encumbering future generations with debt.
- I solemnly swear or affirm on my honor to support or do no harm to private property rights in Texas by working to eliminate property taxes and strengthening protections against eminent domain seizures.
- I solemnly swear or affirm on my honor to support or do no harm to Texas State Sovereignty reserved under the 10th Amendment with the understanding that Texas will retain its sovereignty freedom and independence and every power jurisdiction and right which is not expressly delegated to the federal government by the U.S. Constitution and oppose mandates beyond the scope of federal authority.
** A rule unilaterally establishing term limits as an additional eligibility requirement when seeking a place on the primary ballot for all state officeholders i.e. state representatives state senators and all state-wide officeholders.
** A rule adding to the content of the Application for Place on the Primary Ballot requiring each non-judicial candidate to disclose their support opposition or undecided position on each plank of the platform.
The last rule in particular should draw the attention of more moderate voters and candidates. By this rule Republicans In Name Only or RINOs should identify differences upon filing for office.
If you like zero-based budgeting very strict interpretation and protection of state sovereignty term limits eligibility requirements in the party apparatus the elimination of property taxes and the revised franchise or business margins tax strong property and parental rights and oppose debt for future generations federal mandates and RINOs Debra Medina is your candidate.
If you think Governor Perry and Senator Hutchison need to be sent a wake up call for policies or actions you find liberal Medina is your candidate.
