The Race for Hidalgo County District Attorney...Who Will Bring Out the Voter?...

One key race to keep a close eye on this run-off will be the race for Hidalgo County District Attorney. Locally, we have an incumbent D.A. who finds himself playing catch-up with his constituents. At only a 45% vote count this past March, Rene Guerra had to dig deep inside, swallow some hard earned pride, and head back to the drawing board if he hopes to remain this county's District Attorney. Not an easy thing to do considering that part of the reason for his low vote totals came courtesy of the proverbial "red herring" of his tenure in the form of the Irene Garza murder case. Hot on his boot heels is the challenging opponent, Alma Garza, a former prosecutor turned candidate who is vowing to change the District Attorney's office for the better. As her campaign ad touts, "It's Time For a Change". Indeed, and Alma Garza may be the one to bring that change. Garza is the first woman to run for District Attorney in Hidalgo County, according to reports out of The Monitor. At 32% of the vote in the primaries, she proved at the very least to show Guerra that the people of Hidalgo County are questioning his style and manner through which he handles criminal cases. At best, she has proven that she is a force to be reckoned with. But all this leads to that last run down house on the street, where no one dares to enter, if only because the reality is too much to bear. And that is voting numbers. Of the more than two hundred fifty thousand registered voters in Hidalgo County, only thirteen percent showed up to cast their ballots. Compared to the statewide average of 11%, the county did better, but we must take into consideration that the hot oven which was the County Judge's race, brought most of us into the kitchen. History shows us that these numbers are going to shrink. By what and how much depends on how good a job the candidates can do to stir enough interest to keep bring you out once more. Not an easy feat, but one that will guarantee victory for the candidate who pulls it off.