Hutchison versus Perry ... versus Medina?

Posted Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2009 Comments   (0)  Print Share Share Reprints
A

Have more to add? News tip? Tell us

By BUD KENNEDY

bud@star-telegram.com

kennedy Republican Debra Medina, a former nurse and the pride of Orangedale, could be a spoiler candidate in the 2010 party primary for governor.

Could be.

If she wants to be.

So far, the former Wharton County party chairwoman seems content with rallying the 5 percent of Texas Republicans who supported U.S. Rep. Ron Paul for president and agitating for geeky rules to give that faction more power.

"I’ve been working 20 years to hold our elected officials accountable," Medina, 47, of Wharton, said Monday night after a speech to a Dallas chapter of the Log Cabin Republicans. "We’re not just campaigning for governor. We’re working to restore the Republican Party."

Fine.

But does she realize how fast she could become a challenger for governor?

She’s more of a tax cutter than Gov. Rick Perry. She’s more conservative than U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.

In a campaign where Hutchison and Perry are likely to muddy each other’s hairdos, Medina can criticize both.

"Rick Perry campaigns like a conservative, but you can’t judge by what he says," Medina said in an interview. "You can only judge what he does."

Obviously, her campaign might pare away conservative Perry voters and help Hutchison.

"They won’t be able to say that if I can move past her and get to second in the polls," Medina said. "Then it’s just me against Rick Perry."

Medina, born Debra Parker in a South Texas farming town near Beeville, drew loud applause when she hit all the usual hot buttons: for property rights, against big government and property taxes, for gun ownership.

(Yes, even the predominantly gay Log Cabin Republicans are gun-toting libertarians who fear President Barack Obama.)

But almost before her speech, she was asking guests to sign petitions demanding an arcane party rule change requiring candidates to support or oppose the Republican platform.

She ought to be talking about Texas. Not party paperwork.

Medina identified herself as pro-life and as a "Southern Baptist, right-wing Christian conservative."

But she also told the Log Cabin audience that the government should stay out of sexual orientation: "I don’t believe it’s the government’s job to do anything about that."

Chapter President Rob Schlein, a business owner, has posed with Hutchison for photos but welcomed Medina.

"I’m for any Republican who wants to bring more people into the party," he said. "Hutchison has proven that she wants a bigger tent. Perry — not yet.

"I just want to support a Republican who can win in November."

It is not yet clear whether that describes Medina.

Bud Kennedy’s column appears Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays. 817-390-7538 Twitter @budkennedy

Looking for comments?

Join the discussion

The Star-Telegram is pleased to provide this opportunity for you to share your thoughts and observations about news topics. We enjoy lively debate on the issues of the day, but we ask that you refrain from using profanity, racist or hate speech, engaging in personal attacks or name-calling, posting advertising or external links or including remarks that are off topic. To post comments, you must be a registered user of Star-Telegram.com. Your username will show along with the comments you post. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.