Sunday, February 19, 2006

District Attorney Race

The Monitor's courts reporter Brittney Booth examines the race for Hidalgo County District Attorney. Two challengers, Alma Garza and Mauro Reyna, take on longtime DA Rene Guerra, an incumbent who had it so comfortable that four years ago he didn't even have a primary opponent.

Garza actually worked for Guerra as an assistant prosecutor. She threw her hat in the ring last year.

Reyna, you might recall, faces legal scrutiny for offering to share lawyer fees with Mission community activist Ester Salinas in the ongoing chemical plant litigation.

Guerra, of course, continues to sit on the 46-year-old Irene Garza murder. He even threatened to charge the McAllen police chief if he released information in the killing.

But are voters angry enough, or smart enough, to want a change in the DA's office? The candidates strutted their stuff last week at a Hidalgo County Bar Association candidate forum and debate. A straw poll of members put Guerra in the lead with 55%, and Garza and Reyna neck-and-neck with 22% and 23%.

So the challengers have their work cut out for them if they want to force a runoff.

The good news: Even if Guerra wins re-election, he tells The Monitor he plans to retire after that term.

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