CAN AMBER MEDINA UNSEAT ALEX DOMINGUEZ FOR REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 37?

Local attorney Amber Medina launched her run for State Representative, District 37, Wednesday in the skinny foyer of the historic Alonso Building at E. 6th Street and Saint Charles, perhaps the coziest venue in Brownsville.

Flanked by several elementary school girls, including her daughter, Medina seemed to subliminally invoke female empowerment, while promising to be alert to the needs of her constituents, if elected.

Attendee Rene Oliveira, who held the office Medina seeks, before being defeated by Alex Dominguez in 2018 after involvement in an unreported car accident with a DWI charge, looked more fit than in the waning days of his three decades in that office, an achievement he attributed to "200% less pressure" now out of office.

Medina faces the popular Dominguez, whose principal campaign promise, the removal of state sales tax on feminine hygiene products, never became a reality.

Dominguez may also be vulnerable on the issue of huge tax abatements for LNG companies, since, as County Commissioner, he helped push through a huge $370,000,000 tax abatement for Rio Grande LNG.

As to the LNG tax abatement issue, Amber Medina admitted she needed to "do more research," but would be concerned that any such company was in "total compliance" with all the environmental regulations and concerns.

Matthew Cruz, Joe Rivera