House race tests values of district

McALLEN -- McAllen lawyer Javier Villalobos hopes North McAllen's conservative credentials - a high percentage of voters here voted to re-elect President George W. Bush in 2004 - will translate into votes for him in the Texas House District 41 election.

The district encompasses much of Greater McAllen, including Alton, Palmhurst and parts of Mission and Edinburg.

Villalobos has staked his own money on his lean campaign in the last few weeks as contributions ran out, working to make inroads into incumbent Democrat Veronica Gonzales' popularity.

Gonzales, who is in her second two-year term, won the seat as a newcomer in 2004 but is defending it with substantial financial support from local allies and even some statewide donors who tend to support Republicans, including Houston homebuilder Bob Perry.

"I've been real proud of the relationships I've been able to establish with Republicans and Democrats in my district and in Austin," Gonzales said. "They've worked with me and they see I'm balanced. I'm willing to work with both sides and do what's best for my district."

Former Texas Republican Party political director Royal Masset drew the current District 41 map in 2001 at the request of Hidalgo County Republican Party Chairman Hollis Rutledge.

The seat lost strongly Democratic precincts in South McAllen, Hidalgo and Pharr and gained Republican enclaves in Alton, Palmhurst and North McAllen.

The current race marks the first time a Democrat has faced a challenge from a Republican in a general election since the district was redrawn to favor the GOP. Gonzales bested longtime Democratic incumbent Roberto Gutierrez, a first cousin to Rutledge, in the 2004 primary and was unopposed in that year's general election. In 2006, she was unopposed in both the primary and general elections.

Despite his lack of funds in the current race, Villalobos said he has run a successful campaign.

"I'm running my campaign the way you run a business, and now I realize you do not need hundreds of thousands of dollars," he said. "I have cut politiqueras (political operatives). ... The people who are all here helping me are volunteers who want to be here."

Villalobos said he wants to reduce programs that contribute to a culture of entitlement in the Rio Grande Valley.

"The constituents of (District) 41 agree with me: You've got to work for what you have," he said. "I'm anti the old sense of entitlement."

He has also come out strongly against the state's new margin tax - which is based on a business' gross receipts - and other taxes that he believes hurt small businesses.

"One of the things I'm really going to push, and have been pushing, is trying to help small businesses ... which McAllen has thousands of," he said. "They're the ones generating the jobs."

Gonzales also voted against the margin tax but said some of Villalobos' cuts to social and healthcare programs would hurt the district.

"People want to be responsible, but you are where you are in income level and we don't want to punish the poorest by not giving them healthcare," she said. "If he's voting party lines, he's going to end up voting against a lot of the needs in our area."

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Sara Perkins covers Mission, western Hidalgo County, Starr County and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach her at (956) 683-4472.