Edwards breezes through Rio Grande Valley for private event

EDINBURG — Democratic presidential candidate and former U.S. Sen. John Edwards visited the new women’s facility at Doctors Hospital at Renaissance on Tuesday to receive feedback on his plans for health care.

The evening event was closed to the public and little was known about why he came to the Rio Grande Valley, according to hospital administrators.

Hospital spokeswoman Marissa Castañeda, however, said that Edwards was interested in talking with doctors about his plans for the nation’s healthcare system should he win his party’s nomination and, ultimately, the presidency.

Alonzo Cantu — a local developer who spearheaded many of the Doctors Hospital facilities projects and is a member of its board of directors — is a well-known figure on the national Democratic fund-raising scene. Earlier this year, he held a private high-dollar event in McAllen for U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s own presidential campaign.

It was not clear if Edwards’ private event on Tuesday was also to raise money.

According to Edwards’ election campaign Web site, the 2004 vice-presidential candidate proposes to require businesses to offer health insurance to employees or help them pay for insurance; expand state Medicaid and children’s health insurance programs; and set up regional healthcare market purchasing pools so Americans can bargain for better prices for health insurance.

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Jennifer L. Berghom covers health, environment and science issues and general assignments at The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4462.