Garza promises a more open and transparent Hidalgo County GOP

MCALLEN, Texas – Lina Garza is promising a more open and welcoming style of leadership is she is elected chairwoman of Hidalgo County Republican Party.

Last go round, Garza came within eight points of defeating the incumbent, Adrienne Peña Garza. But Peña Garza is not running for re-election, leaving Garza with the highest profile among this year’s candidates.

“Openness and transparency are important because we don’t have that at the moment. Inside the party, we don’t follow Robert’s Rules of Order, unfortunately,” Garza said, in an exclusive interview with the Rio Grande Guardian.

“We Republicans love to have discussion. We love to have open conversation. We love to debate because in that way, we can come up with better ideas, better results for the party, for the community in general,” Garza said.

“I want to return to that. To usher in greater transparency, more dialogue. That way we can have a more robust, stronger party.”

Garza’s ads and billboards say she is the “true conservative” in the race. Asked in what way her campaign is different than last time, Garza responded, not much.

“We are running on the same issues. I am against favoritism and nepotism. I am in favor of openness and accountability.”

Though the established narrative has it that the Republican Party is growing in Hidalgo County, Garza says it is built almost solely around the popularity of former President Donald Trump.

“I’ve never stop saying that the Republican Party has been growing because of the Trump Train. It has inspired citizens to join the Republican Party who otherwise would not have done so,” Garza said.

“Republicans in the area have woken up thanks to the Trump Train.”

Garza said the Hidalgo County GOP has to become stronger at the grassroots level. The way to do that is to fill all the empty precinct chair positions, she said.

“Precinct chairs are the heart of the party. Right now, in the county, we have 259 precinct chairs. But only 59 of those are filled. That is simply not good enough.”

Garza says she is a lifelong conservative, with that philosophy nurtured in her native Colombia.

“As the old saying goes, I wasn’t born here, but I got here as fast as I could. I love this country. I love America,” Garza said, when asked about her allegiance. 

Garza received a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Universidad de America in Bogota, Colombia, in 1997. Upon her graduation she worked in the banking industry for 20 years, both in Colombia and the United States.

Garza met her husband, a retired US Army Ranger, while he was a defense attache to US Embassy in Bogota Colombia. They have been married 21 years. Dr Juan Garza was raised in San Juan, Texas and is currently a school administrator. Their daughter is a sophomore at Trinity University in San Antonio.

Garza is also a successful businesswoman, with interests in real estate, mortgage, and financial lending companies. 

“I also have a consulting company where I import coffee from Colombia and sell it in Texas and Florida. I represent 35,000 coffee growers,” Garza said.

Garza concluded the interview by paying tribute to her political mentor, the late Jim Barnes. The former president of the McAllen/Hidalgo County Tea Party Association died last December. A Vietnam War veteran, Barnes was also a Republican Party precinct chair and editor of the Valley Conservative Newsletter.

“I have a really great group of loyal supporters, but Jim was always the main man. He always believed in me. I always remember him saying, Lina, you have the courage, you are smart, you have so many talents to offer our community.

“I recognize Jim as my political father and in my heart is I miss him a lot.”

Asked for any wrap-up remarks, Garza said:

“I want to especially invite the next generation. We cannot afford to lose what this country stands for. If you have the opportunity, get more involved in politics, just come and join us. Come to the GOP, come to our party. We will have an open door policy. Our party will give you the perfect education about civil rights, the bill of rights, the constitution. We will show you how beautiful, how blessed it is to be a Republican.”

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