By DUARDO PAZ-MARTINEZ
McALLEN, Texas |...The word on the winding campaign trail has it that if local Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz is not shopping, she's spotlighting the cruel and cold world of homeless dogs. Yesterday, she introduced Bakun, a dog without a home and one she is working hard to help. Never mind constituents; they can help themselves, is her message.
The comfortable one-term Republican from Edinburg has been sort of hopscotching across the southern end of her district in an effort to aid small businesses. Of late, that has had the 50-year-old, single mom hitting mostly women's boutiques, visits she spotlights on social media as supporting small business.
But it is dogs that come a strong second, or, more correctly, dogs in shelters in need of a home.
De La Cruz posted this note on her Facebook page yesterday: [ "Meet our adorable Dog of the Week, Bakun! This furry friend will bring smiles and wagging tails to Team Monica HQ all week long. Stop by our office to meet Bakun. Let’s help find their furr-ever home." ]
Then came the criticism.
"Stop showing dogs we need numbers that are relevant how many of the valley students went to college and what percent graduated," wrote a commenter named Angel Torres. "Then what percent got good paying jobs."
Bark, bark, indeed.
A week ago, it was homeless canines Curly and Dragon that needed homes, according to a De La Cruz post on Facebook. That led to this comment from one Sean Christian, "That's gonna save America? Can't afford groceries how do you think someone's pet got there?"
It's hard to say exactly where her campaign is these days. Her familiar opponent in the November General Election, younger Democrat Michelle Vallejo, however, is busy walking the neighborhoods of Western Hidalgo County (District 34 encompasses the eastern half) while also spearheading a phone bank drive to reach voters.
Oh, wait, De La Cruz did host a mid-day Open House at her local headquarters the other day. Photos of that gathering showed a small group of well-dressed supporters. No dogs could be seen in any of the pictures she posted online.
The 33-year-old Vallejo, owner of a popular flea market in Alton, is busy with her traditional campaign, perhaps because it's her second shot at dilly-dallying De La Cruz, who beat her in 2022 by 12,881 votes (53.3% to 44.8%).
There is a certain confidence in De La Cruz (shown shopping at right, in black dress) most anyone closely monitoring this race can easily see. Her smile is everywhere, although what woman does not look happy shopping for clothes in a ritzy boutique.
Perhaps she needs a dog's special kind of love.
They say dogs don't care about your problems, your disappointments or your position. A dog loves you regardless.
Maybe this is how Congresswoman De La Cruz balances the ups & downs, the bummers & frustrations of her job...
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