Debra Medina (politician)
Debra Medina (born June 1, 1962) was a candidate for the Republican nomination in the 2010 Texas gubernatorial election. She participated in the January 14 televised debate with incumbent Governor Rick Perry and challenger U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. After subsequently tripling her support in public opinion polls, she was invited to participate alongside her two opponents in a second debate held on January 29.
Early life and business
Medina was born in Beeville in Bee County in south Texas. She was raised on a farm. She graduated as a registered nurse from Baptist Memorial Hospital System School of Nursing (now Baptist Health System) in San Antonio in 1984. She earned her business degree in 1995 from LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas. In 2002 she founded and managed Prudentia Inc., a medical billing company based in Wharton, Texas.
Political involvement
Medina got involved in politics in the 1990s and became Wharton County GOP chairwoman in 2004. She was a high-level volunteer for Ron Paul’s 2008 presidential campaign, and served as Interim State Coordinator for the Campaign for Liberty. At the 2008 Republican Party of Texas state convention in Houston, she lost her bid for state GOP vice chairwoman. In 2008, she decided to run for governor.
Prior to the 2008 Republican Party of Texas state convention, Medina sued the party to ensure that the convention would be held in accordance with the Texas Election Code. The case was originally dismissed on an issue of jurisdiction, but the party demanded $14,000 for attorney fees. Medina appealed the case to the 1st Court of Appeals. In January 2010, she won her appeal when the appeals court ruled that the award was improper and dismissed the case.
In December 2009, Medina filed on the Republican ballot for the 2010 Texas gubernatorial race. In the Republican primary on March 2, 2010, Medina finished with 18.6% of the vote, behind Perry (51.1%) and Hutchinson (30.3%).
Personal life
Medina has three siblings. Her father worked at the telephone company, and her mother was a stay-at-home mom.
Debra met Noe Medina the year that she graduated from high school. They married two years later in 1982.
She and her husband have two grown children, whom they home-schooled — Jacob Medina, 20, a student at Texas A&M, and Janise Cookston, 25, an interior designer in Houston.
Political beliefs
Medina is an advocate for limited government and the restoration of state sovereignty. One of her biggest campaign themes has been the idea that states can nullify federal laws they deem unconstitutional. She has proposed deploying the Texas National Guard along the Texas-Mexico border to help prevent illegal immigration.
She is pro-life and supports gun rights and the elimination of all property taxes in Texas in favor of a sales tax.
Controversy
In an interview on the Glenn Beck Program on February 11, 2010, host Glenn Beck asked Medina if she thought the US government might have had a role in the 9/11 [...] attacks. Medina said that "some very good questions have been raised in that regard ... the American people have not seen all of the evidence there, so I have not taken a position on that." Soon after the interview her campaign released a press statement disavowing any 9/11 conspiracy beliefs.