Welcome to FRONTeras

I’m Martie Garcia Vela, a proud FRONTeras girl from Garciasville, Texas. Born and raised on the Texas-Mexico border, I’m fluent in both Spanish and English and love writing poetry and fiction. I’ve lived all over Texas, but nothing compares to the peace of my little farm—complete with sheep, chickens, ducks, dogs, and birds singing beside the border wall. I’m a former prosecutor who fought for child victims and homicide cases, and now I serve as city attorney for several border communities. I’m passionate about development, water rights, and defending civil liberties in both state and federal courts. I also serve on nonprofit boards, offering pro bono services whenever I can. I’m a mom of two girls, and my husband and I love fishing, growing vegetables, traveling, and competition BBQ.

​

 

Luke 12:48 says it best: To whom much is given, much is expected.

Maria Santos Salinas, Santitos to my friends. Born in Ciudad Miguel Alemán, Tamaulipas to parents from El Barrio-Aldamas, Nuevo León. Raised in Roma, Texas and I’m a proud Roma High School Gladiator. I attended UT-PanAm in 1993—before they slapped a new name on it. I got married, had two kids, struck out. Got married again, had another baby, and somehow built a life that feels just right. I’m a political junkie, Pride and Prejudice devotee, and firm believer that Texas is both beautiful and broken. I’ve got 18 goats, 16 sheep, three kids that drive me crazy (one autistic, all brilliant), and a house full of love, opinions, and sarcasm. I like books, puzzles, and Kdramas, and I think Jane Austen would've made a great political columnist. I’ve got $20 to my name—and honestly, I’ve never felt richer.

​

“I bury hatchets, but I keep maps of where I put ‘em.” – End Game by Taylor Swift