CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – 5th District Republican Congressman John McGuire will face a primary challenge for his seat from Louisa County real estate broker Melanie Lucero.

Lucero announced this week she’s running against McGuire in the Aug. 4 Republican primaries, bringing some intrigue to that side of the aisle.

“This seat is more than a ‘Yes’ vote for President Trump,” Lucero said during an appearance on The Schilling Show. “We need real constituent services and that’s one of the reasons I’m running, too, is because of the lack of constituent services I myself experienced from the current Congressman.”

The former Marine’s website says, “I’m running because the people of the 5th District deserve a representative who has actually lived the consequences of failed policy, not one who just theorizes about them from the halls of Washington.”

“I live in Louisa County, I’m a resident of the 5th District, the current 5th District and we are hoping it does not change,” Lucero told Rob Schilling on Wednesday. “My husband and I run and operate a real estate business here, so we help buyers and seller achieve the American dream.”

“A part of what we do is, I see the struggles with the housing crisis and affordability every single day,” she said. “But what we also do in real estate is invest ourselves, we flip homes, we renovate homes and we are currently developing a commercial building in or rural area to try and attract an urgent care provider. Because that’s something that’s really lacking in our community.”

Lucero also expressed concern about the availability of healthcare in the region.

“Right now, if someone needed an ER, the closest one is a 45-minute drive away at best,” she said.

As for the incumbent Congressman, Lucero hammers hard she will vastly improve constituent services.

“I’m sure the Speaker of the House can find a useful purpose for a potted plant, but here in the Fifth District we deserve more,”
she said.