Well, this could get awkward.

Cris Medina, under investigation by the San Antonio Police Department and the FBI for allegations of public corruption, is returning this weekend to the City Council after a stint in Air Force public-affairs training.

“I absolutely intend to pick up where I left off,” he told me.

That would be impressive. A lot has happened since Medina left for Fort Meade, Maryland, two months ago.

Over Medina's objections, his fellow council members appointed Mari Aguirre-Rodriguez to serve in his absence until Friday.

Medina preferred a sycophant. He received a rival.

In her brief tenure, Aguirre-Rodriguez turned Medina's District 7 office upside down, suspending two of his top aides, Derek Roberts and Colin Strother, and bringing in Jed Maebius, a council liaison for former Mayors Phil Hardberger and Julián Castro, as her adviser.

On Wednesday, Aguirre-Rodriguez gave the clearest sign yet that she plans to challenge Medina in May.

Due with a baby in January, she wouldn't officially declare her candidacy. She sounds like a challenger nonetheless.

“Look, I prepared for Oct. 10 from Day One,” Aguirre-Rodriguez told me. “That had been my thought: 60 days. ... What's clear to me over the past 60 days is there is a ton of need and a ton of things to do.

“I had a lot of people come to me and say, 'I think you should consider (running),'” she continued. “Frankly, in the last 20 days, I listened to a couple of those folks.”

How would she improve the district?

“Listening is No. 1,” she said. “Making myself available.... Those are the simple things that a City Hall person should be doing.”

She also envisions a “strategic, comprehensive transportation plan” for the district.

None of this would surprise Strother, the ousted and aggravated aide to Medina who is returning next week to City Hall with his original boss.

Aguirre-Rodriguez “came in with a certain agenda, with plans to run in May, and everything that she's done has been in support of that, including trying to sabotage our operations that have been in place for years, and it's really underhanded,” Strother said. “She embarrassed the people who supported her by acting like a maniac.”

Aguirre-Rodriguez, who is not a maniac, isn't Medina's only problem.

In July, an anonymous email slammed the councilman with a trove of allegations. He used “a stash of cash not reported in his campaign finance reports to pay personal bills, purchase family outings and dine strong supporters,” and he regularly “accepts illegal campaign contributions in the form of cash,” the email claimed.

Medina has denied the allegations.

But the email apparently prompted an investigation into Medina by the Police Department and the FBI.

The fact that Police Chief William McManus confirmed the probe last month to San Antonio Express-News Staff Writer Josh Baugh — an unusual scoop; authorities typically keep such matters secret — has led Strother to suspect that “politics are at play.”

McManus works at the behest of City Manager Sheryl Sculley. And Medina has been at odds with Sculley, according to Strother, since the councilman started asking last year whether the city offers equal pay to women.

“I don't think that the equal pay that Cris pushed for a year or his stance on fire and police negotiations did him any favors with her office,” Strother said.

Whether a political conspiracy is at play or not, Medina undeniably is embattled and distracted. With major issues looming, including a vote this month on a $3.4 billion water pipeline project, should he return to public service?

Sensitive to decorum, Mayor Ivy Taylor wouldn't say.

“You can probably guess my opinion, but I don't think it's appropriate to offer my opinion,” she said. “We're wary about distractions. The decision is up to him.”

Councilman?

“I think it's unfortunate that we had these distractions while I was gone,” Medina said, “but I'm more focused than ever on leading when I get back home.”

Great focus will be required.

bchasnoff@express-news.net