Why are you running for office?
Activism and participation in democracy are vital and seeing the problems facing Texas citizens in my district makes running for office a priority. I live by the principle of serving God through serving mankind, and making legislative changes to help Texans is another step I plan to continue this mission.
What would your top priorities be if elected?
I strongly advocate raising the minimum wage, currently at $7.25/hour, which hasn’t risen since 2009, not in 17 years! The standard of education needs to be focused on facts and data, not political opinion. Healthcare needs to be more accessible, and rural hospitals need to be opened, not closed.
What are the biggest challenges facing this district?
Jobs, education, and healthcare are the biggest issues in District 5. The affordability of living is a problem all over Texas, and the wage disparity is detrimental to this. We are seeing universities like Texas A&M change their educational standards to fit politics, and healthcare costs are spiraling.
How do you plan to address these issues?
I will do everything in my power to push for legislation that focuses on increasing the minimum wage, re-considering unfair tax breaks, and lowering the cost of healthcare. It is also a goal to address educational disparities, such as reversing the voucher bill and providing higher standards of education.
If elected, what will your priorities be for the future of Texas education?
At the moment, education in Texas is at a detriment. The top priorities if elected would include working on reversing the voucher bill that will take important funds away from public schools. Furthermore, trust in educators and teachers, as well as factual information, would lead legislative decisions on educational standards.
If elected, what will your priorities be regarding property taxes and housing affordability?
As the owner of five acres, I enjoy low property taxes, but recent tax breaks have taken money out of public schools, which I greatly oppose. However, property tax issues and housing affordability can be addressed as we look at unwanted data centers and others receiving unfair tax breaks.
How will you ensure your district is prepared for extreme weather and flooding?
I will advocate for legislation that allocates funding to proper preparations long before extreme weather and flooding conditions occur. This would include consideration for future major frozen weather conditions as our climate changes, as well as improved weather alerts, especially in areas where flooding is a concern.
How will you ensure your constituents are able to receive the appropriate aid after natural disasters?
Advocating and helping to pass legislation focused on aid after natural disasters would be of utmost importance. This would include streamlining aid to affected individuals, providing further aid for disaster relief organizations, and allocating funding to both short-term and long-term disaster relief needs.
What projects are most important for the Legislature to focus on for the future of Texas?
I believe a massive re-ordering of the job market is coming as the AI revolution continues. A large number of Texans may well face job loss as a result of AI, and they will be in need of retraining and hope.
If elected, what do you plan to do to ensure Texans have enough water as the state continues to grow?
The water in Texas should belong to all Texans, not just the wealthy few. I oppose the right of capture, which admittedly is a state law that will be difficult to reverse. It will be a priority for Texas citizens to have the right to the water in their state.
How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process?
First of all, my door is always open, and I am a very accessible person. As a pastor, I’ve always been egalitarian despite having many people with individual concerns. Town halls, personal visits, and certainly what is expressed through media will all be critical in communal and personal decision-making.
What do you see as the greatest challenge for Texas in the next five years?
AI has grown exponentially within the past few years, and it will likely continue this trend. While AI has upsides, it can also drain our resources and harm Texas citizens. Texas needs to be prepared for the challenges this will create in areas such as jobs, housing, and education.
