Incumbent Kyle Biedermann, R-Fredericksburg, no longer resides in the district and declined to run for re-election, leaving the race wide open.
District 73 covered Comal, Gillespie and Kendall counties on the previous map. Now that district covers all of Comal County and the western half of Hays County.
Among the Republican candidates are Barron Casteel, George Green and Carrie Isaac. Democratic candidate Justin Calhoun is running unopposed.
The winners for each party in the March 1 primaries will be on the ballot in the November general election. Candidate responses may be edited for length and clarity.
Barron Casteel
Experience:
former mayor, New Braunfels
Occupation:
lawyer
Candidate Website:
www.barroncasteel.com
Contact Information:
[email protected]
Why are you running to represent Texas House District 73?
We've lost so much so quickly under Joe Biden. The border is wide open; inflation and gas prices are skyrocketing; radicals attempt to indoctrinate our children and force vaccine mandates. It's just wrong. At the same time, they are playing games in Austin by fleeing to D.C. to kill election integrity legislation. Our conservative principles in H.D. 73 are what makes us strong and we need an effective voice who can get to work to make sure all our children grow up in the same Texas we all know and love. I'll get the job done and stand up for policies that push to end abortion, fully secure the border, stop all mandates, and cut property taxes significantly and permanently.
How do you see the focus of constituent services changing for the district with its new alignment/boundaries being only all of Comal and the western side of Hays counties?
A good leader listens carefully and acts accordingly. That is what constituent service is all about. Though the boundaries of a district may change, we must continue to increase government transparency and accessibility for every neighbor. Using technology, we must provide quick and easy communication with every constituent. As Mayor, I gave out my own cell phone number. As our next Republican State Representative, I will do the same. If any constituent needs anything they can always call my cellphone at 830-832-6899.
What are the most important challenges facing your district?
Texas still has the 7th-highest property taxes in America! I want to cut property taxes in half by buying down local school taxes with each year's economic growth. Cutting our property taxes in half will take a realistic and transparent plan. Substantial and permanent property tax relief along with fully securing our border by finishing the wall and adding law enforcement will be my top priorities.
What are your priorities in regards to District 73 needs?
In addition to property tax relief and border security, public safety and protecting life are top priorities for our district. We can't let Biden defund the police. We can't accept anything less than a secure border. And we must fight to keep our rights to self-defense including the right to bear arms and the right to life. Without public safety and protecting the right to life, there can be no liberty or prosperity.
If elected, what is your No. 1 priority for the next legislative session?
See above!
George Green
Experience:
former City Council member, New Braunfels District 1
Occupation:
retired, veteran
Candidate Website:
www.greenfortexas.org
Contact Information:
[email protected]
Why are you running to represent Texas House District 73?
I am fed up with the fleecing of taxpayers' money: The graft and corruption and nepotism. Characterized by the subornation of public interest and private aims and violations of the norms of duty and accompanied by secrecy, betrayal, deception and a callous disregard for any consequences suffered by the public.
How do you see the focus of constituent services changing for the district with its new alignment/boundaries being only all of Comal and the western side of Hays counties?
That whole concept of being constituent driven was something that's been instilled in me since I was a pharmaceutical rep with Merck and Lilly, and on the government side, we call it constituent driven. On the private side, we call it customer focused, if that makes sense. In other words, I go to the taxpayers within the redrawn district. I would go to the taxpayers to identify what their needs are, what their wants are and in order to hone in to solutions on how to fulfill those.
What are the most important challenges facing your district?
What I did back in 2013 as a City Council person was go directly to the taxpayers, and you can do that, all across Comal County. You can do it in Hays County with Wimberley, Dripping Springs. And that's what I look to bring to the party as far as it being a different focus. My concern is going to the people to find out what they want and what they need and then fulfilling those.
What are your priorities in regard to District 73 needs?
Constituent driven. Stand with the police. Stop all voter fraud. Better infrastructure & power grid. Grow our economy. Defend small businesses. Protect our water rights. Stop radical classroom indoctrination. Cut wasteful spending.
If elected, what is your No. 1 priority for the next legislative session?
Looking at it from the outside in to where we are now; we've lost focus of what the people want and need. And so it is a priority to go to the people all throughout Comal County, New Braunfels, Dripping Springs, Wimberley, and connect with them and say, u201cokay, what do you what? Where do you want to go?u201d And we've lost sight of that over the past number of years.
Carrie Isaac
Experience:
Founding member of the Hays County Republican Women's group. Served as a delegate and alternate delegate to the Republican Party of Texas convention.
Occupation:
nonprofit leader
Candidate Website:
www.isaacfortexas.com
Contact Information:
[email protected]
Why are you running to represent Texas House District 73?
I'm running for state representative to give our conservative values a powerful voice at the Texas Capitol. As a fourth-generation Texan, daughter of an Air Force veteran, wife, mother, and proud conservative, I will never back down from a fight. I am running to fight Biden's socialist agenda, stop unconstitutional mandates, secure the border, cut property taxes, defend the Second Amendment, ensure election integrity, protect life, stop critical race theory and protect the Hill Country.
How do you see the focus of constituent services changing for the district with its new alignment/boundaries being only all of Comal and the western side of Hays counties?
As state representative, serving as an advocate and resource for our community will be a top priority, including helping constituents navigate issues with state agencies. As a Hill Country resident for 17 years, as well as a community volunteer and political leader, I have strong connections with state and local officials. My experience and relationships put me years ahead of my competition in my ability to deliver meaningful service to Comal and Hays counties.
What are the most important challenges facing your district?
Comal and Hays counties are two of the five fastest-growing counties in Texas. This gives our district unique challenges, including safe roads, strong schools, and preserving the Hill Country's natural beauty and resources. Additionally, property taxes have risen significantly in both counties in recent years while the Robin Hood program steals a significant portion of those taxes from our school districts. I hope to help address all of these issues as state representative.
What are your priorities in regards to District 73 needs?
My priorities are cutting property taxes, securing the border and fighting the Biden administration's radical socialist agenda. The values and principles that have made our state a beacon of freedom and opportunity for the world are under attack, and the voters of Comal and Hays counties have had enough. We must send a strong conservative leader to the Capitol to keep Texas free.
If elected, what is your No. 1 priority for the next legislative session?
Property taxes are the number one issue I hear about from voters. I have a plan to actually eliminate our school maintenance and operation property taxes. not just keep them from going up too much more. I want to use the $12 billion in excess revenue, not the $16 billion in our rainy day fund, over the legislature's spending cap to buy down school maintenance and operation taxes. With my plan, we will eliminate half of our property taxes without sacrificing education funding or raising other taxes to compensate.
Justin Calhoun
Experience:
Constituent and policy services for Texas House of Representative
Occupation:
social worker/veteran
Candidate Website:
www.justin4texas.com
Contact Information:
[email protected]
Why are you running to represent Texas House District 73?
In 2017, I lost my mom to opioid addiction. At the time, representatives were using this clear and present danger to our community as political talking points but failed to act in any meaningful way to prevent more deaths like my mom's and too many other mothers, fathers, sons and daughters in our community. Watching this happen time and again over several issues, I decided to run for office to prioritize the real issues impacting our community, putting aside self-interests and party politics to advocate for all the voices in our district.
How do you see the focus of constituent services changing for the district with its new alignment/boundaries being only all of Comal and the western side of Hays counties?
No matter the district size or shape, the representative serves the community at the state level. They are charged to listen to all their constituents and advocate for their constituents' best interests. No matter the district boundaries I will be traveling to every part of the district, during the campaign and if elected, to listen to as many constituents as possible about what affects our community the most. Our leaders are beholden first and foremost to those who they represent, I will focus on the issues our community sees as a priority.
What are the most important challenges facing your district?
Our district consists of two of the fastest-growing counties in the nation. We have already seen property taxes spike, a larger strain put on our already fragile education system, and risk to the natural infrastructure which has sustained our community for so long. While we welcome this growth and opportunity, we must balance that with protecting those who already live in this community from the negative effects of such rapid growth.
What are your priorities in regards to District 73 needs?
My priorities for District 73 are what I have heard over and over again from the people here, investing in our community and fighting for our future. We need to bolster the infrastructure to meet the growing population and ensure that development is done responsibly to maintain our pristine environment for generations to come. To fight for our future, our schools have some of the lowest-paid educators and undersupplied schools in the state. That must change.
If elected, what is your No. 1 priority for the next legislative session?
My number one priority would be increasing funding to our education system while lowering our property taxes. By exploring alternative and voluntary tax revenue, such as legalizing marijuana, we can raise per-student spending, increase teacher pay, and decrease our education system's dependency on property taxes. Many of our community members struggle every year paying property taxes. We cannot keep pricing people out of our community who helped build it. We need to make a real effort to lower our property taxes while still improving our education system.
