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Learn more about the candidates running for the Texas House of Representatives District 136 ahead of the Nov. 5 election. Early voting will be available Oct. 21-Nov. 1.
Candidates running for District 136 were asked to email responses to the following questions, keep responses within 50 words and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity.
* Indicates an incumbent
What will be your top priorities if you are elected?
My top priorities are funding our public schools; increasing access to health care, including abortion, IVF, and contraception; expanding voting rights; protecting the environment; and fighting for equality for all Texans. I’ve also passed laws creating jobs, supporting economic development and tourism, and increasing economic opportunity in Williamson County.
What uniquely qualifies you for this position?
I’m a consensus builder and proven leader who has been effective in bringing people together to solve the problems we face. While I am consistently among the most progressive members of the legislature, I am firmly committed to the Texas House’ traditions of bipartisanship and thoughtful deliberation.
What do you see as the greatest challenge for you district, and how will you improve it?
Texas’ leaders have been more concerned with partisan red meat and attacking Texans than the everyday issues affecting our lives. We must stop voucher scams and fund our schools, expand Medicaid, restore reproductive freedom, address housing and affordability, and improve our infrastructure—from water and transportation, to broadband and parks.
What is something you want residents of your district to know about you?
Each session I file and pass bills originating from constituents. These include putting the crisis hotline and textline on the back of student IDs, allowing pharmacies to provide 30-day emergency refills of insulin, and creating a Medically Fragile registry to help vulnerable Texans in disasters, among others.
What will be your top priorities if you are elected?
My top priorities will be to continue to improve access to healthcare and grow the privately funded charity clinics I launched without burdening taxpayers. I will continue to improve economic development in Williamson County. As a minority, I will make sure all voices are respected and heard.
What uniquely qualifies you for this position?
I've created apps and methods that help medical personnel implement healthcare administrative policies for over 25 years. I launched a tech startup in 2010, and further invested in Artificial Intelligence to create Next-Gen tech jobs. I served as a board member for the Round Rock Chamber for over five years.
What do you see as the greatest challenge for you district, and how will you improve it?
HD-136 has one of the best school districts in the nation; therefore, families continue to move here. This means continuously improving transportation, land development and utilities. Public education has been attacked by extreme ideologies to remove parental involvement; I'd encourage keeping students focused on skills they will need to thrive.
What is something you want residents of your district to know about you?
I am an author of a book titled “Give First, Take Last”. This book focuses on developing resilience and inspiring to develop qualities of a servant leader. I am a graduate of Leadership Round Rock (Class of 2016), father of three daughters and working on my Doctor of Business Administration.
