Q&A: Meet the candidates running to represent Texas House District 129

Why are you running for this position?

Our district deserves strong, effective conservative representation in Austin. I’m running to lower property taxes, get criminals off the streets and into jail, grow our local economy, fight growth in insurance rates, and continue to improve education and put control into the hands of parents.

What are your priorities for the future of Texas education?

Parents have the right to decide how their children are educated, whether public, private or homeschooled. If they choose public schools, those schools need to be high quality and properly funded, and political and social advocacy should be kept out of the classroom.

How will you ensure your constituents receive the appropriate aid after natural<br>disasters?

Before, during and after any disaster, being on the ground to connect people in our communities with the resources they need. I have close relationships with our other state leaders and, having lived and worked here my entire life, know our area and what we will need.

How will you ensure Texans have enough water as the state continues to grow?

Texas voters already approved dedicating $1 billion per year to water projects for the next 20 years without raising taxes. I will ensure these funds are spent responsibly and that our region gets our fair share of funds for water resources and, just as importantly, flood mitigation.

How will you balance the development of data centers and other large projects<br>with constituent concerns about rapid growth?

Data centers should only be allowed if they benefit the communities around them. They should pay local taxes without incentives and be required to generate all the power they will use. I support Governor Abbott’s temporary moratorium on new data center construction until these are put into law.

Why are you running for this position?

I have dedicated my life to public service. As a special agent, I protected Americans, stopped terrorists and led disaster recovery operations, [such as] hurricanes. Now, I am running to serve my fellow Texans and bring us together to find common-sense solutions to the challenges we face today.

What are your priorities for the future of Texas education?

My priorities are to fully fund public schools and repeal the school voucher program. Vouchers take money away from our students and teachers without accountability. We must address school finance so every school has the resources they need, teachers are paid what they deserve and students can thrive.

How will you ensure your constituents receive the appropriate aid after natural disasters?

Improving our infrastructure for flood management and reliable power to reduce the risk before disaster strikes. Making homeowners insurance affordable is critical to ensuring we can rebuild after a disaster. At the state level, we can improve our coastal protections and support local projects like Exploration Green to reduce flooding.

How will you ensure Texans have enough water as the state continues to grow?

Managing and maintaining water systems and proper conservation will go a long way to ensuring Texans have enough water. Working with the Texas Water Development Board, we must invest in the most impactful infrastructure projects to conserve the water we already have and prudently manage our supply for the future.

How will you balance the development of data centers and other large projects with constituent concerns about rapid growth?

People are rightly concerned about the rapid growth of these projects when we don’t have a clear picture of the impact to the energy grid and water system. Data centers should pay their fair share for the infrastructure and resources they require to develop in Texas, not burden taxpayers.