Q&A: Meet the candidates running for District 147 in Texas House of Representatives

What would your top priorities be if elected?

Protecting voting rights and making life affordable. Without a strong Voting Rights Act, Black and Brown voters are disenfranchised and democracy fails. Families cannot afford housing, healthcare, childcare, utilities, insurance and groceries. I’ll file legislation to lower those costs, expand Medicaid, increase affordable housing and childcare, and raise wages.

What will you do to support small businesses and promote economic growth in Texas?

I voted to raise the small business exemption for business personal property taxes, saving the average small business in Texas $2,500-$3,500 per year in taxes. I strongly support making access to capital easier for small businesses through low-interest loans and financing through community banks and nonprofit lenders.

What are your priorities for the future of Texas education?

Texas must fully fund public education. I voted against the Republican voucher bill and, given the opportunity, will vote to repeal it in a heartbeat. I will also fight to end TEA’s takeover of HISD and restore local control. Public dollars belong in public schools, not subsidizing private education.

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

I support the County Attorney’s lawsuits against the Trump administration for cutting these funds. We need local leaders to stand up because Attorney General Paxton is Trump’s flunky. I’ll work with Congress members to send funds directly to counties rather than through the state where Greg Abbott can take them.

What will you do to bring down the cost of living for Texas residents?

I voted to expand Medicaid and will continue to fight for more expansion. To lower the cost of living, I will also increase funding for the Texas Housing Trust Fund to build affordable housing, and hold power companies accountable to fix our grid and lower electricity rates for working families.

What would your top priorities be if elected?

Top priorities would be public safety, economic and development growth, keeping violent criminals off the street, reducing and/or removing property taxes for Texans. And addressing to come up with solutions for the influx of illegal immigrants, Keep allowing children to be children and to make education great again ...

What will you do to support small businesses and promote economic growth in Texas?

I would provide different workshops to encourage entrepreneurship and to enrich and strengthen the businesses that are in the communities now, and to entice other business entrepreneurs to come into the community and help us grow economically. There’s all kinds of ways to do it. I’m willing to do it.

What are your priorities for the future of Texas education?

Make teachers great again, but not putting duly qualified, not just certified teachers in these classrooms. Also protect the children from inappropriate relationships. Parents are gonna have to start doing their part as well cause it starts at home. We need to make teachers safe again way the teachers won’t…

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

For one it can’t wait till the last minute to start getting things done like we did with Hurricane Harvey. I literally lost my house to Hurricane Harvey and took refuge at George R Brown Convention Center. Also make sure that everyone in need after natural disasters are fully registered...

What will you do to bring down the cost of living for Texas residents?

Reducing cost-of-living taxes would be one of them. If they’re property owners they shouldn’t have to keep renting on their properties even after they buy their properties. You take care of taxes after you go through escrow and everything else. So we need to get rid of owing property taxes…