Sam Johnson has filed to run for U.S. representative, District 3. He is running as a Democrat against Adam P. Bell, Lorie Burch and Medrick Yhap in the March 6 primary election. Community Impact Newspaper sent Johnson a list of questions about his candidacy. Below are his answers, which have been edited for style. Q. Why did you decide to run for this office? A. We need elected representatives who will listen to and talk with constituents in both parties, as well as constituents who haven’t found a home in either major party. Our district has for too long been underrepresented in both substance and action. The residents of Texas’ 3rd Congressional District are progress oriented, believe in opportunity for all of our families, have real matters of concern, and they deserve a representative who will empathize and problem solve with them. With the incumbent retiring, this is the best opportunity for Democrats to reclaim this seat and make sure that truly all the voters in our district are represented and empowered. I have long been a community advocate for equality and equal opportunity for all—not just for one group, and not just for the groups to which I belong. Texas needs a new kind of politician, the kind they taught us we were supposed to have. I am that person, and I am the best candidate to represent and be a voice for all citizens in our district. Q. What experience—professionally or politically—do you have that would prepare you for this position? A. I’ve been working since I was 14 years old when I started bagging groceries at Tom Thumb in Plano, and since then I’ve worked jobs from being a barista at a locally owned coffee shop, to selling museum tickets, to owning my own law firm. My work experiences for well over half my life have honed my ability to understand others and achieve effective communication with everyone I come into contact with. In my job as a business attorney, I not only work with researching, interpreting, and applying federal statutes and regulations on a daily basis, but I have spent the last 10 years in a career working to resolve disputes between opposing parties and achieving success doing so. I’ve also been a community and legislative advocate for justice and fair treatment for all people as a very active member of the Anti-Defamation League. My involvement has taken me to Austin and Washington, D.C., working directly in the legislative process on laws that impact people’s lives in a very direct way. Q. If elected, what would be your top priorities? A. My top three priorities have changed over the course of my candidacy based on my interactions with voters and hearing their concerns. My first priority is voting rights. We need to augment and expand the Voting Rights Act in meaningful ways that protect people wanting to vote. We also have to address health care and health insurance issues plaguing our citizens and make true access to health care services without going bankrupt a priority. Finally, our district faces enormous pressure on our infrastructure, and I would work to bring federal resources to help aid in these challenges both in our highway system and by working with the county and municipalities to solve public transportation needs while respecting the differing desires of the various cities in our district. Q. What else do you want constituents to know about you and your background? A. This district is my home. Other than when I was earning my degree in government from The University of Texas at Austin and my law degree from South Texas College of Law-Houston, I’ve lived in this district my entire life. It is where my wife and I raise our three sons, and where my law firm and my startup business are based. From my deep roots in Collin County to my business background, I’ve spent my life building the knowledge and skills to listen to and represent the voters of this district. That’s why I’ll have regular town hall meetings and open office hours once elected to ensure that I stay connected with what’s going on here and that I keep hearing from my constituents, regardless of their political affiliation or belief system. This is a representative job, and it’s one I promise to represent you well in.