State Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Frisco, is running for State Senate District 30.

Fallon is serving his third term representing House District 106 in Denton County.

Community Impact Newspaper asked Fallon a series of questions. His responses, edited for publication style, are below.

1.     Why did you decide to run for this office?

Are the people who are elected, do you feel in your heart they’re doing the best job? Are they excelling? If they’re not, you really have to look for someone else [who] can run for that position.

The incumbent has been in office for 16 years and I have some sensitive policy disagreements with him…I’ve met with probably 100 elected officials and activists around the district and, almost to a person, they’re very excited about the opportunity to have a choice.

2.     What experience—professionally or politically—do you have that would prepare you for this position?

I’m already in the legislature and I’ve had three terms under by my belt in the statehouse, and I’m acutely aware of how the legislature works.

Professionally, I’ve had eight years of vast leadership training with the Reserve Officers' Training Corp. and the Air Force. I’ve also been a successful entrepreneur for over 20 years.

3.     If elected, what would be your top priorities?

I want to remove any and all incentives for people to come and migrate here illegally. I also want to file a Texas Protection Act, which would protect all war monuments whether they are confederate or otherwise.

Government transparency is a big issue for me and I think we should eliminate legislatures from becoming lobbyists. I’m also a big proponent of term limits.

We have to tackle school finance reform and property tax relief. And I’m also for drug testing for welfare recipients.

4.     What else do you want constituents to know about you and your background?

You should be a humble public servant… and I’ve always prided myself on knocking on doors and taking every phone call, and returning every email. Although it obviously takes some time, occasionally you want to give back, and if I can make the people that I encounter in my daily life feel like giants, feel like they matter, in the end of the day that’s why I’m running.