Brian Chaput has filed to run for Texas state senator, District 8. He is running as a Democrat against Mark Phariss in the March 6 primary election.

Community Impact Newspaper sent Chaput a list of questions about his candidacy. Below are his answers, edited for publication style.

Q: Why did you decide to run for this office?

A: I am a regular person, not a politician. And as I listened to my friends and neighbors express their frustration and dissatisfaction with the rhetoric and partisan polarization of the Texas Senate, I realized our representatives no longer speak for the real constituents of our district.

I am running to bring the voice of the real people from this district to Austin—real people who want legislators to work together to solve the complex problems we face today in Texas, not impose extreme ideologies on our state. I also do not take for granted the simple dignity of being a moral and upright citizen. The people of Texas deserve representatives who will act with a sense of fairness and justice and govern with selflessness for all Texans.

In my months of campaigning, I spent my time listening to everyone I could from all over this area. I have heard their complaints and their ideas for what we need to do better. My legislative agenda is rooted in those conversations, and in the priorities of the people I hope to represent.

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

A: In the 37 years I've resided in this district, I've served and led in city government, Freemasonry, recreational sports, PTA, volunteering, mentoring and coaching youth activities. I've earned a master's degree and bachelor's degree in engineering, completed five marathons, play competitive soccer and, most importantly, raise my two children with my wonderful wife Rachel in this district I seek to represent.

I graduated from Plano Senior High School and Washington University in St. Louis, where I extensively studied business, economics, math and history. After graduation, I returned home to work in telecommunications as an electrical engineer while earning my master's degree from the University of Texas at Dallas. I've worked over 24 years in product development and manufacturing.

We need practical problem solving today, and as an engineer and business manager, I bring a pragmatic, thoughtful and compassionate approach to representation. My engineering mindset is: if we’ve got a problem, there’s a way to fix it. To solve problems, I investigate and do not take things at face value. I'll sit down with those who have first-hand experience with the issues, ask probing questions and patiently listen until I know the root causes of their problems.

We need more of this problem-solving mindset in Austin.

Q: If elected, what would be your top priorities?

A: Education is the most important as it influences so many of the other issues we face. We need a long-term solution to reform our public education finance system and bring priority to the educators and education programs for our children. Public education is a continuing investment in ensuring a creative, healthy and locally-available workforce that will support our economic needs.

The state must fulfill its constitutional and moral obligation to public education through tax-bill transparency and fair school rating systems, and financially commit to strengthening programs such as expanded pre-K, STEM initiatives and improved access, opportunity and cost of higher-education. Continuing-education in career and high-tech courses can also provide an immediate benefit for businesses and employees. Furthermore, our educators are fundamental to our success, so competitive salaries and superior healthcare and retirement for our current and former educators is imperative and an important financial commitment in which the state needs to provide immediate attention.

A clear and permanent fix to our school financing will allow focus to other priorities such as property tax relief; transportation and infrastructure necessities; incentives to spur economic growth; state healthcare programs; and our skilled workforce development and training.

Q: What else do you want constituents to know about you and your background?

A: I don't have any personal gain with running for office. I think that matters. I think it matters that our elected representatives are truly public servants not influenced by self-interests. I'm running for Texas Senate with the conviction that I can win on substance and merit, no matter the price willing to be paid by my opponents. I believe that by electing legislators who are actually representative of the people, legislation that affects their lives will be positive and harmonious, not negative and divisive. I do hope to restore the trust of the many disenfranchised and disillusioned people and help heal our fractured democracy such that my children and their generation will thrive in a society that cherishes the ideals of promoting the common good.