Phillip Huffines has filed to run for Texas state senator, District 8. He is running as a Republican against Angela Paxton in the March 6 primary election.

Community Impact Newspaper sent Huffines 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’m running because Senate District 8 is one of the leading job generators in all of Texas and the nation. I believe our community needs a leader who has had success in business and understands what it takes to maintain that success—someone who has worked under the rules and regulations of government and who has built infrastructure within our community. Senate District 8 also needs a strong, conservative voice in Austin who will put constituents first and not be for sale to Austin insiders. If elected, I will not accept any pay from the state, because I work for the voter, not the government.

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

A: I’ve spent the last 35 years in business building teams and coalitions to accomplish goals and make visions into reality. Over the years, I’ve encountered many successes and failures which have helped teach me invaluable lessons—especially the value of a hard-earned dollar. Through my company, I’ve built vital infrastructure, created hundreds of jobs, signed thousands of paychecks and dealt with the strangling grip of government regulation right here in Senate District 8. I know what it takes to tackle complex problems with creative solutions that benefit all sides. These skills are vital for the next state senator from our community, one of the leading job generators in the entire nation. We need a businessman with the right skillset and experience who will go to Austin and work to improve on the pro-business, pro-growth atmosphere of Collin County.

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

A: To secure our border and remove the magnets that attract illegal aliens to our country. Before we can properly address the illegal immigrants who already live in the United States, I believe we must first stop illegal immigration once and for all. That starts by eliminating welfare, in-state tuition and other taxpayer-funded benefits that attract illegal immigrants. I also believe we must eliminate sanctuary cities, which is why I support the Texas law Gov. Greg Abbott recently signed that eliminates them. This new law stops local municipalities from being a safe haven for illegal immigrants and fines local officials who do not enforce it $25,000. We simply cannot afford to fund illegal immigrants.

I will also fight to lower property taxes. They are too high and Texas families are being taxed right out of their homes. That is why I favor voter approval in an election if cities and other local governments attempt to increase property tax bills by more than 4 percent.

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

A: That I’m a principled, constitutional conservative who stands for term limits, securing our border, cutting property taxes, keeping Senate District 8 prosperous and the sanctity of life. I have been endorsed by Texas Right to Life and numerous other conservative leaders and organizations. I will take no pay, no per diem, or compensation of any kind from the state because I do not work for the government, I work for the voters. This election will not be decided by career politicians and Austin insiders, but by the voters right here in Senate District 8.