Candidates were asked to keep responses under 75 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity. For more information on voting in Harris County, visit its election site. For information on voting in Montgomery County, check the election administrator's website.
Brandon Creighton (incumbent)
Experience:
Represented House District 16 from 2007-14, Texas Attorney General's Office general investigator, Oklahoma attorney general brief writer, Criminal Appellate Division chair, Senate Committee on Higher Education, 2019-present chair, Senate Committee on Public Education, 2022-present chair, Senate Select Committee on Ports, 2017- present chair, Texas Victory, Republican Party of Texas
Occupation:
attorney, small-business owner, rancher
Candidate Website:
http://www.BrandonCreighton.com
Contact Information:
936-900-9982
Why are you running to represent Texas Senate District 4?
In just the last few years, [Senate District] 4 has been named one of the best places to live and work in the nation, established a new medical school, and outpaced the rest of the nation in economic growth. As your state senator, I want to continue to deliver pro-Texas policies that make our continued success possible.
What are the biggest challenges facing District 4, and how would you address those if elected?
The economy in our region is strong, but as a nation, we are experiencing record inflation, a fentanyl crisis and a looming recession. That is why I am focused on keeping Texas the most pro-business, pro-family state in the country, and that begins in the state Senate. In my next term, I will work for additional property tax relief; expanding educational and workforce opportunities; and strong, secure borders.
With statewide reports of teacher shortages and many students not yet performing at pre-pandemic levels, how would you support the state’s public education system in the upcoming legislative session?
As chair of the Senate Committee on Education, I believe the future begins in the classroom. I have met with teachers around Texas, and introduced a Texas Teacher Bill of Rights that creates financial incentives and influence in schools. I’m also working on a Texas Parental Bill of Rights ensuring parents are the chief decision makers in their children’s education. Working together, we can make positive changes for the 5 million students in Texas schools.
How would you ensure your constituents have access to health care services they need?
In 2019, I passed HB 2867 establishing the Sam Houston State Medical School, with an emphasis on training in-demand primary care physicians, and they are already increasing class sizes. And because staffing is one of the biggest challenges in the field, I have created incentives for workforce training programs and funding for health care professionals throughout the state, ensuring all Texans get the care they need.
With new federal legislation bringing funding to Texas, how would you ensure district communities have access to this money if needed?
Texas sends more to the federal government than we receive, so returning Texas tax dollars to the state is always positive. As a lawmaker, I am committed to providing property tax relief and addressing school safety needs. As a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, I will also continue to prioritize flood mitigation projects, electric reliability, and trying to stop the flow of drugs and violence from the border before it reaches our communities.
With the state seeing its deadliest school shooting in Uvalde this past year, what will you do to ensure this cannot happen again in Texas schools?
As chair of Senate Education and co-chair of the Committee to Protect All Texans, school safety improvements are at the top of my agenda. Since the tragedy in Uvalde, I have met with teachers, students, parents, administrators and law enforcement to discuss school hardening and security protocols to keep our kids safe. Every campus is unique, but the Legislature will enact thorough audits and inspections, giving parents and teachers confidence that schools are secure.
Misty Bishop
Experience:
Harris County District Attorney Grand Jury Prosecutor Division (intern in 2000) Lone Star College General Counsel Office, Berg & Androphy, Jackson & Lewis PC, D.Miller & Associates, Texas Southern University's Thurgood Marshall School of Law, British Petroleum, Shell Oil, Devon Energy, Vantage Drilling, EOG Resources, University of Houston General Counsel Office, Indiana Workforce Department, Lendio, Gexa Energy, Occidental Petroleum and Amazon Compliance Department
Occupation:
Paralegal
Candidate Website:
www.misty4txsenate.com
Contact Information:
832-703-3242
Why are you running to represent Texas Senate District 4?
Although I’m a paralegal by trade, I’m also a public administrator who is a community advocate. An advocate that is willing to go against the grain of salt and get out of my lane to do whatever it takes to protect the rights for all people and implement policies that will fulfill their essential needs as human beings who are living day by day.
What are the biggest challenges facing District 4, and how would you address those if elected?
District 4 covers five different counties, and each county has its own issues. For instance, the industrial plants in Jefferson County are causing constituents to have mental and physical health issues especially in Beaumont while in Chambers County the constituents face flood mitigation issues because rural areas like Anahuac is considered to be a “swamp land”. So, as an elected official I will implement and execute the plan of action with leadership in each county.
With statewide reports of teacher shortages and many students not yet performing at pre-pandemic levels, how would you support the state’s public education system in the upcoming legislative session?
Implement a budget to increase teacher salary range to $70,000-$100,000 based on the size of the district and give them a 25% increase in their classroom supplies stipend, fund all school’s district’s campuses libraries with full-time staff, advance technology and books so students could have adequate resources. Then, provide inclusive fine arts programs, mentor and peer tutoring programs, and college readiness and trade programs that will inspire students to be leaders.
How would you ensure your constituents have access to health care services they need?
First of all, Medicaid and Medicare will expand and extend to constituents that are in a low income and working-class household who makes less than $70,000 annually while the middle class will have an opportunity to invest in affordable health care based on their overall income during that period not the year before. However, each class will receive the same care and medical benefits like those who are in the upper class income bracket.
With new federal legislation bringing funding to Texas, how would you ensure district communities have access to this money if needed?
Implement and enforce a financial report form that indicates the allocation of the federal funds from the leadership in the district communities to be completed and returned to both the state and federal offices on or before the scheduled deadline. And if the financial report does not meet the deadline and/or requirements, a state-level audit would be implemented so the district communities will receive the funding they need.
With the state seeing its deadliest school shooting in Uvalde this past year, what will you do to ensure this cannot happen again in Texas schools?
Allocate funding for all school campuses to install security cameras in all classrooms, hallways, exits, entrances, stairways, outside parameters including garages and warehouses and link them to the law enforcement agencies dispatch and install panic buttons in classrooms to alert the agencies along with inaccessible entrance/exit doors without a school badge. Also, there should be at least four law enforcement officers on campus and visitors have to have an ID when checking in at the front office.
