Angelica Garcia
Years in district: more than 10
If elected, I would change: efforts to protect our community from flooding disasters and from detriments relating to border security.
www.angelicafortexas.com
Why are you running to represent District 132?
I have always believed in “being blessed to be a blessing to others.” I want to give back to the community that has been there for me. I will fight to keep God and our conservative values in District 132.
How might you help prevent future flooding in the district?
Constituents here have dealt with flooding three times in one year. Once, I could not get into my business for five months because of flooding. It is an issue. One helpful step would be building a third reservoir, and ensuring it is in our district. Flooding is a huge concern, and I will work to meet with flooding preparedness experts to prioritize funds and come up with effective solutions.
What is your biggest concern for the state’s public education system, and how do you plan to address it?
A high-quality education for all Texans is my biggest concern. Katy ISD is well rated, and I am grateful for the standards we have there. I want these ratings for all Texas schools. I would advocate for improving our education quality where needed. We must dive into the individual needs of each school and ensure we are supporting them in the right way.
What are your top priorities regarding the state’s property tax system?
As a property owner, I understand the burden of high taxes. I will be a good shepherd of our tax dollars and work against increases. The state Legislature made good moves with [Senate Bill] 2 and [House Bill] 3 by capping property tax increases and putting these decisions back into the hands of the people. This is the type of legislation I will support to keep us moving in the right direction.
Mike Schofield
Years in district: 6
If elected, I would change: the property tax system. Local government funding relies too much on property taxes and homeowners can’t afford the current system.
www.mikeschofield.com
Why are you running to represent District 132?
Texas is more successful than other states because we stand by our traditional Texas values of small government and low taxes, which empowers Texas families to work for themselves and not for the government. I will fight to ensure that our state creates the infrastructure necessary for people to succeed—schools, transportation, and a low-regulation economy—and then gets out of the way to allow Texans to innovate and create their own success.
How might you help prevent future flooding in the district?
To begin with, I will continue to work with state and federal leaders to build the third reservoir below Cypress Creek that was part of the original 1940s plan but was never built. State and local projects to clean out tributaries will help, as will the county’s new development requirements. We need to consider tunnels or other new options to deal with increased flood waters from new development.
What is your biggest concern for the state’s public education system, and how do you plan to address it?
Our biggest challenge in Katy and Cy-Fair is to maintain a quality educational system in the face of increasing growth and diversity. We need to ensure that our schools are able to focus on preparing our children to compete with students from around the world for 21st century jobs, and that the next generation is taught the values that have made Texas special and successful.
What are your top priorities regarding the state’s property tax system?
My top priority is to ensure that people can afford to live in their homes. We need to stop the automatic increase in property taxes just because a home’s assessed value rises. Voters should be able to vote on property tax increases. The best way to make this work in the long term is to change our system so local governments rely less on property taxes.
