The seat has been held by Democratic Rep. Garnet Coleman for more than 30 years. Coleman announced in November he would not run for re-election.
Two names will appear on the ballot in the Republican primary this March, although Damien Thaddeus Jones told Community Impact Newspaper by email he had withdrawn from the race for medical reasons. The other candidate running in the Republican primary is Rashard Baylor.
The winners for each party in the March primaries will be on the ballot in November’s general election. Candidate responses may have been edited for length and clarity. For more information about voting in Harris County, click here.
Danielle Keys Bess
Experience: over 20 years of experience in community advocacy, government relations and campaign logistics
Occupation: Realtor and consultant
832-792-5916
www.bessforhouston.com
Reagan Flowers
Experience: My background as a teacher, school administrator and national [science, technology, engineering and math] education leader have offered me extensive insight on public policy, and I’ve served in elected capacity as a trustee for the Houston Community College with oversight of an over $400 million budget.
Occupation: nonprofit executive
713-819-6582
www.reaganflowers.com
Akwete Hines
Experience: concerned citizen answering the call to stand up and represent the interests of the good hard working citizens of District 147
Occupation: licensed speech language pathologist
www.votehines.com
Somtoochukwu Ik-Ejiofor
Experience: almost a decade of public service experience at various levels of government and at the Texas Legislature
Occupation: policy analyst
www.somtoo.org
Jolanda Jones
Experience: I have served as an At-Large [Houston] City Councilmember and an H[ouston] ISD Trustee, am an attorney who represents people fighting against long odds, and am a community activist who works for disenfranchised people.
Occupation: attorney
832-426-4776
www.jolandajones.com
Namrata “Nam” Subramanian
Experience: I am a proud educator, leader and advocate.
Occupation: public high school teacher
www.namfortexas.com
Aurelia Wagner
Experience: Master's in Public Administration with a concentration in Public Policy
Occupation: early childhood teacher
www.aureliawagnerfortexas.com
Questions
Q: Why are you running for Texas House District 147?
Bess: Being an active member of this district in all aspects of my life, I understand the relevance of this seat when it comes to funding community infrastructure, healthcare, education and other governing aspects/entities that have a direct correlation with bringing equity and resources back from the state.
Flowers: I am running for state representative based on my first-hand experiences witnessing the impact state laws have on so many facets of leading a nonprofit organization, working with school districts and running a small business. These experiences made it resoundingly clear how much we need urgent policy reforms to address pressing issues around education, health care and abortion, economic opportunity, public safety, and the environment.
Hines: Candidate did not submit responses as of press time.
Ik-Ejiofor: I am running to be Texas House District 147 state rep[resentative] because I want to ensure that my district is well represented and the voices of my constituents are heard. I am running to restore good leadership at the Texas Legislature. I am running because I have worked at the Texas Legislature, I have seen firsthand the disenfranchisement of voters, the inability to fix the grid issue, and I am going to Austin to fix it all.
Jones: My entire life has been about helping people. I’ve watched with horror and disgust how [Donald] Trump Republicans have declared war on us—suppressing our votes, denying us health care and threatening our kids with a Republican takeover of our public schools. I’ve been a fighter all my life, rising from a childhood of poverty to the Academic American Hall of Fame. I’m ready to carry the torch to Austin to fight for us.
Subramanian: As a young, queer, woman of color and educator, I resonate with the unique issues facing one of the most diverse districts in the state. Working as a teacher, I see the problems my students and their families face daily, not just in education, but in opportunities to thrive and succeed. No matter their race, religion, ability, gender or sexual orientation, they deserve a representative who will fight for a safe community that nurtures sustainable growth through equitable policies.
Wagner: I am running to protect Democratic values and fight for working Texans. I am not a career politician; I'm an educator and I'm running to provide more opportunities for our children.
Q: What would some of your top priorities be if elected?
Bess: (1) Public safety (2) Sustainable living/infrastructure and (3) Economic equity
Flowers: Full funding of public education, including all day pre-K for all children, better pay for teachers and better retirement benefits to help retain high quality teachers.
Comprehensive health care reform to expand Medicaid, increase healthcare access, and a focus on health and wellness including addressing food deserts.
Small business and economic development providing resources for community-based businesses to maintain a vibrant local economy and job creation.
Equity and equality
Community development and public safety
Hines: Candidate did not submit responses as of press time.
Ik-Ejiofor:
- Protect voting rights:
- Increase access to voting:
- Same day voter’s registration
- Universal online voter registration
- Allow 24-hour voting and curbside voting for easy access
- Increase the number of polling locations via community centers, local school gyms and churches
- Increase the amount of ballot dropoff boxes
- Introduce strong penalties for poll watchers who seek to intimidate and disenfranchise voters
- Increase access to voting:
- Fix the Texas grid:
- Winterize the grid:
- Impose high penalties for retailers who do not comply
- Provide incentives for homeowners and businesses who use solar panels and/or microgrids
- Introduce a carbon tax
- VPPs: Virtual Power Plants
- Reform [the Electric Reliability Council of Texas], [public utility commision]s and the Railroad Commission
- Winterize the grid:
- Push for quality education and help students catch up due to the Covid-19 pandemic
Subramanian: Economic justice, educational justice and environmental justice are my three main platforms because many of my priorities fall under these umbrellas. I will fight to raise the minimum wage in Texas to at least $15/hour, I will fight for our LGBTQIA+ students in our schools to ensure they are not used as pawns in politics, and I will fight for investment in climate-positive policies.
Wagner: I will be an advocate for proper public education funding. We need safer neighborhoods, which means people need more economic opportunities to provide for themselves and their families. I will fight for our voting rights.
Q: With the district changing pretty significantly after redistricting, how would you reach out to the new communities that fall under District 147 to learn what the needs are there?
Bess: I have already began the conversation with residents and stakeholders of the newly added areas to District 147 resulting from the recent redistricting. I am on the ground going from door-to-door to hear the needs of their community directly from the community.
Flowers: House District 147 added four new precincts in the northwest part of the district including the Washington Avenue corridor and the Heights, while parts of the district west of Montrose were eliminated. I have made a determined effort to introduce myself to residents and local businesses within the Heights/Washington Ave[nue] area, adding to existing relationships from when my husband and I owned a wine bar located at Studemont [Street] and Washington Ave[nue].
Hines: Candidate did not submit responses as of press time.
Ik-Ejiofor:
- Meet them where they are:
- Attend events and get to know the new communities in the district
- Have localized events at locations equidistant to the new communities so as to be reachable and available to them
- Utilize social media and video conferencing platforms such as:
- Zoom
- Twitch
Subramanian: I am one of the only candidates in the race that is consistently reaching out to folks in all newly acquired areas of the district. We are prioritizing reaching people in the newer, northern parts of the district by canvassing and attending every civic club and super neighborhood meeting to directly hear the needs of constituents from the district.
Wagner: I have attended and will continue to attend community events. I will survey and poll the residents for their input and hold regular state of the district meetings.
Q: What are your thoughts on the Texas Department of Transportation project to expand I-45?
Bess: Any major changes that have the potential to negatively impact a community through displacement of residents, services, resources, educational facilities, etc. must start by understanding the effects of such actions before finalization of planning efforts. Marginalized communities cannot be forgotten, but must be strengthened in any State Department plans. This line of thought applies to the Texas Department of Transportation's project to expand 1-45.
Flowers: I have been an active participant and a voice in expressing concerns about TxDOT’s existing plan for expanding I-45, particularly given the ecological implications for the natural habitat along White Oak Bayou and the massive displacement and community disruption it stands to cause to historic neighborhoods. I support the lawsuit by Harris County against TxDOT and am hopeful that a pause on the lawsuit will allow both sides to revisit negotiations.
Hines: I'm opposed to it. The funds should be directed to
Ik-Ejiofor: I think we should focus on expanding public transportation; the need to expand 1-45 is irrelevant and unnecessary. I am opposed to the current expansion plan. It will displace many businesses and the community that exists on the expansion route. I think the focus should be on reaching the general population via public transit. The rideshare industry is slowing eroding the need to own and buy cars, therefore expanding I-45 would not be needed. We should maintain and fix existing parts of I-45 [and] fix potholes in the city.
Jones: TxDOT has failed to heed the views and needs of our local communities. I am glad the Federal Highway Administration has stepped in to stop TxDOT from railroading this project. I-45 must be improved, but it needs to be done without violating the civil rights of residents and in a way that respects local concerns and minimizes local negative impacts. That is why I have reached out to Deputy Administrator Stephanie Pollack in this issue.
Subramanian: The I-45 expansion project is extremely harmful to our community. The expansion would displace many members of the community and several businesses. Many [Black and indigenous people of color] folks of Houston, from north and south, would be unjustly impacted, and I believe in stopping the project. We must prioritize incentives that make Houston more environmentally friendly.
Wagner: I do not support the expansion of I-45. This project will displace thousands of residents, many of whom do not have the financial means to relocate.
