Tom Oliverson
713-554-9030
www.tomoliverson.com
Dr. Tom Oliverson is a practicing anesthesiologist and partner in U.S. Anesthesia Partners, the largest anesthesiology provider in Texas with more than 1,100 doctors. Oliverson and his wife were appointed to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s inaugural committee. He is active in many Second Amendment organizations and supports the Boy Scouts of America, Family Life Ministries and other organizations. He and his wife are members of Jersey Village Baptist Church and live in Cypress where they home-school their three children.
Why are you running for District 130 representative?
I have always been very politically involved and interested. About four years ago I had an interaction with a husband and wife. He was a retired congressman from Ohio. She tells me, ‘You need to run for public office—whether it’s state or federal, this country needs people like you.’ About a year ago, I became willing. I prayed and asked God if it was really his will that I would go into public service. As soon as I prayed, things just started happening. Next thing I know our state representative might be named sheriff, and I’m sitting in a meeting with him. He’s saying, ‘You’d make me sleep a lot better at night if you considered doing this.’ I have the good fortune of being good friends with our Lt. Gov. [Dan Patrick]. I asked for his opinion, and he’s very supportive.
What are some of the biggest challenges facing District 130?
I think that we need a state representative that will work with other local elected leaders to ensure transportation and infrastructure issues are dealt with. Change is coming to the district in terms of growth. The Grand Parkway is scheduled to open at the beginning of [February]. It’s going to bring changes. There are already plans to develop the farmland in communities laying on either side of the road. Because most of it’s unincorporated Harris County with no zoning, it’s going to be a bit chaotic. But it can be controlled chaos or it can be stark-raving mad, “Lord of the Flies” chaos depending on whether we have somebody who is engaging all the stakeholders—developers, fire departments, EMS system, school districts, utility providers and the sheriff’s department—and making sure all the resources for orderly growth are present. I think that’s really important. I think if you had to ask me in the next 10 years what’s going to be the biggest driver in our district in terms of growth, [the Grand Parkway is] going to be a big one.
What is the first initiative you would like to accomplish in office?
I’ll oppose Obamacare in Texas, look to reduce regulation on businesses so the economy continues to grow and prosper and more jobs can be created, and I hope to ban sanctuary cities in Texas. People get angry with the federal government for not securing the border, but then there are cities like Houston that are unwilling to allow their police officers to ask questions about immigration status. One of the first things I’m definitely going to address is sanctuary cities. Gov. [Greg] Abbott has called for that bill to be filed. I’m very interested in filing that bill. I think his idea is a good idea. I think it will work. We came very close to passing it in the last legislative session. I think it’s time we get serious about it.
Kay Smith
www.committed2act.com
Kay Smith has lived and been involved in the Cypress and Tomball community for more than 20 years. She is a member of the Tomball Rotary Club, Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce, founder of nonprofit organization Hero and Friend, immediate past board member of the Harris County Department of Education, and formed the Cypress and Tomball coalition groups. She worked for heart surgeon Dr. Michael DeBakey for six years and has been self-employed since 1980. She is the mother of one daughter and the foster parent of two young girls.
Why are you running for District 130 representative?
Some of the community leaders came to me and approached me and said Rep. [Allen] Fletcher was not seeking re-election and asked me if I would represent them. When I look at who the choice is—I think that it’s a clear choice. I’m the one who can represent this community the way it wants to be represented, and that’s what it’s all about. The people elect you, and they are your constituents. You should represent them the way they want to be represented and not the way you want to represent. I have worked for the Tomball Rotary Club and served the community in many ways representing Cypress and Tomball. I feel as if I’m best equipped to do that.
What are some of the biggest challenges facing District 130?
Our current state representative has signed off [on] and endorsed a lot of the low-income housing in our area. It’s gotten to the point where there’s so many of them they can’t fill them. Most are under about 85 percent occupied. At some point you have to say enough is enough. For the last 10 years, there’s an elementary school in a subdivision area in Cy-Fair ISD where they are trying to put in a Level 6 psychiatric hospital nearby. Level 6 is dangerous and committed. We are very concerned and want this [developer] to find better use for this land. Another thing is annexation. Houston annexed Kingwood, and [Kingwood] tried to avoid it and fought it for a long time. We cannot vote for the mayor of Houston or City Council. Because of the [extraterritorial jurisdiction], the mayor and City Council can affect what goes on in our area. We are in an unfair disadvantage of Houston having control over what we’re doing when we don’t have control over [the] mayor or City Council.
What is the first initiative you would like to accomplish in office?
The first thing we need to do is get rid of the margins tax. The margins tax is a franchise tax on business. The people that it hurts the most [are] the small business owners. I am a small business owner. Small businesses may not make any profit at all, but they’re taxed on their gross receipt. It puts them in debt and in the hole. It’s a very unfair tax on business in Texas. That’s one of the first things I’d like to see addressed.
