Phil Stephenson (Republican, incumbent)

Hometown: Wharton 512-463-0604 (Austin office) 281-232-7900 (district office) www.philfortexas.com

What would your top priority be, if elected?

No. 1, reduce school property taxes on your home at a minimum. No. 2, eliminate unfunded liabilities in all of the state, cities, etc., pension plans of Texas. No. 3, eliminate the tremendous waste in our governments. How about zero-based budgets for every type of government?

What about your experience qualifies you to hold office?

I am a practicing certified public accountant with lots of audit experience in government financial [matters] for over 40 years. As the only practicing CPA in the House, I think I bring a different perspective to actually trying to solve financial problems and not just kicking [them] down the road. School property taxes on your home [need] to change and unfunded liabilities on pension [plans] can change, which will eliminate the unfunded liabilities without costing the state, cities, [and] special purpose districts. [We] have to work with those whom we promised a retirement system.

What are your thoughts on the state’s education funding formula which, although ruled constitutional, is expected to be discussed in the next legislative session?

[Fix] the weighted average [daily] attendance or WADA formula. Let’s make it simple so that everyone knows how it works.

John Davis, Democrat

Hometown: Richmond 832-857-1907 www.johnldavis2016.com

What would your top priority be, if elected?

Ending the school-to-prison pipeline.

What about your experience qualifies you to hold office?

I am a citizen who has seen many people permanently disenfranchised by our justice system. I believe that anybody who sees a problem must not solely complain but work to fix it. My work as an activist snowballed from civil rights, to marriage equality, to [women]’s issues, etc. I’ve reached the point to where I am tired of waiting on politicians who don’t care about these issues to fix them.

What are your thoughts on the state’s education funding formula which, although ruled constitutional, is expected to be discussed in the next legislative session?

It’s undeniably imperfect with little room for improvement.