The district covers parts of Fort Bend County, including Sugar Land.
Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 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 about voting in Fort Bent County, visit www.fortbendcountytx.gov.
*indicates incumbent
Vanesia R. Johnson
Experience:
Behavioral health expert; extensive public policy advisory experience; compliance and performance improvement professional; community advocate
Occupation:
Psychotherapist and licensed clinical social worker
Candidate Website:
https://www.voteforvanesiatx.com
Contact Information:
832-429-6965
Why are you running for this position?
I want to advocate for and against legislation that represents the voice of constituents in my district as an elected leader who actually lives and works in her district. When elected, I will be a legitimate and authentic state representative with 20-plus years of home ownership and community involvement.
What are the biggest challenges facing the district, and how would you address them if elected?
Texas HD76 is comprised of several low performing schools needing highly trained and competitively compensated teachers. Student success is directly linked to teacher quality. I would fight for school districts to be adequately funded, so they can hire dual language instructors, certified special education teachers, and wrap around services personnel.
What changes would you like to see made to the state's school finance system, if any?
Not only should independent school districts (ISDs) be paid based on student enrollment rather than daily attendance because of their “school of last resort” standing in communities, but neighborhood schools should be better and more equitably funded through reform of the state’s school property tax funding formula.
How would you ensure your constituents have access to the health care services they need?
I want to increase household income eligibility for Texans to receive Medicaid, fund health promotion initiatives that champion universal Medicaid for pregnant women regardless of income or insurance status, and fund the creation of expedited electronic Medicaid eligibility criteria and access points of entry for pregnant women throughout communities.
How would you build productive relationships across districts and party lines?
I will proactively consult with authors of bills in the region and across party lines, become fully informed, participate in negotiations, and make compromises to bring forth more bipartisan bills to floor of the House for a vote. I am recognized as a people over party leader in the community.
Suleman Lalani*
Experience:
State representative, House District 76, practicing physician, geriatric medicine, board member, former president Exchange Club of Fort Bend
Occupation:
Physician
Candidate Website:
https://www.drlalanifortexas.com
Contact Information:
832-387-5718
Why are you running for this position?
For years I felt a sense of frustration seeing how our health care system was failing people. In my practice, I saw people riddled with ailments that would have been prevented with continuously regular health care. Everything I’ve done in Austin has been in service to each resident of my district.
What are the biggest challenges facing the district, and how would you address them if elected?
Access to health care- My priority remains medicaid expansion. Sustainable public school funding- Funding that is long-term to assure we retain teacher talent and provide resources to students. Women’s reproductive rights- As a doctor, I support a woman’s right to choose. We can’t play politics with the lives of Texas women.
What changes would you like to see made to the state's school finance system, if any?
The legislative fix needed most urgently is equal and sustainable funding. The current "Robinhood" system of recapture needs to be revamped and the dependence on property tax values shouldn’t determine the quality of public education or teacher pay. Together we stopped Gov. Abbott's voucher scam that would've further reduced funding.
How would you ensure your constituents have access to the health care services they need?
Expanding Medicaid for low-income Texans and lowering prescription drug prices. Seniors shouldn’t have to choose between life-saving medication or food on the table. I’ve passed legislation to expand postpartum health care, require itemized hospital bills, ban out-of-network ambulance charges, increase access to blood and autoimmune medication, and increase protections for Alzheimer patients.
How would you build productive relationships across districts and party lines?
Throughout my first year in the Legislature I worked hard to build coalitions and find common ground with legislators interested in improving the lives of Texans. That’s how I passed 36 bills into law in my first year. I look forward to increasing my productivity in next year’s legislative session.
