Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees President Kristin Tassin announced her intention to run for the Republican nominee for Texas Senate District 17, which encompasses parts of Brazoria, Fort Bend, and Harris counties, Tassin announced Friday. “I have spoken with people from across the 17th district who agree we deserve new leadership who can deliver actual results on the conservative reforms we need to strengthen our communities and serve our families,” Tassin said in a press release. “Austin politicians are neither following through on their constitutional responsibilities nor their promises of limited government,” Tassin said. The current representative for district 17 is Joan Huffman, R-Houston, whose term will expire in 2018. An open primary election will be held March 6, 2018 followed by a general election that November, according to the Texas secretary of state website. A long-time Missouri City resident, Tassin said state legislators are not addressing the most important issues concerning Texas residents: public school funding, school finance system, effective property tax reform, investment in infrastructure, and transparent budgeting. Tassin said these are the key issues that motivated her to run for office. “It’s time for the state to start watching every dollar that comes in and make sure that they’re spending it the way they tell constituents they’re spending it,” Tassin said. “I deal with these issues every single day at the local level for the seventh largest school district in the state of Texas,” Tassin said. “We have three-quarters of a billion dollar budget, and being fiscally responsible is something I deal with every single day.” During Tassin’s tenure as FBISD school board president, the school district has cut taxes for families, increased teachers’ pay by $2,500, and delivered reforms to improve school performance and accountability—something the state legislature has not been able to do, Tassin said. “I have the background to help fix these issues and the courage to take on any special interest that threatens the success of our children, our communities, and the future of our great state of Texas,” Tassin said. If she is elected, Tassin said she will resign from the school board in order to comply with state law. In addition to serving on the FBISD school board, Tassin co-founded Father’s Joy, an organization that supports children with disabilities and their families. Through Father’s Joy, Tassin has spoken at various conferences on special education law and best practices, according to the press release.