Q&A: Meet the Texas House District 47 candidates

What are the biggest challenges facing this district?

Life has become unaffordable for many families in the district. Healthcare, housing, insurance, and everyday costs keep rising. At the same time, our public schools are underfunded, teachers are underpaid, schools are closing, and we face a water crisis. Texans deserve a state government focused on getting the basics right.

What would your top priorities be if elected?

Fully fund our public schools, fix our broken recapture system, address our water crisis, and make life more affordable. After four years as Chief of Staff, I can lead from day one. Our constituents deserve an experienced representative who knows the Capitol and how to deliver for this district.

What are your priorities for the future of Texas education?

Every Texas child deserves a strong public education. We must fully fund public schools and fix our broken recapture system. I’ll advocate to prevent school closures, raise teacher pay, and invest in counselors, nurses, and special education. Our students and teachers deserve better than chronic underfunding and program cuts.

How will you ensure your constituents can access affordable housing?

Housing costs are squeezing families across Texas. I’ll work to lower homeowners insurance costs, expand pathways to homeownership, and prioritize families over large corporate investors. I also support giving renters the opportunity to purchase their homes. Texans should be able to afford a home and build a future here.

How will you balance the development of data centers and other large projects with<br>constituent concerns about rapid growth?

We are in a water crisis, and we don’t know the impact of data centers on our water, grid, and infrastructure. I support a moratorium on further development of data centers while we conduct that review. We should understand the long-term consequences for our resources and communities before moving forward.

What are the biggest challenges facing this district?

Property taxes, public education, infrastructure

What would your top priorities be if elected?

My first priority is to ensure that all the municipalities and residents of HD47 have responsive representation that yields results. Western Travis county has been the fastest growing area and the mayors of Bee Cave/Lakeway/Lago Vista have not received the state support needed for adequate roadways and critical …

What are your priorities for the future of Texas education?

Texas is blessed with strong financial resources and dedicated educators. There is no reason Texas education should not be top in the nation. I believe we need to reform the recapture system, effect two way transparency between the state and our school districts and support our teachers and students with ...

How will you ensure your constituents can access affordable housing?

We must stabilize property taxes, bring down insurance costs and pass policy that promotes affordable entry level home ownership. I also believe we need to encourage regional planning that optimizes housing while ensuring livability and responsible growth.

How will you balance the development of data centers and other large projects with constituent concerns about rapid growth?

The 89th legislature enacted the Texas Water Fund recognizing the critical importance of securing water resources. This next cycle we will need to build on that foundation to plan for responsible water management across the state in addition to solving the electron gap to power growth reliably and affordably. Concerns ...