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Two Democratic candidates are running for state representative in District 119. The seat is currently held by Democrat Elizabeth "Liz" Campos, who is running for re-election in the March primary.
Democratic candidate Ryan Ayala will be her opponent in the primary election.
Candidate Melva Perez is running uncontested in the Republican primary for the state representative District 119 seat.
What you need to know
District 119 encompasses portions of San Antonio, Converse, Live Oak and Schertz in Bexar County.
Community Impact reached out to the two candidates who will be on the ballot.
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.
More information on the March 3 primary election can be found on the Bexar County Elections Department's website.
What would your top priorities be if elected?
Fully fund public education (Last session, we successfully negotiated an $8 billion increase for public schools but more is necessary to meet national standards.) Affordable health care for working families (Expand Medicaid, regulate insurance companies, and lower prescription drug prices). Lower property taxes by increasing homestead exemption for all families.
What are the biggest challenges facing the district?
High property taxes. Cost of living. Low wage jobs. Rising health insurance premiums. Exorbitant child care expenses. Rush hour traffic. Plus others, including alarming rate of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and dementia (We have highest rate in state. Therefore, I’m leading the charge to invest in prevention, early detection, and better treatments).
How do you plan to address these issues?
Fight for local control. We will find solutions at the local level. Unfortunately, the ruling party in Austin seeks total control of our county government, city charters, and school boards. Therefore, we need to elect more Democrats to the Texas Legislature. In Bexar County, we can flip HD118 and HD121.
What projects are most important for the Legislature to focus on for the future of Texas?
Economy & jobs. Right-wing politicians in Austin are compromising the Texas Miracle. By interjecting their social agenda into all aspects of public policy, they are making our state less competitive. We need to focus on supporting small business owners and incentivizing big companies to create good paying jobs in Texas.
Occupation - family law attorney Office of Attorney general - 2023 Bexar County Democratic precinct chair 4200 ...
What would your top priorities be if elected?
Education. Ensure public schools receive the funding they deserve and are protected from closures caused by the voucher bill. Public safety. Address homelessness and the growing problem of stray and dangerous dogs. Public service. Always be accessible and responsive, serving the people of District 119 on any issue, state-related or not.
What are the biggest challenges facing this district?
District 119 faces two urgent challenges. First, school closures driven by budget deficits threaten neighborhood schools in SAISD, Harlandale, and Judson. Second, rising homelessness and stray dogs are creating growing public safety concerns for families, neighborhoods, and communities across the district.
How do you plan to address these issues?
I will fight for stable, increased public school funding through a per pupil model. I will address public safety by connecting people to services, strengthening interventions, supporting veterans, and tackling stray animals. Above all, I will serve District 119 by helping constituents navigate government every day.
What projects are most important for the Legislature to focus on for the future of Texas?
Education, without question. We cannot allow public schools to continue facing budget deficits, especially after the voucher bill diverted funding away from them. The legislature must put public education first by prioritizing sustainable funding and ensuring schools are not further harmed by these policies.
