Qualifications
What training, experience, and characteristics qualify you for this position?
I have dedicated my life to public service. After studying international affairs and conflict resolution, I started my career in intelligence at the Pentagon. I was there during the 9/11 attack, and that called me to federal service as a Special Agent with the Diplomatic Security Service and later Homeland Security. During my career, I directed high-profile protection details around the world, conducted counter-terrorism investigations, and led disaster response teams during Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. Principally, I am a negotiator. I am ready to bring those skills to the Texas Capitol to serve the people of House District 129 and find common-sense solutions to the challenges we face today.
Healthcare
Texas has the highest uninsured rate in the nation. What steps would you take as a state representative to ensure access to affordable healthcare, including mental health services, for residents who are currently uninsured or underserved in your district?
I would take steps to expand Medicaid eligibility in Texas. We are wasting our tax dollars by refusing to take money back from the federal government to help Texans afford medical insurance. We have the most uninsured children in the country and that cost is felt not just by those kids and their families, but by all of us. In HD 129, we are lucky to be near a great medical center, but rural hospitals and clinics across the state are closing at record rates and many countries don’t even have a pharmacy. Getting more people on health insurance like Medicaid helps them access healthcare and keeps healthcare providers open to provide care for everyone.
Education
What measures would you support to ensure adequate state funding for public schools and accountability for taxpayer funds used in voucher or education savings account programs?
Fully funding public schools is my top priority as a state legislator. It’s not just the right thing to do, it’s in our State Constitution to “make suitable provision for the support and maintenance of an efficient system of public free schools.” The voucher program takes money from our schools and students without the accountability and transparency we require from our school districts. I would support a repeal of the school voucher program. If that is not possible, I will work to require that private schools receiving these funds report educational outcomes in the same manner as public schools and publish financial information publicly. Public dollars belong in public schools.
Issues
What are the two most pressing issues unique to your district, and what specific, measurable actions would you take to address them during your term?
Outside of supporting our public schools, the two most pressing issues in HD 129 are the high cost of homeowner’s insurance and an unreliable energy grid. We are a coastal community and we face the threat of hurricanes that can cause floods or knock out the power. Homeowner’s insurance rates are rising, if you can get insurance at all. We need to take steps to reduce our risk level by building coastal protections, expanding flood mitigation projects, and strengthening buildings. If we reduce our risk, we can make the insurance companies lower our costs. We also need to modernize our energy transmission system and embrace all our abundant sources of energy to keep the lights on in our homes. Texans deserve a reliable grid.
