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May Runoffs
Primary Runoff - The runoff is May 24, with early voting May 16-20.
See what's on your ballot by entering your address and which party's primary you'll be voting in. If you already voted in the original primary election this year, you cannot vote in the other party's run-off. Here's what's on mine. Only 5 races, whew!
Below, I summarize what I found for each candidate on my ballot on vote411 (League of Women Voters) and my conclusions. Then I list some endorsements I found. Then my final conclusion.
Texas Lieutenant Governor - a very powerful position in Texas: president of the Texas Senate, where they appoint Senators and assign bills to committees and control the Senate's agenda, is a member of several commissions and boards, and serves as governor in the governor’s absence.
411.org asked questions about their qualifications, the power grid, state and local rights, reproductive health care, and public safety versus civil rights. Then I looked on their web sites for their priorities and information about the climate crisis.
Michelle Beckley
Qualifications - State representative, 2 terms.
Priorities - fix the grid, take the medicaid expansion, fully fund our public schools, and legalize and decriminalize marijuana (from the front page of her website)
Power grid - 'Texas needs to reverse the course of deregulation and consider the option of connecting back to the national grid.' (411.org)
State and local rights - 'The federal government needs to address the Voting Rights Bills. We saw our freedom to vote diluted as well as extreme gerrymandering in 2021. The state government should not interfere with local health regulations.' (411.org)
Reproductive health care - 'The attacks on women's healthcare should not continue. I voted against HB8. There should not be $10,000 bounties on women & health professionals. A womans's choice on abortion is between her and her doctor.' (411.org)
Public safety versus civil rights - Cities should know when a police applicant has been fired for cause elsewhere. (411.org)
Climate crisis - She has this to say about the Environment - 'To ensure that we meet Texas’ growing energy demands, we must continue to improve and expand our existing energy systems. Texas must work together to assure a dependable energy system and to prepare for the changing climate. Increased heat, drought, floods, reduced agricultural yields, negative health impacts, and a declining water supply are additional concerns related to climate change. We must encourage individuals and businesses to create strategic plans to address these concerns.' (website)
Okay, no, I think we need to invest more in wind and solar rather than improve and expand gas and oil. "work together to assure a dependable energy system"? What does that mean? "encourge individuals and businesses to create strategic plans to address" concerns about the changing climate? That sounds highly unlikely; individuals need help (easy, affordable options), and businesses only care about profit.
Mike Collier
Qualifications - Budget experiences as PriceWaterhouseCoopers CPA and an auditor and CFO of a Texas energy company.
Priorities - 'I will do right and risk the consequences.' Fully fund public schools (not vouchers and charters); fix the grid by investing in our critical infrastructure, redesigning it to prioritize users over massive corporations, prepare it from climate change (storms), and increase renewable energy, hold the line on property tax and sales tax increases by making corporations pay their fair share, defend our constitutional rights (let women control their health and destinies, let democracy thrive, and let Texans 'live and love as they were created' but also somehow magically 'put an end to the constant culture wars that have consumed our state government and pit Texan against Texan'; lead 'the fight against climate change through technological innovation and investment in renewables, smart grid technology, electricity storage, low carbon processes and materials, and reduction in methane releases and flaring'; create decent jobs, fighting 'for a living wage, safe working conditions, retirement security, and healthcare for all Texans'; reform the criminal justice system (make sure our officers are well trained, accountable to, and trusted by, their communities), enact red flag laws and end permitless carry, and legalize marijuana (to change prisoners into workers); return competence to the office.
Power grid - 'We must winterize our gas supply, invest in smart grid technology, and increase power storage. We must also ensure that Texas families do not pay more when companies pay less for an unreliable grid.'
State and local rights - 'If the behavior of any official is inconsistent with our constitutional rights, then it is the responsibility of the federal government, particularly the courts, to step in. That said, local control is key to accountability, and it’s at the heart of a healthy democracy. So, as Lt. Governor, I will work closely with duly elected local partners—not against them.'
Reproductive health care - 'Mike will defend our constitutional rights so that women will be masters of their own health and their own destinies. The Principles laid down by Roe v Wade and have guided us for nearly the last fifty years are reasonable and are supported by the vast majority of Americans.' - All of a sudden it's the third person.
Public safety versus civil rights - 'Mike will work to reverse laws that allow criminals to access firearms and put our communities and law enforcement officers at risk. Further, we all want law enforcement that we know, trust, and are accountable to our local communities. We must also invest more in mental health training and restorative justice to create safer, more prosperous communities across Texas.'
Climate crisis - 'we need more energy, not less. We need more renewable energy and we need to prepare our grid for the challenges of climate change as storms get more frequent and more severe.'
Conclusions
Neither one of these candidates can write or hire an editor. Okay, I shouldn't care about that.
Wouldn't a state rep be better than a big oil finance guy?
But Collier seems to have much more of a clue about the power grid and climate change. Beckley actually talks about voting rights and gerrymandering where Collier seems wishy-washy about state and local rights. Both are pro-choice. Neither talk much about civil rights, but Collier seems to have a lot more good ideas about public safety. I also like Collier's statement that 'I will do right and risk the consequences,' (something Abbott has not been able to do), but it's easy to talk big.
So, I'm inclined to choose Collier.
Endorsements from people who actually have a clue (they are more likely to know if someone is a troll or a big talker who does nothing or whatever):
My friend who keeps very informed, especially about local Democrats (Friend): Mike Collier - "Mike is fantastic, got very close to defeating Dan Patrick in the last round, and is well-positioned to be in this race. I've watched him knuckle down and keep working (and not in a Quixotic way) to win this seat."
The Austin Chronicle (an opinionated local liberal weekly paper) - Collier. For the primary, they called Collier 'the other decent and smart servant-leader white guy in the primary race [besides Dowd]' and said that Michelle Beckley is issue-free.
For the runoff, they say 'Collier was the Dem nominee to face Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in 2018, didn't embarrass himself then, has been running basically nonstop since (with a pause to be part of Joe Biden's Texas campaign team), and for his trouble drew not one but two last-minute opponents in the primary. He still came in first, more than 10% and 100,000 votes ahead of Rep. Michelle Beckley of Carrollton, who kicked off her run-off by demanding Collier drop out, since he "obviously doesn't excite the base." Dismissed as "furniture" by Texas Monthly in its 2021 best/worst legislators roundup, Beckley saw her Denton County seat wiped out in redistricting, so now she's here trying to fail up. Collier and Texas deserve better.'
Planned Parenthood of Texas (part of a national pro-choice organization providing low-cost women's reproductive health services) - Collier
Okay, I'm still going with Mike Collier.
Texas Attorney General - Per 411 'The Attorney General is the chief law enforcement officer of the state; represents the state and state officials in legal matters; issues opinions; oversees collection of child support; administers the crime victims compensation fund; enforces the open records/open meetings acts; approves public bond issues; and enforces consumer regulations.' Our current AG, Paxton, has been suing everyone who doesn't do Trump's bidding and peer pressuring Abbott into doing Trump's bidding more than he otherwise would. Pretty much anyone would be better than him.
411 has asked questions about qualifications, election freedom versus security, reproductive health care, immigration, and priorities.
Rochelle Mercedes Garza
Qualifications - 'experience in immigration, family, criminal, and constitutional law. My work has resulted in the “Garza Notice,” a requirement that teens in immigration detention have a right to access abortion.'
Election freedom versus security - Will replace the “election integrity unit” (which enforces the GOP’s voter suppression measures) with a voter protection unit under a fully funded civil rights department.
Reproductive health care - 'Abortion care is health care, and health care is a human right. Reproductive choice is a moral imperative and an issue of racial, economic, and gender justice. I’m committed to restoring abortion access in TX and defending the rights of women and pregnant people anywhere they’re threatened.'
Immigration - 'Immigration enforcement falls under federal jurisdiction. As an immigration attorney & border native, I understand the complexities of our immigration system. I have litigated against bad policies, like Remain in Mexico, that have created a humanitarian crisis at the border.'
Priorities - 'protecting constitutional rights, including voting & abortion rights; consumer protection, so our energy grid doesn’t fail; and prioritizing public health, so municipalities & schools can protect people in the middle of a pandemic and our rural communities have the infrastructure they need, like clean drinking water.'
Joe Jaworski
Qualifications - 30 years' experience in trial and appellate litigation in TX state and federal courts; Texas mediator; 8 years local government experience.
Election freedom versus security - Also wants to replace the "fake voter fraud division," but with a voter access unit--'TX voters should turn to the AG's office when their voting rights are suppressed. District and County attorneys may initiate fraud prosecution to keep our elections safe, but access is the key.' He also wants to 'ensure principals are registering high school seniors. Elec. Code 13.046(d)'
Reproductive health care - 'I support the Rule of Law set forth in Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood vs. Casey. Abortion should remain legal and available before fetal viability outside the mother's womb. Government should get out of the way of family planning education and broad reproductive healthcare access.'
Immigration - 'State government should partner with the federal government to enforce federal immigration laws. For example, as Texas AG I would dedicate part of my $1.1 Billion budget to hire eight SAUSAs (Special Asst. U.S. Attorneys) to work under the direction of the United States Attorneys for the Southern and Western Districts of Texas to prosecute cartel immigration crimes.'
Priorities - 'I will dismiss any lingering lawsuits brought by the Texas AG against the ACA before lunch. I will testify in the 2023 Legislature for cannabis legalization (for jobs, to help our veterans, and to give our police a break so they can fight real crime). I will ensure principals register every 18 year old pursuant to Tex. Elec. Code 13.046(d).'
Conclusions
Garza's experience sounds slightly more relevant. Both want to get rid of voter suppression; Garza seems a little more proactive about civil rights. Both are pro-choice, but Garza is more extreme (health care is a right) and it's not clear what Jaworski would do if Roe v. Wade is overturned. Garza focuses on the humanitarian crisis; Jaworski on 'cartel immigration crimes.' Garza prioritizes rights and basic utilities, Jaworski, Obamacare, legalizing cannabis, and getting young people to vote.
It looks like if you're a conservative but not pro-Trump, you might like Jaworski more; if you're a pretty left-wing liberal, you might like Garza more. I think I care more about the humanitarian crisis than cartel crimes and on rights and utilities over legalizing cannabis and getting young people to vote. Though, yes, please vote, young people! So I'm inclined to vote for Garza.
Endorsements:
Friend - 'Joe Jaworski has been running this race for a long time, and I respect the hell out of him. We'd be so much better off with Joe than the incumbent. Former mayor of Galveston, and someone who is just an outstanding person.'
Chronicle - Brownsville attorney Garza, formerly of the ACLU of Texas, got more than twice as many votes as runner-up Joe Jaworski, the former mayor of Galveston, who himself barely edged past Dallas civil rights attorney Lee Merritt. All would be two orders of magnitude better than GOP incumbent Ken Paxton, who will almost certainly win his own run-off against hapless George P. Bush, but Garza clearly has consensus backing in the party and can make a clear contrast.
Planned Parenthood - Garza
Oh, I'm going to go with my friend on this and vote Jaworski. I'd love to vote for 'someone who is just an outstanding person.'
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts - Per 411.org, 'The comptroller is the chief financial officer of the state; collects state taxes and fees; pays the state's bills; provides revenue estimates to the legislature; certifies the budget; reports the condition of the state’s finances; and provides economic development assistance to local governments and private businesses.'
411.org asks questions about qualifications, the Rainy Day Fund, taxes, long-term financial obligations (such as infrastructure maintenance, state employee pensions and health care coverage for public school teachers and employees), and priorities.
Janet T. Dudding
Qualifications - 'certified public accountant (CPA) who’s spent my adult life in governmental accounting, auditing, administration and even investigations.'
Rainy Day Fund - 'Government Finance Officers Association recommends a minimum of 2 months of regular revenue or regular expenditures be maintained in a rainy day fund. Typically, rainy day monies mitigate the risk of unstable revenues or unexpected expenditures. Natural disasters fall into the second category.'
Taxes - She wants new revenue streams: 'legalizing adult-use cannabis could bring $1 billion in tax revenue (and decriminalization could save $300 million). Look at "green" taxes to build revenue streams from green energy.'
Long-term financial obligations - 'Texas should accept the $35 billion of federal Infrastructure and Jobs Act dollars, ... look at creating a revenue stream from alternative fuels to maintain roads,'
Public school employees in all but ~12 school districts do not participate in social security and they should. Find the money.
Priorities - The 'Comptroller has the bully pulpit on how our money is spent.
Expanding comp mental health & healthcare to 1.4 million adult Texans saves $100 million in state tax and our property taxes.
Work with local governments re broadband as a local utility, keeping the costs down and creating an income stream.
Work with state agencies, reduce methane emissions on state property.'
Angel Luis Vega
Qualifications - 'a purpose-driven professional offering over 20 years in business strategy, finance, operations, managing multimillion-dollar budgets, and large groups of people.'
Rainy Day Fund - 'We should increase the fund to 25 billion & allocate 1.75 to 2 billion annually. The primary purpose of these funds should be for natural disasters and recession to support our communities, support people keeping their homes, adequately fund our schools, support any healthcare crisis, provide food assistance and guarantee public safety.'
Taxes - Wants to 'focus on boosting Texans entrepreneurship, attracting new business opportunities, eliminating the corporate tax loopholes, and reducing the unemployment rate to under 3%.'
Long-term financial obligations - 'a transparent tax administration. Be effective in forecasting, identifying the fundamental long-term obligations, putting our community first without eliminating essential funds for our public school teachers, employees, retirees, and community programs. Invest strategically, attract more business ventures to the state and legalize recreational marijuana.'
Priorities - 'transparency, accountability, efficiency, optimizing the office's capabilities, boosting entrepreneurship, attracting new business opportunities, thriving jobs, and reducing unemployment under 3%. Guarantee retirement security & protect pensions.'
Conclusions
Dudding's experience seems much more relevant--finances seem to be only a small part of Vega's background. I do like Vega's idea of adding to a rainy day fund annually rather than stopping when you hit a certain target, but he seems to think it can be used for an awful lot of things. I'm not sure how relevant the tax question is; I thought they collected taxes rather than decided what's taxed. They do have quite different answers; it seems like Duddings ideas would be easier. Dudding addressed two of the examples with accepting federal infrastructure money, taxing alternative fuels, and letting teachers contribute to Social Security*; Vega discusses transparency, pro-business ideas, and legalizing even recreational marijuana. Dudding has a variety of priorities: healthcare, broadband and reduced methane emissions; Vega's are about efficiency and business.
* Most teachers contribute to a state pension rather than Social Security. And I think there's some rule that makes it hard for them to collect from both, even if they have other jobs that did require them to contribute to Social Security. When I worked for the state, I got to contribute to both, and that's fantastic.
Dudding sounds better to me.
Endorsements
Friend - 'Janet Dudding is a CPA (you want this in a comptroller!). The kind of investigative CPA who sniffs out and exposes corruption/ethics violations. She cut her teeth investigating corruption in governmental entities, and she's the right person to clean up Texas' Comptroller of Public Accounts. (Plus, she's a great friend and fellow tuba player, so I love her to bits.)'
Chronicle - 'We no-endorsed in this race in March because incumbent Glenn Hegar, though a pro-life Republican, is the only competent GOP statewide official. Dudding, unlike her run-off opponent Angel Luis Vega, is a CPA at least.'
Planned Parenthood - Dudding
I'll go with Dudding
Texas Commissioner of the General Land Office - per 411.org, 'the commissioner manages state lands, including oil and gas properties (which supply funds to the Permanent School Fund) and the Alamo. The commissioner chairs the Veterans Land Board, which administers programs for Texas veterans, and is responsible for environmental protection of Texas’ coast. Other state boards chaired include the School Land Board and the Coastal Coordination Advisory Committee.'
They asked questions about qualifications, allocations of federal funds for disaster relief, what story the Alamo should tell, coastal storm protection, and priorities.
Jay Kleberg
Qualifications - Conservation work on the King Ranch, as the Associate Director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, as a land-based conservation business owner, and in environmental education.
Disaster relief - Doesn't answer the question of how to ensure that those with the highest needs are prioritized; wants to 'ensure that dense, urban areas are not penalized and that damage claims for lower income homeowners and renters are not ignored. I would also send teams into damaged communities to ensure the timely disbursement of FEMA funds and application for longer-term allocation of funds.'
Alamo - Be inclusive and factual
Coastal storm protection - 'The GLO will incorporate climate change modeling into the Coastal Management Plan, which will increase the standard for all federal and state investment on the coast. These higher standards would be applied to the Coastal Resiliency Master Plan and the $30 billion Coastal Spine. These standards would also maximize investments with GOMESA, NRDA, CEPRA and HUD-CDBG funds.' - I don't know what that means, but it sounds like looking at science to make preparations.
Priorities - 'to adequately fund our Texas schools through the General Land Office’s contribution to the Permanent School Fund, address the effects of climate change and diversify our state’s energy portfolio to strengthen our grid, and to prepare for future natural disasters by fortifying our coast and other vulnerable areas of our state.'
Sandragrace Martinez
Qualifications - 'expertise in trauma informed care, crisis management, my in-depth understanding of the legislative process, and the desire for educating my community.'
Disaster relief - Also doesn't answer the question, emphasizing preparation and saying that it depends.
Alamo - talk about 'how did it get here, who built it, and why.'
Coastal storm protection - She says 'projects along the Coastline must provide the required maintenance, development, and improvements to sustain those areas' but doesn't say how.
Priorities - 'Disaster readiness and prevention with fine tuning the logistics involved are paramount. Honoring our Veterans with the same level of devotion and allegiance that they made to this country, and applying that same devotion to their benefits and healthcare. I want to create more programs and initiatives to help provide funding for public education.'
Conclusions
Kleberg's qualifications sound much more relevant, neither answer the question on disaster fund prioritization, Kleberg is much more thoughtful on the Alamo [there's some kind of controversy on this, but I don't remember what], Martinez sounds clueless on protecting the coast, and Kleberg's priorities sound more important and more relevant to the post. So I'm inclined to go with Kleberg.
Endorsements:
Friend - 'Jay Kleberg is the better choice for Land Commissioner. He's got a long history of conservation, even if his political history is inconsistent. He was my second choice after Jinny Suh, and so I'll be voting for Jay.'
Chronicle - 'Kleberg was our clear choice in March when we thought Houston activist Jinny Suh would be his likely run-off opponent. Instead, random candidate Sandragrace Martinez claimed the second spot, which makes Kleberg an even stronger pick now to fix the General Land Office, left in tatters by the clumsy and cringey Bush princeling. His likely opponent in November will be outgoing state Sen. Dawn Buckingham, R-Lakeway.'
Planned Parenthood - Kleberg
Okay, Kleberg it is!
Texas Justice, 3rd Court of Appeals, Place 4 - per 411.org, 'Courts of Appeals hear appeals on civil and criminal cases from lower courts in their districts.'
They asked about qualifications, the impact of the recent change in qualifications, equity, ethics, and recommended changes in the system.
Rosa Lopez Theofanis
Qualifications - licensed attorney for almost 20 years, with the last 9 being moslty appeals including both civil and criminal cases
Impact - The change requires longer legal experience, which is good, but does not allow voters to 'weigh this benefit against other qualities they may prefer.'
Equity - We can improve it with 'increased public funding for counsel for low-income individuals, improved access to online filing and education on how to use it, and the expansion of self-help centers to assist pro se litigants.'
Ethics - 'The only tool we currently have that permits voters to assess the impact of campaign donations on elected judges is campaign finance reports that reveal the sources of donations to each individual judge. For voters to be completely assured that donations would not impact judicial decision-making, reform of our system of electing judges and financing campaigns is needed.'
Recommendations - 'The current division of the State into regional courts of appeals is functional, with methods in place to distribute cases in between courts as needed. Any bill giving the appearance of partisan gerrymander of the judicial districts or the cases they hear threatens the independent and fair nature of our courts, which is the most fundamental value of our justice system.'
Beth Payán
Qualifications - Hate Crimes Prosecutor and Lead Attorney of Diversion at the Travis County DA’s Office, with 29 years experience and a background in criminal justice reform.
Impact - 'Requiring a person to reside in and have practiced law in Texas ensures candidates with deeper, broader, and more relevant experience. However, we must make sure this requirement is not excluding underrepresented communities.'
Equity - We have improved it with virtual proceedings and must also 'include culturally competent materials and resources as well as waive court costs & fees for the indigent.'
Ethics - She just says that she, herself would be ethical.
Recommendations - 'The current court of appeals system is fair and allows for Justices to be elected by the people whose civil and criminal cases they will hear as the intermediate appellate courts for the state of Texas. Changes to the judicial system should be based on functionality and improving equitable access to justice.'
Conclusion
Theofanis's qualifications sound more relevant. On the impact of the new change, Theofanis is vague but on the ball whereas Payán is specific about one of the negatives, but then says "we must make sure" it's not happening, which I don't think is possible. Theofanis's ideas on equity sound more thorough, and only she addressed ethics in general, and her ideas on updates to the system sound more informed. So I'm inclined to vote for Theofanis.
Endorsements:
The Chronical endorsed Rosa Lopez Theofanis in the primary, though they liked all the candidates.
So I'll vote for Theofanis.
**
Here are my friend's comments on some of the other races around the state, in case they apply to you:
State Board of Education
District 1, Melissa Ortega: Endorsed by the incumbent, solid candidate.
District 2, Victor Perez: Experience and education for the job. His opponent has a history of running for any available seat over the last 30 years, and not winning any of them.
District 4, Coretta Mallet-Fontenot: Someone I trust in the education field is very excited about this candidate. Where their endorsement lands is a sure bet to be the right candidate.
TX Senate
District 27, Morgan LaMantia: Though her opponent was the candidate who forced Lucio into a runoff last cycle, LaMantia is someone with deep roots in the community and who will be a stronger statesman.
TX House
District 22, Christian "Manuel" Hayes: Beaumont area. He was the chief of staff for Rep Deshotel for ages, and now that Rep Deshotel has retired, Hayes is the best choice to fill his shoes.
District 37, Luis Villarreal, Jr.: Brownsville/Harlingen area. It's a close call, because Ruben Cortez has been a member of the SBOE, but I give the edge to Luis. He's got solid history working in the TXLege already.
District 70, Mihaela Plesa: Plano area. A legislative director for several TXLege members, she knows the ropes already and knows how to get legislation through.
District 76, Suleman Lalani: Fort Bend area. Medical doctor, and a strong candidate for the region.
District 100, Venton Jones: Dallas area. Jones has lined up all the right endorsements, and it's probably a safe bet. If not, you've got two years to find another candidate
District 114, Alexandra Guio: Dallas area. Young, dynamic candidate who is running against someone who served in congress back in the 90s. It'd be good to move forward with this seat, not backward.
District 147, Danielle Keys Bass: Houston area. The district is solidly Democratic, and while Jolanda Jones (narrowly won the special on May 7th) has served in Houston as a city councilwoman and on the HISD board of trustees, I've served with her on the SDEC. She's kind of a bomb-thrower, and will cause more problems than help. Bass is the better choice.
See what's on your ballot by entering your address and which party's primary you'll be voting in. If you already voted in the original primary election this year, you cannot vote in the other party's run-off. Here's what's on mine. Only 5 races, whew!
Below, I summarize what I found for each candidate on my ballot on vote411 (League of Women Voters) and my conclusions. Then I list some endorsements I found. Then my final conclusion.
Texas Lieutenant Governor - a very powerful position in Texas: president of the Texas Senate, where they appoint Senators and assign bills to committees and control the Senate's agenda, is a member of several commissions and boards, and serves as governor in the governor’s absence.
411.org asked questions about their qualifications, the power grid, state and local rights, reproductive health care, and public safety versus civil rights. Then I looked on their web sites for their priorities and information about the climate crisis.
Michelle Beckley
Qualifications - State representative, 2 terms.
Priorities - fix the grid, take the medicaid expansion, fully fund our public schools, and legalize and decriminalize marijuana (from the front page of her website)
Power grid - 'Texas needs to reverse the course of deregulation and consider the option of connecting back to the national grid.' (411.org)
State and local rights - 'The federal government needs to address the Voting Rights Bills. We saw our freedom to vote diluted as well as extreme gerrymandering in 2021. The state government should not interfere with local health regulations.' (411.org)
Reproductive health care - 'The attacks on women's healthcare should not continue. I voted against HB8. There should not be $10,000 bounties on women & health professionals. A womans's choice on abortion is between her and her doctor.' (411.org)
Public safety versus civil rights - Cities should know when a police applicant has been fired for cause elsewhere. (411.org)
Climate crisis - She has this to say about the Environment - 'To ensure that we meet Texas’ growing energy demands, we must continue to improve and expand our existing energy systems. Texas must work together to assure a dependable energy system and to prepare for the changing climate. Increased heat, drought, floods, reduced agricultural yields, negative health impacts, and a declining water supply are additional concerns related to climate change. We must encourage individuals and businesses to create strategic plans to address these concerns.' (website)
Okay, no, I think we need to invest more in wind and solar rather than improve and expand gas and oil. "work together to assure a dependable energy system"? What does that mean? "encourge individuals and businesses to create strategic plans to address" concerns about the changing climate? That sounds highly unlikely; individuals need help (easy, affordable options), and businesses only care about profit.
Mike Collier
Qualifications - Budget experiences as PriceWaterhouseCoopers CPA and an auditor and CFO of a Texas energy company.
Priorities - 'I will do right and risk the consequences.' Fully fund public schools (not vouchers and charters); fix the grid by investing in our critical infrastructure, redesigning it to prioritize users over massive corporations, prepare it from climate change (storms), and increase renewable energy, hold the line on property tax and sales tax increases by making corporations pay their fair share, defend our constitutional rights (let women control their health and destinies, let democracy thrive, and let Texans 'live and love as they were created' but also somehow magically 'put an end to the constant culture wars that have consumed our state government and pit Texan against Texan'; lead 'the fight against climate change through technological innovation and investment in renewables, smart grid technology, electricity storage, low carbon processes and materials, and reduction in methane releases and flaring'; create decent jobs, fighting 'for a living wage, safe working conditions, retirement security, and healthcare for all Texans'; reform the criminal justice system (make sure our officers are well trained, accountable to, and trusted by, their communities), enact red flag laws and end permitless carry, and legalize marijuana (to change prisoners into workers); return competence to the office.
Power grid - 'We must winterize our gas supply, invest in smart grid technology, and increase power storage. We must also ensure that Texas families do not pay more when companies pay less for an unreliable grid.'
State and local rights - 'If the behavior of any official is inconsistent with our constitutional rights, then it is the responsibility of the federal government, particularly the courts, to step in. That said, local control is key to accountability, and it’s at the heart of a healthy democracy. So, as Lt. Governor, I will work closely with duly elected local partners—not against them.'
Reproductive health care - 'Mike will defend our constitutional rights so that women will be masters of their own health and their own destinies. The Principles laid down by Roe v Wade and have guided us for nearly the last fifty years are reasonable and are supported by the vast majority of Americans.' - All of a sudden it's the third person.
Public safety versus civil rights - 'Mike will work to reverse laws that allow criminals to access firearms and put our communities and law enforcement officers at risk. Further, we all want law enforcement that we know, trust, and are accountable to our local communities. We must also invest more in mental health training and restorative justice to create safer, more prosperous communities across Texas.'
Climate crisis - 'we need more energy, not less. We need more renewable energy and we need to prepare our grid for the challenges of climate change as storms get more frequent and more severe.'
Conclusions
Neither one of these candidates can write or hire an editor. Okay, I shouldn't care about that.
Wouldn't a state rep be better than a big oil finance guy?
But Collier seems to have much more of a clue about the power grid and climate change. Beckley actually talks about voting rights and gerrymandering where Collier seems wishy-washy about state and local rights. Both are pro-choice. Neither talk much about civil rights, but Collier seems to have a lot more good ideas about public safety. I also like Collier's statement that 'I will do right and risk the consequences,' (something Abbott has not been able to do), but it's easy to talk big.
So, I'm inclined to choose Collier.
Endorsements from people who actually have a clue (they are more likely to know if someone is a troll or a big talker who does nothing or whatever):
My friend who keeps very informed, especially about local Democrats (Friend): Mike Collier - "Mike is fantastic, got very close to defeating Dan Patrick in the last round, and is well-positioned to be in this race. I've watched him knuckle down and keep working (and not in a Quixotic way) to win this seat."
The Austin Chronicle (an opinionated local liberal weekly paper) - Collier. For the primary, they called Collier 'the other decent and smart servant-leader white guy in the primary race [besides Dowd]' and said that Michelle Beckley is issue-free.
For the runoff, they say 'Collier was the Dem nominee to face Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in 2018, didn't embarrass himself then, has been running basically nonstop since (with a pause to be part of Joe Biden's Texas campaign team), and for his trouble drew not one but two last-minute opponents in the primary. He still came in first, more than 10% and 100,000 votes ahead of Rep. Michelle Beckley of Carrollton, who kicked off her run-off by demanding Collier drop out, since he "obviously doesn't excite the base." Dismissed as "furniture" by Texas Monthly in its 2021 best/worst legislators roundup, Beckley saw her Denton County seat wiped out in redistricting, so now she's here trying to fail up. Collier and Texas deserve better.'
Planned Parenthood of Texas (part of a national pro-choice organization providing low-cost women's reproductive health services) - Collier
Okay, I'm still going with Mike Collier.
Texas Attorney General - Per 411 'The Attorney General is the chief law enforcement officer of the state; represents the state and state officials in legal matters; issues opinions; oversees collection of child support; administers the crime victims compensation fund; enforces the open records/open meetings acts; approves public bond issues; and enforces consumer regulations.' Our current AG, Paxton, has been suing everyone who doesn't do Trump's bidding and peer pressuring Abbott into doing Trump's bidding more than he otherwise would. Pretty much anyone would be better than him.
411 has asked questions about qualifications, election freedom versus security, reproductive health care, immigration, and priorities.
Rochelle Mercedes Garza
Qualifications - 'experience in immigration, family, criminal, and constitutional law. My work has resulted in the “Garza Notice,” a requirement that teens in immigration detention have a right to access abortion.'
Election freedom versus security - Will replace the “election integrity unit” (which enforces the GOP’s voter suppression measures) with a voter protection unit under a fully funded civil rights department.
Reproductive health care - 'Abortion care is health care, and health care is a human right. Reproductive choice is a moral imperative and an issue of racial, economic, and gender justice. I’m committed to restoring abortion access in TX and defending the rights of women and pregnant people anywhere they’re threatened.'
Immigration - 'Immigration enforcement falls under federal jurisdiction. As an immigration attorney & border native, I understand the complexities of our immigration system. I have litigated against bad policies, like Remain in Mexico, that have created a humanitarian crisis at the border.'
Priorities - 'protecting constitutional rights, including voting & abortion rights; consumer protection, so our energy grid doesn’t fail; and prioritizing public health, so municipalities & schools can protect people in the middle of a pandemic and our rural communities have the infrastructure they need, like clean drinking water.'
Joe Jaworski
Qualifications - 30 years' experience in trial and appellate litigation in TX state and federal courts; Texas mediator; 8 years local government experience.
Election freedom versus security - Also wants to replace the "fake voter fraud division," but with a voter access unit--'TX voters should turn to the AG's office when their voting rights are suppressed. District and County attorneys may initiate fraud prosecution to keep our elections safe, but access is the key.' He also wants to 'ensure principals are registering high school seniors. Elec. Code 13.046(d)'
Reproductive health care - 'I support the Rule of Law set forth in Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood vs. Casey. Abortion should remain legal and available before fetal viability outside the mother's womb. Government should get out of the way of family planning education and broad reproductive healthcare access.'
Immigration - 'State government should partner with the federal government to enforce federal immigration laws. For example, as Texas AG I would dedicate part of my $1.1 Billion budget to hire eight SAUSAs (Special Asst. U.S. Attorneys) to work under the direction of the United States Attorneys for the Southern and Western Districts of Texas to prosecute cartel immigration crimes.'
Priorities - 'I will dismiss any lingering lawsuits brought by the Texas AG against the ACA before lunch. I will testify in the 2023 Legislature for cannabis legalization (for jobs, to help our veterans, and to give our police a break so they can fight real crime). I will ensure principals register every 18 year old pursuant to Tex. Elec. Code 13.046(d).'
Conclusions
Garza's experience sounds slightly more relevant. Both want to get rid of voter suppression; Garza seems a little more proactive about civil rights. Both are pro-choice, but Garza is more extreme (health care is a right) and it's not clear what Jaworski would do if Roe v. Wade is overturned. Garza focuses on the humanitarian crisis; Jaworski on 'cartel immigration crimes.' Garza prioritizes rights and basic utilities, Jaworski, Obamacare, legalizing cannabis, and getting young people to vote.
It looks like if you're a conservative but not pro-Trump, you might like Jaworski more; if you're a pretty left-wing liberal, you might like Garza more. I think I care more about the humanitarian crisis than cartel crimes and on rights and utilities over legalizing cannabis and getting young people to vote. Though, yes, please vote, young people! So I'm inclined to vote for Garza.
Endorsements:
Friend - 'Joe Jaworski has been running this race for a long time, and I respect the hell out of him. We'd be so much better off with Joe than the incumbent. Former mayor of Galveston, and someone who is just an outstanding person.'
Chronicle - Brownsville attorney Garza, formerly of the ACLU of Texas, got more than twice as many votes as runner-up Joe Jaworski, the former mayor of Galveston, who himself barely edged past Dallas civil rights attorney Lee Merritt. All would be two orders of magnitude better than GOP incumbent Ken Paxton, who will almost certainly win his own run-off against hapless George P. Bush, but Garza clearly has consensus backing in the party and can make a clear contrast.
Planned Parenthood - Garza
Oh, I'm going to go with my friend on this and vote Jaworski. I'd love to vote for 'someone who is just an outstanding person.'
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts - Per 411.org, 'The comptroller is the chief financial officer of the state; collects state taxes and fees; pays the state's bills; provides revenue estimates to the legislature; certifies the budget; reports the condition of the state’s finances; and provides economic development assistance to local governments and private businesses.'
411.org asks questions about qualifications, the Rainy Day Fund, taxes, long-term financial obligations (such as infrastructure maintenance, state employee pensions and health care coverage for public school teachers and employees), and priorities.
Janet T. Dudding
Qualifications - 'certified public accountant (CPA) who’s spent my adult life in governmental accounting, auditing, administration and even investigations.'
Rainy Day Fund - 'Government Finance Officers Association recommends a minimum of 2 months of regular revenue or regular expenditures be maintained in a rainy day fund. Typically, rainy day monies mitigate the risk of unstable revenues or unexpected expenditures. Natural disasters fall into the second category.'
Taxes - She wants new revenue streams: 'legalizing adult-use cannabis could bring $1 billion in tax revenue (and decriminalization could save $300 million). Look at "green" taxes to build revenue streams from green energy.'
Long-term financial obligations - 'Texas should accept the $35 billion of federal Infrastructure and Jobs Act dollars, ... look at creating a revenue stream from alternative fuels to maintain roads,'
Public school employees in all but ~12 school districts do not participate in social security and they should. Find the money.
Priorities - The 'Comptroller has the bully pulpit on how our money is spent.
Expanding comp mental health & healthcare to 1.4 million adult Texans saves $100 million in state tax and our property taxes.
Work with local governments re broadband as a local utility, keeping the costs down and creating an income stream.
Work with state agencies, reduce methane emissions on state property.'
Angel Luis Vega
Qualifications - 'a purpose-driven professional offering over 20 years in business strategy, finance, operations, managing multimillion-dollar budgets, and large groups of people.'
Rainy Day Fund - 'We should increase the fund to 25 billion & allocate 1.75 to 2 billion annually. The primary purpose of these funds should be for natural disasters and recession to support our communities, support people keeping their homes, adequately fund our schools, support any healthcare crisis, provide food assistance and guarantee public safety.'
Taxes - Wants to 'focus on boosting Texans entrepreneurship, attracting new business opportunities, eliminating the corporate tax loopholes, and reducing the unemployment rate to under 3%.'
Long-term financial obligations - 'a transparent tax administration. Be effective in forecasting, identifying the fundamental long-term obligations, putting our community first without eliminating essential funds for our public school teachers, employees, retirees, and community programs. Invest strategically, attract more business ventures to the state and legalize recreational marijuana.'
Priorities - 'transparency, accountability, efficiency, optimizing the office's capabilities, boosting entrepreneurship, attracting new business opportunities, thriving jobs, and reducing unemployment under 3%. Guarantee retirement security & protect pensions.'
Conclusions
Dudding's experience seems much more relevant--finances seem to be only a small part of Vega's background. I do like Vega's idea of adding to a rainy day fund annually rather than stopping when you hit a certain target, but he seems to think it can be used for an awful lot of things. I'm not sure how relevant the tax question is; I thought they collected taxes rather than decided what's taxed. They do have quite different answers; it seems like Duddings ideas would be easier. Dudding addressed two of the examples with accepting federal infrastructure money, taxing alternative fuels, and letting teachers contribute to Social Security*; Vega discusses transparency, pro-business ideas, and legalizing even recreational marijuana. Dudding has a variety of priorities: healthcare, broadband and reduced methane emissions; Vega's are about efficiency and business.
* Most teachers contribute to a state pension rather than Social Security. And I think there's some rule that makes it hard for them to collect from both, even if they have other jobs that did require them to contribute to Social Security. When I worked for the state, I got to contribute to both, and that's fantastic.
Dudding sounds better to me.
Endorsements
Friend - 'Janet Dudding is a CPA (you want this in a comptroller!). The kind of investigative CPA who sniffs out and exposes corruption/ethics violations. She cut her teeth investigating corruption in governmental entities, and she's the right person to clean up Texas' Comptroller of Public Accounts. (Plus, she's a great friend and fellow tuba player, so I love her to bits.)'
Chronicle - 'We no-endorsed in this race in March because incumbent Glenn Hegar, though a pro-life Republican, is the only competent GOP statewide official. Dudding, unlike her run-off opponent Angel Luis Vega, is a CPA at least.'
Planned Parenthood - Dudding
I'll go with Dudding
Texas Commissioner of the General Land Office - per 411.org, 'the commissioner manages state lands, including oil and gas properties (which supply funds to the Permanent School Fund) and the Alamo. The commissioner chairs the Veterans Land Board, which administers programs for Texas veterans, and is responsible for environmental protection of Texas’ coast. Other state boards chaired include the School Land Board and the Coastal Coordination Advisory Committee.'
They asked questions about qualifications, allocations of federal funds for disaster relief, what story the Alamo should tell, coastal storm protection, and priorities.
Jay Kleberg
Qualifications - Conservation work on the King Ranch, as the Associate Director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, as a land-based conservation business owner, and in environmental education.
Disaster relief - Doesn't answer the question of how to ensure that those with the highest needs are prioritized; wants to 'ensure that dense, urban areas are not penalized and that damage claims for lower income homeowners and renters are not ignored. I would also send teams into damaged communities to ensure the timely disbursement of FEMA funds and application for longer-term allocation of funds.'
Alamo - Be inclusive and factual
Coastal storm protection - 'The GLO will incorporate climate change modeling into the Coastal Management Plan, which will increase the standard for all federal and state investment on the coast. These higher standards would be applied to the Coastal Resiliency Master Plan and the $30 billion Coastal Spine. These standards would also maximize investments with GOMESA, NRDA, CEPRA and HUD-CDBG funds.' - I don't know what that means, but it sounds like looking at science to make preparations.
Priorities - 'to adequately fund our Texas schools through the General Land Office’s contribution to the Permanent School Fund, address the effects of climate change and diversify our state’s energy portfolio to strengthen our grid, and to prepare for future natural disasters by fortifying our coast and other vulnerable areas of our state.'
Sandragrace Martinez
Qualifications - 'expertise in trauma informed care, crisis management, my in-depth understanding of the legislative process, and the desire for educating my community.'
Disaster relief - Also doesn't answer the question, emphasizing preparation and saying that it depends.
Alamo - talk about 'how did it get here, who built it, and why.'
Coastal storm protection - She says 'projects along the Coastline must provide the required maintenance, development, and improvements to sustain those areas' but doesn't say how.
Priorities - 'Disaster readiness and prevention with fine tuning the logistics involved are paramount. Honoring our Veterans with the same level of devotion and allegiance that they made to this country, and applying that same devotion to their benefits and healthcare. I want to create more programs and initiatives to help provide funding for public education.'
Conclusions
Kleberg's qualifications sound much more relevant, neither answer the question on disaster fund prioritization, Kleberg is much more thoughtful on the Alamo [there's some kind of controversy on this, but I don't remember what], Martinez sounds clueless on protecting the coast, and Kleberg's priorities sound more important and more relevant to the post. So I'm inclined to go with Kleberg.
Endorsements:
Friend - 'Jay Kleberg is the better choice for Land Commissioner. He's got a long history of conservation, even if his political history is inconsistent. He was my second choice after Jinny Suh, and so I'll be voting for Jay.'
Chronicle - 'Kleberg was our clear choice in March when we thought Houston activist Jinny Suh would be his likely run-off opponent. Instead, random candidate Sandragrace Martinez claimed the second spot, which makes Kleberg an even stronger pick now to fix the General Land Office, left in tatters by the clumsy and cringey Bush princeling. His likely opponent in November will be outgoing state Sen. Dawn Buckingham, R-Lakeway.'
Planned Parenthood - Kleberg
Okay, Kleberg it is!
Texas Justice, 3rd Court of Appeals, Place 4 - per 411.org, 'Courts of Appeals hear appeals on civil and criminal cases from lower courts in their districts.'
They asked about qualifications, the impact of the recent change in qualifications, equity, ethics, and recommended changes in the system.
Rosa Lopez Theofanis
Qualifications - licensed attorney for almost 20 years, with the last 9 being moslty appeals including both civil and criminal cases
Impact - The change requires longer legal experience, which is good, but does not allow voters to 'weigh this benefit against other qualities they may prefer.'
Equity - We can improve it with 'increased public funding for counsel for low-income individuals, improved access to online filing and education on how to use it, and the expansion of self-help centers to assist pro se litigants.'
Ethics - 'The only tool we currently have that permits voters to assess the impact of campaign donations on elected judges is campaign finance reports that reveal the sources of donations to each individual judge. For voters to be completely assured that donations would not impact judicial decision-making, reform of our system of electing judges and financing campaigns is needed.'
Recommendations - 'The current division of the State into regional courts of appeals is functional, with methods in place to distribute cases in between courts as needed. Any bill giving the appearance of partisan gerrymander of the judicial districts or the cases they hear threatens the independent and fair nature of our courts, which is the most fundamental value of our justice system.'
Beth Payán
Qualifications - Hate Crimes Prosecutor and Lead Attorney of Diversion at the Travis County DA’s Office, with 29 years experience and a background in criminal justice reform.
Impact - 'Requiring a person to reside in and have practiced law in Texas ensures candidates with deeper, broader, and more relevant experience. However, we must make sure this requirement is not excluding underrepresented communities.'
Equity - We have improved it with virtual proceedings and must also 'include culturally competent materials and resources as well as waive court costs & fees for the indigent.'
Ethics - She just says that she, herself would be ethical.
Recommendations - 'The current court of appeals system is fair and allows for Justices to be elected by the people whose civil and criminal cases they will hear as the intermediate appellate courts for the state of Texas. Changes to the judicial system should be based on functionality and improving equitable access to justice.'
Conclusion
Theofanis's qualifications sound more relevant. On the impact of the new change, Theofanis is vague but on the ball whereas Payán is specific about one of the negatives, but then says "we must make sure" it's not happening, which I don't think is possible. Theofanis's ideas on equity sound more thorough, and only she addressed ethics in general, and her ideas on updates to the system sound more informed. So I'm inclined to vote for Theofanis.
Endorsements:
The Chronical endorsed Rosa Lopez Theofanis in the primary, though they liked all the candidates.
So I'll vote for Theofanis.
**
Here are my friend's comments on some of the other races around the state, in case they apply to you:
State Board of Education
District 1, Melissa Ortega: Endorsed by the incumbent, solid candidate.
District 2, Victor Perez: Experience and education for the job. His opponent has a history of running for any available seat over the last 30 years, and not winning any of them.
District 4, Coretta Mallet-Fontenot: Someone I trust in the education field is very excited about this candidate. Where their endorsement lands is a sure bet to be the right candidate.
TX Senate
District 27, Morgan LaMantia: Though her opponent was the candidate who forced Lucio into a runoff last cycle, LaMantia is someone with deep roots in the community and who will be a stronger statesman.
TX House
District 22, Christian "Manuel" Hayes: Beaumont area. He was the chief of staff for Rep Deshotel for ages, and now that Rep Deshotel has retired, Hayes is the best choice to fill his shoes.
District 37, Luis Villarreal, Jr.: Brownsville/Harlingen area. It's a close call, because Ruben Cortez has been a member of the SBOE, but I give the edge to Luis. He's got solid history working in the TXLege already.
District 70, Mihaela Plesa: Plano area. A legislative director for several TXLege members, she knows the ropes already and knows how to get legislation through.
District 76, Suleman Lalani: Fort Bend area. Medical doctor, and a strong candidate for the region.
District 100, Venton Jones: Dallas area. Jones has lined up all the right endorsements, and it's probably a safe bet. If not, you've got two years to find another candidate
District 114, Alexandra Guio: Dallas area. Young, dynamic candidate who is running against someone who served in congress back in the 90s. It'd be good to move forward with this seat, not backward.
District 147, Danielle Keys Bass: Houston area. The district is solidly Democratic, and while Jolanda Jones (narrowly won the special on May 7th) has served in Houston as a city councilwoman and on the HISD board of trustees, I've served with her on the SDEC. She's kind of a bomb-thrower, and will cause more problems than help. Bass is the better choice.