I am a lifelong resident of Wichita Falls. I graduated from Rider High School, and then Midwestern State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration, majoring in accounting. I became a Certified Public Accountant in 1981 and opened my CPA office that year in addition to operating other ventures. A CPA is trained to be precise, look for details, work within the law and work with budgets. Having a family with two children who are now teachers in addition to having two sisters who are retired teachers gives me insight into the challenges of public education. My volunteer work with Interfaith Outreach Services as a member of the Board of Directors and Treasurer gives me insight into poverty in Texas and the need to help others.

I believe that the most pressing issues in the next Texas Legislative session will be School Vouchers, Healthcare, and Property Taxes. I will vote against School Vouchers because I believe Public Education is Job #1. School Vouchers or School Choice isn’t the truth, because private schools have the choice, not your family. I will work to expand Medicaid in Texas because it is not only our best chance to bring affordable healthcare to an estimated one million Texans but will also boost our economy. I will work to stop the billionaires who want to eliminate property taxes. These taxes fund our public schools, our fire departments, our police departments, our streets and roads, and maintain our towns, cities and counties.

In a challenging funding environment, the legislature must always be beyond reproach in their decisions. The legislature represents the people of Texas and in that responsibility, the legislature should always do the right thing. Public schools serving 5,427,157 students must be fully funded instead of private schools serving 351,497 students. Health care should be available to more Texans, rather than fewer Texans. Expanding Medicaid will serve more Texans and will be a boom to the economy. Texans are paying federal taxes into the system that is sending our taxes back to other states. Texas needs to join Medicaid expansion for the good of Texans. Helping the most people live better lives is a key in funding decisions.

Fully funding Public Education is the key to the future of Texas. Three decades of underfunding by the state has resulted in Texas ranking 42nd in the nation in per pupil funding. We provide only $11,030 per pupil per year, $4,000 less than the national average. Texas schools are currently spending at a deficit rate of $800 per student per year. This must not continue when Texas has large budget surpluses and funding has been held back by Governor Abbott. Teachers need to be fully rewarded as the professionals they are. Retired teachers need to be compensated with cost-of-living increases. Vouchers drain money from public education. States that have voucher programs are now in desperate budget problems. Texas shouldn’t follow the losers.

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