What are the three main reasons you're running for this office and what do you hope to accomplish? How many terms do you plan to serve?

1. Love of Community.  I moved to this community in 1997. I believe in supporting and serving our community. I have accomplished this through my church service, board service on many different government and non-profit organizations, building and selling my business in this community and raising my family in this community.
2. Our community needs a State Representative who represents our community values, conducts himself/herself respectfully with appropriate decorum, someone who is known to be approachable and understands how to get the business of the district done.
3. I best represent the love of community, community values, respect for others, and have a proven record of leadership that gets the job done.

Hope to Accomplish:

• Work with State Legislature and Federal government on border security
• Provide long term property tax relief

How many terms of service:

I would be willing to serve 5 terms (10 years) if the people of District 15 wish me to do so.

Do you support/oppose implementing term limits for all elective offices? Why?

Yes, I do not believe our original founding fathers meant to create career politicians. The constitution was made by the people for the people and of the people. We have seen politicians like Joe Biden make a career of politics, become wealthy off the backs of taxpayers, and eventually be swayed by how to get elected versus what is best for the community. Term limits would help aid in bringing fresh ideas, allow for new leadership, inspire more people to serve, and cut down on corrupt career politicians.

The House Speaker has too much power (fact). Describe the rule changes needed to distribute some of that power & how that can be accomplished.

Whoever fills the House Speaker’s chair should be required to bring all the Governor’s, and Lt. Governor’s items to the House floor to vote.  The House of Representative is also considered the lower chamber and should act as such.

This is a Republican primary race.  Do you promise, if elected, to abide by the RPT platform? And if not, please enumerate what problems you have.

The Republican Party of Texas’s mission is committed to advancing limited government, lower taxes, less spending and individual liberty. The goal is to grow the Republican Party by reaching new voters, advance the Platform, which is grounded in conservative principle, and to keep Texas prosperous and free. I couldn't think of a better platform that describes me and how I will legislate. 

Do you support Interposition and Nullification as it pertains to Texas State Sovereignty?

The Supreme Court in Texas vs. Whit (1869) stated “Texas became one of the United States, she entered into an indissoluble relation.  All the obligations of perpetual union, and all the guarantees of republic government in the Union, attached at once to the state.”  According to the Supreme Court, no matter how many resolutions, conferences or legal maneuvering, there is no clear-cut way for Texas to gain its sovereignty again.  In addition, according to the latest Rasmussen poll, 75% of Polled Texans want to stay part of the United States.  

What issues are your personal, do-or-die priorities for the 89th Legislature?

My priorities are my community priorities.  As stated earlier, according to this community, Border Security, Government Corruption, and long-term property tax relief are the highest of priorities. That will be my focus.

Please describe your plan for balancing the Texas budget. What budget items need to be cut and what taxes and fees need to be increased?

For the last nine years I have been part of the process to balance the 680 million dollar budget of the Conroe Independent School District. The process requires collaboration and transparency. We have workshops and public hearings and we make sure our processes are audited. Everything is transparent as we strive for effective financial management while supporting educational goals. My plan for balancing the Texas state budget would be similar to what I have done at our local level; that is, focus on critical areas while maintaining fiscal responsibility. My plan would be to effectively rein in the state’s spending budget, reducing the burden & providing more opportunity for tax relief for all Texans in the future.

Will you commit to reduce the size of government at all levels by a specific date, so that total spending would not exceed 8% of total personal income (which includes corporations and other business entities as well as individuals) at the federal level, 5% at the state level, and 5% at the local level?

As a lifelong conservative, I will commit to work toward reducing the size of government from Day One of my legislative service, and will do so each and every day, in every way that I can.

What is your view regarding reducing or eliminating property taxes in favor of increased sales taxes and increased user fees?

In Texas, Property Taxes are a continuous struggle for lawmakers. Of course, the rise in values in much of our state, and particularly in District 15, is partially to blame. The difficulty is to determine a proper replacement for property taxes, or a satisfactory combination of taxes and fees.  I would not vote to overload working families with a huge sales tax, just to trade one burdensome tax for another. The largest portion of Texas property taxes is public school funding.  I would work towards creating a new public school funding system that would reduce public school funding with a consumption tax.  We need a funding formula that allows everyone to pay into our schools.  In a well-educated community, everyone prospers, even those who do not have children in schools. Creating a system where all contribute to the funding would be ideal and allow for a significant reduction or elimination in property taxes.

What do you propose to solve the problem of underfunded liabilities, such as the state employee retirement fund?

I believe a promise made is a promise that needs to be kept.  If Texas makes a promise (state employee retirement, public schools, etc.) then Texas must keep the promise.  This is why we need fiscally conservative business minded Representation in Austin.  We need to eliminate unnecessary bills that require Texas funding which steals from other previous necessary funding.

Please list the top issues where you oppose federal government intrusion into Texans' lives and how you intend to oppose such intrusion.

Actually, it's the opposite, the biggest issue for Texans is the Federal Governments unwillingness to secure our southern border from illegal crossings.  The Texas Legislature needs to band together and make the federal government enforce our southern border with Mexico by:

•  Building a wall to deter illegal immigration
•  Addressing the long overdue federal immigration policy

As a state legislator, I would work with proven leaders that have a track record of providing trusted influence, such as US Congressmen and Senators, to provide implementable solutions, not just rhetoric.

Do you support or oppose limiting the power of eminent domain to public works purposes? Support Oppose

I support limiting the power of eminent domain to public work purposes.

Do you support or oppose requiring schools, public health departments or any medical personnel to secure consent from a parent or legal guardian before prescribing, dispensing or administering contraceptive drugs or devices to a minor?

As a father, and as a hopeful legislator, I 100% support parental approval and involvement and consent before prescribing, dispensing, or administering contraceptive drugs or devices to a minor.

Will you vote to prohibit the expansion or creation of federal databases that monitor the activities of law-abiding Americans, such as bank deposits, cell phone usage, health care, air travel, schoolchildren, and lawful gun purchases? (Databases of felons and aliens are OK.)

Yes

What problems do you see with how the Legislature creates Improvement Districts and Special Purpose Districts and what solutions do you propose? Specifically address indebtedness.

In general, there is no comprehensive review for how the money is being spent and the benefit provided to the community.  Some SPDs overlap other taxing jurisdiction that can or should provide these services which creates wasteful spending.  My solution would include auditing the SPDs to determine the cost associated with the services and to determine if other already created entities can manage or create the services at a much lower cost.  I am aware the Republican Party of Texas opposes the creation of management or special purpose districts with the authority to impose taxes and bonded debt, and in general I understand that position. Some are overreaching and burden a small number of taxpayers with taxes to satisfy debt that the District takes on itself through bonds. These Districts should be used sparingly. In House District 15, The Woodlands Township is a shining example of a special purpose district that has been extremely successful.

What have you done/will you do to prevent/extract Common Core, CRT, SEL and IB from our schools systems?

As the President of Conroe ISD Board of Trustees, I affirm that Conroe ISD only teaches the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), which are the state standards for what students should know and be able to do. Conroe ISD does not teach Common Core curriculum, CRT, SEL or IB.  Furthermore, I have worked with our Superintendent to make sure that all school campus principals “own” their campus and ensure that outside teaching materials that support the above stated ideology do not make it into the classroom.  If by some rare chance they do, the District is to provide swift disciplinary action.

If you were able to fix how public education was funded, how would you do it and why?

Do away with Golden, Copper, and Bronze pennies.  School finance should be easy to understand and explain.  The use of these pennies is difficult for the average person to comprehend.  I would also revisit the Robin Hood legislation.  This is a complex issue that would not be fixed overnight.  It would need to be done in steps or layers; however, start with doing away with golden, copper, and bronze pennies.

Will you vote to prohibit the use of state funds to teach immigrants in their native languages, instead of English (so-called bilingual education)?

No, studies have shown that students who learn concepts and strategies in the native language first have a higher success rate of learning the same and additional concepts and strategies in their non-native language.

Please describe your views on gambling as a funding source for education and other budget items, and whether gambling should be expanded or reduced along with the reasons supporting your viewpoint.

I am not in favor of using gambling as a source of school funding.  I have not seen the fruits of this program work to provide lower school taxes for all school districts.  This program should not be expanded.  I support the current Texas gambling laws. 

Is there anything in your background of an embarrassing nature that should be explained before your election? Arrests/Convictions? Bankruptcies?

No

Would you actively support legislation to reign in rogue DA's?

I would support legislation to curb any elected officeholder who has abused or unduly taken advantage of his or her office.

Will you submit a bill eliminating the ability of a member of the Legislature to change their vote after the official vote is recorded?

There are times when a legislator needs to change a vote.  If a legislator is not at his or her chair to vote due to an excused absence (in a committee meeting), they can go back and actually cast a vote.  Technically that is considered to be a changed vote.  However, some legislators abuse the ability to change votes. I believe vote changes should be limited, and any vote change needs to be posted in a place where the public can readily and easily access the information. I also think any legislator that changes their original vote should provide a statement of explanation for why they made the change.

Will you oppose the use of state funds to distribute abortion-causing drugs, such as RU-486?

Yes

Please fully describe what methods of funding roads in Texas you will support and oppose, and give your reasoning. Please discuss all revenue sources, tax diversions, tolls, and debt.

I support the fuel tax, tolls, and road bonds to fund Texas Roads.  I also support a sales tax or user fee for fully electric cars that do not pay a fuel tax.  With that, I believe once a road bond has been paid off, the toll must be removed and given to TXDOT to maintain.  Very similar to the toll bridge at 242 and I-45.

What is the most important legislative problem you see for the next legislative session and what do you propose to solve it?

Until our border is secure, it will continue to be our most important problem to address.  Please refer to previous questions for the details on how to solve this problem.  If this problem is solved before the 2025 session, the next most important legislative problem for District 15 will be determined by the citizens of District 15.  I will be heavily engaged in every corner of this great district to determine what that issue is.