It seems clear that Nicole Collier's story has resonated with voters in east and southeast Fort Worth.
In the Democratic primary, the 40-year-old lawyer came out way ahead of two other candidates for a shot at the Texas House District 95 seat. She then got 60 percent of the vote in a runoff to beat an older, better-known lawyer.Collier knows about struggle and accomplishment: Though she had children when she was 16 and 18, she graduated from high school and college, got off welfare, earned a law degree and has juggled being a wife, mother, grandmother and civil trial attorney.Collier has been politically active as a precinct chair and election judge. She decided to seek elected office when the District 95 incumbent, Rep. Marc Veasey, ran for the new Congressional District 33.Collier said she was concerned about cuts in healthcare funding, Texas' unacceptably high number of uninsured residents and the need to properly fund public education.District 95 includes some of Fort Worth's neediest neighborhoods, along with downtown and Forest Hill, Everman and Edgecliff Village.In this race, Collier has the better sense about issues, including education, health insurance and transportation, that the Legislature needs to address in the 2013 session.Republican Monte Mitchell, 57, who has medical and law licenses, has run unsuccessfully for the House before in a different district. He started to run for Congress but switched races. He doesn't seem to have a clear understanding of a state legislator's job.The Star-Telegram Editorial Board recommends Nicole Collier for Texas House District 95.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
