Meet the Texas Democrats running for Congress in District 26
The Star-Telegram sent questionnaires to all candidates. Responses have been edited for clarity and length.
Neil Durrance
Occupation: Attorney at Law, 38 years
Age: 63
Website: neildurrance.com
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Public offices you’ve held or run for, with years: Denton City Council, Chairman Denton County Democratic Party
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain: No.
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain: Yes. I was sued by a Debtor in an Adversarial Proceeding in Bankruptcy Court. I filed responsive pleadings and was dismissed from the case by the Court.
Why are you seeking this office?
I believe that it is time to stop the willful blindness of hyper-partisanship which places ideology and party over country. We are not a red people or a blue people but American people with real needs. Things work best when we work together.
What would your top 3 policy priorities be?
▪ Health Insurance Reform
▪ Education
▪ Jobs/Economy for Texas
Why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?
I believe it is high time to stop the willful blindness of the tribal politics of hyper-partisanship which places ideology and party over country. It is time to go back to work for the people.
The federal government is accumulating record debt, with massive deficits even in a strong economy. What specific steps would you endorse to reduce the deficit?
Repeal the Trump and Bush tax cuts for the wealthy and require all to pay their fair share. In addition, we have over 200 agencies of the federal government that are duplicitous and unnecessary. We can cut the fat and deliver for the people.
What changes should be made in U.S. trade policy?
Stop the trade wars, tariffs, and the outflow of jobs from our country by utilization of tax structured incentives. Build cooperative a front with our allies and friends around the world to focus on the theft of technology and intellectual property rights and use the sanctions that are available to us through the treaties and agreements in the World Trade Organization. This steady and long term approach has always proven more affective then bluster and bombast of the present administration.
What changes to immigration law do you support? Would you vote to build any additional border wall or fence? Do you support a path to citizenship for those currently here illegally?
The same deal that was a bi-partisan agreement of Congress and rejected by the Administration two years ago with guest worker and pathways to citizenship amendments. We have a border wall and fencing. I would agree to improvements where necessary without taking the peoples property. We provide a way for people to get right with their government if they want to and bring them into our society.
What steps should the federal government take to combat climate change, if any?
This and all of the questions here are worthy of a few thousand words, not just a 100 word limit to really understand how a candidate thinks and plans. Immediately, we could subsidize the national transition to renewable energy sources which are now less expensive than oil and coal fired plants. In addition, since 94% of the air pollution in District 26 comes out of the tailpipe of a car, programs that would help the transition to electric vehicles with MSRP allowances and rebates.
Mat Pruneda
Occupation: Analyst Controller
Age: 48
Website: www.MatForTexas.com
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Public offices you’ve held or run for, with years: Commissioner Planning and Zoning - Denton, TX
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain:
No
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain:
No
Why are you seeking this office?
Because it’s about time we had real people representing our district - people who have actually lived through the legislation others have passed because they were lobbied. I am an average citizen. I have a mortgage. My kids attend public schools. I pay too much for healthcare. I worry about my kids affording college.
There are hundreds of thousands of others who have the same issues. Those issues are ignored. It’s time hundreds of thousands had somebody who was looking out for them in office.
What would your top 3 policy priorities be?
Affordable healthcare for all
Clean air and water
Bringing good paying jobs to our district
Why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?
I have a history of service and advocacy to the community. I have a verifiable voting record on issues affecting the community. am an experienced negotiator who has managed big projects for millions of people and billions in assets. We have published the most complete policy positions in this race.
If Dems are going to make an impact, they need to be aggressive and actually stand for their beliefs. To this end, my campaign is the only campaign that has publicly challenged the incumbent. Currently, my opponents refuse to debate or be accountable to voters. Our district deserves better.
The federal government is accumulating record debt, with massive deficits even in a strong economy. What specific steps would you endorse to reduce the deficit?
The “GOP’s Corporate Welfare” Tax Reform has been a failure. It gave a false boost to Wall Street but burdened the middle class and resulted in huge deficits. The CBO estimated the current cost at $1.9 trillion. Let’s reform that tax bill and offer cuts only companies that offer family leave and child care benefits. We must also reduce spending on government programs that provide little real value. Stop subsidizing coal, that nobody wants, and invest in the energy technologies of the future. Or ICE’s budget of $83B compared to the FBI at $8.9B. This makes no sense.
What changes should be made in U.S. trade policy?
The elephant in the room is China. China’s dominance in supply to the U.S., and Western Europe, places us all at a disadvantage. Trumps ego doesn’t understand that reality.
A multilateral negotiation, incorporating our European allies, is the only way to assert sufficient leverage over China, thereby reducing the overall burden on American consumers, while simultaneously driving real progress in trade. We have allies, let’s use them, and use the buying power of the western world to bring home lower prices, so Americans can invest in their futures.
What changes to immigration law do you support? Would you vote to build any additional border wall or fence? Do you support a path to citizenship for those currently here illegally?
Expedited Path to Citizenship for Undocumented Veterans and their families. Moving ICE out of DHS and using their $8.2B for more cost effective and humane border enforcement. We need to be monitoring for human trafficking and real crimes, not misdemeanor crossings. Seeing as the wall is already falling apart, investing more in that money point is poor fiscal policy.
Yes. These members of our community already contribute to SSN, property tax and sales tax. Let’s reduce strains on budgets by maximizing their tax base contributions, while granting them the protections they’ve earned by supporting our society.
What steps should the federal government take to combat climate change, if any?
Stop subsidizing coal and big oil. Move that money toward clean energy. Let’s change the conversation, too. I opposing the poisoning of our air and water. Whether you believe in climate change or not, nobody wants to drink and breathe poison. Let’s fix that. Once we do everything else falls into place. We need to ensure our public infrastructure projects minimize negative impacts on the environment and encourage water recapture and reduce temperatures.
Carol H. Iannuzzi
Did not respond.
This story was originally published February 12, 2020 at 2:28 PM.
