Tarrant County Judge candidates in Republican primary March 1
Robert Trevor Buker
Occupation: Corrections
Age: 38
What’s the best way for voters to reach you? Phone and Campaign Page
Website: www.voterobertbukerfortarrantcountyjudge.com
Public offices you’ve held or run for, with years: None
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain: None
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain: None
Why are you seeking this office? To bring change and positivity back to the Office.
What would your top 3 policy priorities be? Transparency, Fiscal Responsibility, Elections
Why should voters choose you over your opponents? I am not a politician. I will follow the Constitution. I have no pac or special interest ties. I am the only candidate that has physically fought the Scools, and Commissioners Court Consistently.
What should county government do to expand and improve COVID testing? Nothing. It is all about personal responsibility. We have too much government. It is the person’s responsibility to get tested.
Should the county take more steps to encourage COVID vaccination, and if so, what would you support? Absolutely not Again too much Government overreach. That is between their provider, and doctor.
What transportation priorities would you pursue? Are there specific road projects you’d like to see? I would like to see more highways finished before starting anymore as we are having budgetary issues. Also we need to use our roads, transportation, and bridges wisely. We should not ask for bonds, and be part of the Nort Central Council of Governments.
What changes should be made to the property appraisal process? A lot we should look at reducing them significantly. We need to look at who is on that board and how long they have been there. If they have been there longer than 2 years that means they have been okay with raising the appraisals up.
In what ways do you think the county should be spending its American Rescue Plan Act dollars? We should use it more geared toward those who are at risk if being evicted, or foreclosed on. Buissness that were effected particularly small buissnesses should get the majority of it. A lot of big buissnesses fared out pretty well. Not to say that they shouldn’t apply as they should equally.
Byron Bradford
Occupation: Retired/ Small Business Owner
Age: 50
What’s the best way for voters to reach you? www.votebyronbradford.com
Website: www.votebyronbradford.com
Public offices you’ve held or run for, with years: County Commissioner 2018
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? I am running for Tarrant County Judge to continue a life of service. There is a void of great leadership in this country, and I just want to do my part in the county. Great leadership is built on honor, duty and respect. As a county, we must learn how to work in unison for one common goal and that is to improve the quality of life for our residents.
What would your top 3 policy priorities be? Economic Development, Lower Taxes and Safer Communities
Please visit my website www.votebyronbradford.com
Why should voters choose you over your opponents? As the only Veteran on the ballot for this seat, I truly understand duty, sacrifice and selfless service. Furthermore, being fair and impartial has been a way of life for me since joining the Texas Army National Guard at the age of 17. Also, the County Judge can be a swing vote in certain situations. The citizens of Tarrant County need someone in that position that has their best interest. Not a Republican interest or Democrat interest but the citizens of Tarrant County interest.
What should county government do to expand and improve COVID testing? The county is working within their limitations. They public is not asking to expand, so currently there is no need.
Should the county take more steps to encourage COVID vaccination, and if so, what would you support? That is the responsibility of the citizens if they want to get a shot. I will not mandate or punish those who refuse the shot for whatever reason. I fought for this country so people can have that right.
What transportation priorities would you pursue? Are there specific road projects you’d like to see? Planners have identified $188 billion in needed projects to achieve an acceptable level of mobility by 2030. They estimate that only $102 billion will be available to meet those needs. We are left with a significant funding gap of $86 billion if we are to adequately meet the state’s future transportation mobility challenges.
What changes should be made to the property appraisal process? Currently, I feel the appraisal process is sufficient. If a resident doesn’t agree with the process, they have 6 weeks to challenge new appraised value.
In what ways do you think the county should be spending its American Rescue Plan Act dollars? Mental health programs, preschool education and Senior Programs.
Betsy Price
Occupation: Retired Fort Worth Mayor
Age: 72
What’s the best way for voters to reach you? info@betsypriceforcountyjudge.com
Website: www.betsypriceforcountyjudge.com
Public offices you’ve held or run for, with years: Tarrant County Tax Assessor Collector 2001-2011; Fort Worth Mayor 2011-2021
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? I still have a passion for service to this community, and with the county losing so many seasoned officials, we must have somebody with experience to lead the county. I am running because I believe my experience will lead Tarrant County into its next chapter and continue the legacy of being one of the most successful large counties in the state. This starts with property tax relief, well-funded law enforcement, better roads, and a strong economy.
What would your top 3 policy priorities be?
A good County Judge should have more than three priorities. My priorities will include:
- Work toward maintaining a low tax burden while delivering the services a fast-growing county needs.
- Support law enforcement with appropriate funding and the tools and training they need to best protect our families.
- Grow the economy by attracting high paying jobs and pushing back against burdensome regulations.
- Work collaboratively with the entire region and continuing to focus on education to build the workforce Tarrant County needs.
- Improve our roads and highways to relieve traffic congestion.
Why should voters choose you over your opponents?
I have a proven record of success for our taxpayers. As Fort Worth Mayor, I closed a $45 million budget deficit that I inherited my first term without raising taxes or hurting city services, reduced tax rates by 12%, passed record Crime Control and Prevention Department funding during a nationwide movement to defund the police, overhauled the police pension in a responsible manner that both saved the pension for our officers and protected taxpayers, and launched Fort Worth Now, a post-COVID economic recovery effort to restore local businesses and attract new, high-paying jobs for working families.
I served as a county wide official for over a decade. As Tarrant County Tax Assessor Collector, I saved taxpayers millions of dollars by making my department one of the most efficient in the state.
I will continue my legacy as a conservative watchdog by finding innovative ways to protect taxpayers, maintaining my no-nonsense commitment to safer neighborhoods, and preserving the values and culture that our community was built on while responding and managing the growth the County is seeing.
In a race like this, it is critical to look for who has experience and a passion for doing business in and serving our county.
What should county government do to expand and improve COVID testing? The county should get ahead of the curve on testing. They should partner with organizations to set up more mass testing sites. The county is also very behind on data collection. I would like to see that improved.
Should the county take more steps to encourage COVID vaccination, and if so, what would you support? Once the county was up and running, they started doing a pretty good job vaccinating the public. Vaccines are a personal choice but being able to provide them for no cost and letting people know, especially in our underserved communities, about how to get vaccinated is a high priority.
As Mayor, I made community health- physical, mental, and physical- part of my platform. I implemented Blue Zones project and started Fit Worth for our children’s health. I have already started with hospitals, medical professionals, and university officials to develop a better approach to community and public health.
What transportation priorities would you pursue? Are there specific road projects you’d like to see? The county has $400 million in bonds for transportation projects that will be matched by most of the county’s cities who had the opportunity to submit the roads and bridges they would like worked on. We also must continue to work on roads that alleviate traffic congestion.
As Mayor of Fort Worth, I continually sought out ways to enhance the city. I worked to expand and extend I-35, connected neighborhood trails, and developed bike lanes to make Fort Worth bike friendly. I will continue to remain a leader on infrastructure as Tarrant County Judge and expediting road and street improvements to reduce traffic congestion.
What changes should be made to the property appraisal process? The skyrocketing property values are making it more and more difficult for families to afford homes, especially when you consider property tax bills. From a local level, the most immediate impact would come from reducing property tax rates – which I did 7 times as Mayor of Fort Worth. At the county level, we must look at ways to reduce spending. We will work with elected officials and department heads to be innovative and creative to find ways to save costs. The county should also look at an approach for homestead exemptions.
In what ways do you think the county should be spending its American Rescue Plan Act dollars? Moving forward, I would make sure we had adequate public input on how to spend funds. Emergency funding should never be spent on ongoing expenses that hamstring the county with additional costs once the federal dollars have run out.
Tim O’Hare
Occupation: Attorney and Real Estate Investor
Age: 52
What’s the best way for voters to reach you? info@electtimohare.com
Website: https://www.electtimohare.com/
Public offices you’ve held or run for, with years:
Farmers Branch City Council (2005-2008)
Farmers Branch Mayor (2008-2011)
Tarrant County Chairman (2016-2018)
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain: None, other than traffic tickets.
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain: I have never declared bankruptcy individually or in any company I’ve owned. As a Civil Lawyer and former Elected Official, I’ve been involved in many lawsuits over a two-decade period. While serving the community of Farmers Branch, we were sued by the ACLU for defending our voters’ choices at the ballot box to stand up for our local law enforcement and American values. I also provided counsel in a recent lawsuit to prevent Critical Race Theory and other socialist and anti-American agendas from infiltrating Carroll ISD schools.
Why are you seeking this office? In the past year, we’ve witnessed an unprecedented attack on our freedoms and overreaching, power-grabbing efforts at every single level of government. Businesses were forced to close their doors, leaving many Americans struggling to even put food on the table. Our gas prices have never been this high and our grocery store shelves have never been this bare. Property Tax rates have escalated to a point that Tarrant County residents are being taxed out of their homes, and wasteful and unnecessary spending has resulted in a ballooning local debt that will leave an incredible burden for our kids and grandkids and keep current taxes high, if not addressed. More than ever before, we need bold, unapologetic Conservative leadership. I have a history of fighting for Conservative principles and standing up for what’s right. In my first year, I have a plan to lower the property tax rate by 20% and will work on slashing wasteful spending from our budget. I will never impose mandates or lockdown orders, and I will work alongside our business community to help promote quality opportunities for jobs and economic growth. As your next County Judge, I will help put your money back where it belongs - in your pocketbook. And I will never burden Tarrant County residents and businesses with unlawful, unconstitutional mandates.
What would your top 3 policy priorities be? I will work hard to reduce taxes, eliminate wasteful spending, and focus on conservative and effective reforms that bolster our economy. I will also work to increase transparency and accountability in government and secure the integrity of our electoral process. When County and City officials shut down businesses at the height of the pandemic, it cost many people their livelihoods and delt a damaging blow to our economy. As County Judge, I will work tirelessly alongside the business community to help pick up the pieces and repair our economy for the future. I will work to incentivize quality growth, development, and job creation - putting more Tarrant County citizens back to work. When my opponent was Mayor of Fort Worth, she gave Facebook $147 million dollars for only 40 jobs. That’s not just bad government, that’s bad leadership. In addition to my plan to cut your property tax rates by 20% in my first year in office, I will immediately begin looking for ways to eliminate unnecessary spending and reduce the debt burden on Tarrant County taxpayers. As Mayor, my opponent oversaw a 53% increase in property taxes for the average homeowner and accrued $3.2 Billion in debt, leaving each Fort Worth taxpayer with a $12,300 tax burden. By increasing city spending by $600 million and adding over 500 employees to the city payroll, my opponent earned the city of Fort Worth a “D” rating for financial health. Tarrant County residents are tired of tax-and-spend politics as usual, which is why I will immediately go to work to trim down our budget and work toward a brighter financial future. I will also work to increase transparency and accountability in our government. Few good things happen behind closed doors, and I will immediately get to work to increase accessibility and transparency in all our proceedings. Additionally, I will work toward greater security in our electoral process. Guarding the security of our ballot box and guaranteeing the legitimacy of our elections is fundamental to preserving a free society. On my first day in office, I will seek to create an “Election Integrity Officer” position within Tarrant County who would be responsible for overseeing election processes. This position would be selected by a committee including the Sheriff, the County Judge, and a designated County Commissioner as voted on by the full Commissioners Court. The Election Integrity Officer will also seek to root out and uncover election fraud. Any election fraud discovered by the Election Integrity Officer would be reported to the Sheriff and the District Attorney and prosecuted as determined by the DA. I believe installing the position is critical in ensuring a true and fair vote for everyone in future elections.
Why should voters choose you over your opponents? My opponent claims to be a conservative, but her record does not match her words. In addition to her proven history of raising taxes, increasing spending, and massively growing debt, Price has been an outspoken advocate for liberal causes. She has raised tens of thousands of dollars for Planned Parenthood, and she encouraged anti-police BLM protestors in Fort Worth. She joined with Democrats in supporting stricter gun control measures, publicly supported Biden’s multi-trillion-dollar infrastructure bill, and supports taxpayer-funded lobbying. Unlike my opponent, I have a long, proven history of standing up for conservative principles. More than ever before, Tarrant County needs bold, unapologetic leadership. I’ve been endorsed by President Donald J. Trump, Senator Ted Cruz, Sheriff Bill Waybourn, and over 1,000 other trusted conservative leaders. I’m ready to get to work on Day One to ensure Tarrant County stays Conservative, and remains the best place in Texas to live, work, and raise a family.
What should county government do to expand and improve COVID testing? The lack of access, availability, and speed for current COVID testing sites is indicative of an overarching failure by the County government to successfully navigate the COVID-19 crisis. Rather than focusing on mandates and taxpayer-funded vaccine persuasion campaigns, the County should’ve focused on communication and increased accessibility, in partnership with other government entities.
Should the county take more steps to encourage COVID vaccination, and if so, what would you support? I do not believe it is the County Government’s job to tell a private, free citizen what vaccines they should or should not receive. Personal medical decisions belong between a person and his/her doctor, and the government should not play a role in those decisions. I respect Tarrant County voters who elected to receive the vaccine. And I respect Tarrant County voters who elected not to receive the vaccine. I will never support a policy that seeks to involve government in private medical decisions. As County Judge, I will oppose unconstitutional vaccine mandates. Additionally, I will oppose ridiculous propositions like using taxpayer dollars to pay citizens to receive the vaccine.
What transportation priorities would you pursue? Are there specific road projects you’d like to see? Safe and smooth transportation is a critical component in ensuring the success and growth of our County. I will ensure our infrastructure and roads are well-maintained while working toward the most cost-efficient solutions. High quality should not be synonymous with high costs. I will always strive for the best solution for the lowest possible cost. My opponent wants to bring more mass transit to Tarrant County, but history has shown that mass transit doesn’t work in Texas. I will oppose efforts to increase mass transit in Tarrant County. We don’t need more empty trains, costing taxpayers billions of dollars.
What changes should be made to the property appraisal process? Property tax rates in Tarrant County are unacceptably high, which is why I’ve proposed a 20% property tax rate cut my first year in office. But, it’s important for people to remember that TAD is not responsible for these escalating property taxes — the taxing entities are. While Mayor, my opponent oversaw a 53% increase in property taxes for the average Fort Worth homeowner. This tax and spend mentality is the reason why so many Tarrant County residents are being taxed out of their homes and businesses. However, there are definite areas in need of reform within the property appraisal process. First, we must make it a priority to elect Fiscal Conservatives to serve on the TAD Board. We need to ensure we have representation that will give fair assessments and promote accountability in the process, not just more “business as usual” political bureaucrats who go along to get along. We need to work to improve the process for filing protests by increasing accessibility and transparency in the appraisal process. We must work to ensure people are given a fair shot to protest appraisals, and the system must be designed to provide fair and reasonable reductions or counteroffers.
In what ways do you think the county should be spending its American Rescue Plan Act dollars? American Rescue Plan Act dollars should be used to assist small businesses that were devastated by overreaching government shutdowns, but we must always be mindful of any strings attached by the Federal Government in their never-ending quest to control every aspect of our lives.
Kristen Collins
The Star-Telegram could not locate any contact information for Collins.
