Texas Senate District 10 candidates in Republican primary March 1
Warren Norred
Occupation: Attorney/Engineer
Age: 58
Campaign website: electnorred.com
Best way for voters to reach you: email at warren@electnorred.com or 817-253-9999
Education: BSEE, MSEE, JD, also reg. P.E.
Have you run for or held elected office before? I ran for SBOE twenty years ago.
Please list highlights of your civic involvement (for example, service on boards/commissions or leadership positions held) JPS Board of Managers (2017-2019); State Republican Executive Committee (2019-2021);
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? (If yes, please explain). When I was 23 (35 years ago), I received a DWI, for which I received deferred adjudication.
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain. As a business owner, I’ve been involved in several suits as a plaintiff on contract matters; no bankruptcy proceedings.
Who are your top three campaign contributors? I am the top contributor, followed by Roy Upshaw and Cross Companies.
Why are you seeking this office? Because there is no one else running who I can trust to pass effective laws to give parents power to steer public schools away from CRT and overt sex ed way too young, actually do anything on the border, protect election integrity instead of lowering the penalty for illegal voting, work to eliminate birthright citizenship, and make the chief tax appraiser an elected position.
What are the biggest challenges facing the area you’re seeking to represent? Complacent schools, ever increasing property taxes, never-ending Disaster Act executive orders that replace actual legislation to protect jobs.
What would your top 3 policy priorities be? Empowering parents to control their kids’ educations, protect election integrity, fix medical freedom issues in state law.
Why should voters choose you over your opponents? Because I have been fighting COVID overreach since the pandemic began, including my representation of those who are fighting the Fort Worth ISD mask fight that eventually led to Scribner’s departure, because I have demonstrated my dedication to freedom by helping beat back and ban Red Light Camera systems, supporting term limit initiatives, sued to protect the First and Second Amendments in just the last few years, fought to save lives and protect medical freedom, and fighting to protect against pandemic job loss due to the lethargic legislature that has utterly failed to address those issues, and was representing nursing home residents damaged by their facilities’ failures before my opponent helped pass a law that protects them from lawsuits while doing nothing at all to protect Texans’ jobs or medical freedom.
What should the Legislature do to reduce local property taxes? Ensure that voters can roll back taxes; make the chief appraiser an elected position; allow individuals to challenge property exemptions. We should consider Huffines’s plan, but refrain from centralizing decision-making in Austin.
Is the Texas power grid prepared for another winter storm? What further measures should the state take to address electricity generation, weatherization and the long-term energy needs of the state? Stop subsidizing unreliable energy sources that require continuous tax dollars to work and distract us from better sources, such as natural gas. We should work to encourage more nuclear and gas plants.
Should Texas be building a border wall? Should more or fewer state resources be dedicated to the border? Yes. Dredge the river. Build walls where we can. Push back and don’t encourage border crossings. We have no choice on this and to pretend otherwise is to think naively.
What should the state do to improve access to healthcare and make it more affordable? Encourage telemedicine. Broaden “right to try” laws. Reduce illegal immigration.
Texas’ urban areas continue to grow rapidly, what can the Legislature do to reduce the time Texans spend in traffic and address infrastructure needs that come with a booming population? Encourage home and decentralized work patterns.
How can state government help ensure Texas has enough affordable housing to accommodate its growth? “Affordable housing” is a term used to support interference in the market. Let the pricing rise to reflect reality and stop subsidizing sprawl.
If the Supreme Court opens the door to new abortion restrictions, what should Texas’ policy be? Should abortions be allowed, and under what circumstances? By what level of fetal development, if any, should abortion be permitted? We should restrict it at the doctor’s licensing level, and disallow abortions for sex selection or anything other than the health of the mother.
What further changes, if any, in Texas election law do you support? Increase back the penalty for fraud. Reduce early voting locations so that ballots can be serialized and we can have real audits.
Should Texas legalize marijuana? Why or why not and to what extent should the state’s marijuana laws be changed, if at all? We should go slow on marijuana legalization, but allow legitimate medical marijuana use.
What steps should Texas take to continue to address COVID-19 in Texas, including North Texas? Restore normalcy as soon as possible. End the Disaster Act status, which my opponent voted against at the beginning of the last regular session.
Phil King
Occupation: Small business owner and attorney
Age: 66
Campaign website: philking.com
Best way for voters to reach you: info@philking.com
Education: J.D., Texas AM University School of Law (formerly known as Texas Wesleyan University School of Law)
B.A., Dallas Baptist University
B.A., Dallas Baptist University
Have you run for or held elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought or held, with years):
Justice of the Peace, Parker County (1991-1998)
State Representative (1999-present)
Please list highlights of your civic involvement (for example, service on boards/commissions or leadership positions held):
Colonel, Texas State Guard, Civic Affairs Operations Section, Command Group & General Staff
Board of Directors and 2015 National Chair, American Legislative Exchange Council
Board of Directors and Vice-Chairman, Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute
Advisory Board, Grace House Ministries
Board of Directors, Weatherford College Education Foundation
Adjunct Professor, Dallas Baptist University (1992-1995)
Police Officer/Captain, Fort Worth Police Department (1974-1989)
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. There was a vehicle accident involving my patrol car years ago while I was a Fort Worth police officer; the other driver was found to be at fault. A dispute regarding a loan and real estate transaction was settled and dismissed, and a business dispute regarding a sales contract is pending.
Who are your top three campaign contributors? All of our campaign finance reports, with a detailed listing of all donations, are available on the Texas Ethics Commission web site at https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/.
Why are you seeking this office? First, I consider public service, from my years as a Fort Worth police officer through today in the legislature, as a privilege and calling. I always have tried to serve with the highest ethical standards and am committed to principle driven leadership.
Next, I am deeply concerned about the direction our nation is heading under President Biden and the national Democrats. Texans in SD 10 want a state senator who will fight the unacceptable federal encroachment from Washington on our freedoms, rights, and liberties. They want strong border security, a fighter for the unborn, a defender of Second Amendment rights, and a taxpayer advocate. That’s my record, and that’s the kind of senator I’ll be.
What are the biggest challenges facing the area you’re seeking to represent? The district spans about 165 miles. The district includes a mix of urban, suburban and rural communities. All have their unique challenges dealing with water, transportation and infrastructure, education and public safety. I have the expertise to work through specific challenges within each community but at the end of the day we all have the same goal of educating our children, keeping our communities safe and ensuring a path for future generations.
What would your top 3 policy priorities be? 1) Securing the border against illegal immigration, human trafficking and drug trafficking. 2) To ensure a strong economy, providing property tax relief and reducing government regulations. 3) Defending our core values such as faith, family and freedom. This includes protecting the unborn, defending Second Amendment rights, and ensuring our right to worship without government interference.
Why should voters choose you over your opponents? I have a proven record as a conservative Republican with many accomplishments fighting for the shared values of my constituents. It is an honor to have so many key leaders endorse my candidacy including U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn, Former Gov. Rick Perry, Senator Brian Birdwell plus many others. Organizations that have endorsed me include Texas Right to Life, Texas Alliance for Life, Pro-Life Texans/Human Coalition Action, Texas Values ACTION, NRA, Texas State Rifle Association, NFIB Texas, Texans for Lawsuit Reform and the Greater Fort Worth Builders Association, to name a few. As the only former law enforcement officer in the legislature, I’ve earned the support of the Fort Worth Police Officers Association, Arlington Municipal Patrolman’s Association, CLEAT, and Texas Municipal Police Association. A full list of endorsements can be found at www.PhilKing.com.
What should the Legislature do to reduce local property taxes? I support legislation to eliminate local school property taxes by supplanting it with future growth in state revenues. This should be a mandatory transition of no more than 10 years. I also support the elimination of the roll back property tax penalty when there is a change of use. This penalty prevents landowners from determining the highest and best use for their property. We should also cap growth on business property tax appraisals.
Is the Texas power grid prepared for another winter storm? What further measures should the state take to address electricity generation, weatherization and the long-term energy needs of the state? Just last week we had a winter storm and Texas was prepared to meet the electricity demands. Many of the new changes and legislation we passed last year assured that success. We will continue efforts to ensure our grid is not only affordable but also reliable. This requires immediate investment in dependable dispatchable electricity generation to ensure future demand is met so our economy continues to thrive and that we accommodate the growing population. All of this needs to be done in a way that keeps prices low for customers.
Should Texas be building a border wall? Should more or fewer state resources be dedicated to the border? Yes. We must secure our border because the Biden/Harris administration refuses to do so. As a former police officer, I understand the direct impact that a porous border has on our communities. The influx of illegal immigrants, human trafficking and drug trafficking is at the highest levels we have ever seen. To counter this, Texas has deployed resources as never before, and we must continue to do so. My record in the State House and as the former Chair of Homeland Security and Public Safety demonstrates my dedication to securing our border.
What should the state do to improve access to healthcare and make it more affordable? Every family has experienced the sticker shock of rising health care insurance premiums and costs of treatment. These increases take a toll on the family budget and on small businesses already struggling to survive. In recent sessions, Texas took an important step in addressing rising health care costs by passing legislation to prevent “Surprise Medical Billing.” The goal of this effort was to end billing of excessive medical charges without the patient’s knowledge. Going forward, we must continue to press the federal government to provide more flexibility which would allow Texas to innovate at a more local level. Increased market competition and transparency in health care will help bring prices under control. Any policy changes must protect medical freedom and autonomy for patients and not interfere with the doctor-patient relationship.
Texas’ urban areas continue to grow rapidly, what can the Legislature do to reduce the time Texans spend in traffic and address infrastructure needs that come with a booming population? Texas’ success has brought us unprecedented growth. DFW, in particular, is one of the fastest growing regions in America and a byproduct of that rapid growth is traffic congestion. Having been raised in Fort Worth, and now living in fast growing Parker County, I understand the challenges this presents.
In recent years the Legislature has substantially increased transportation funding. In 2014, Texas voters approved a constitutional amendment dedicating excess funding from the state’s crude oil and natural gas production tax revenues to the State Highway Fund, providing an additional funding source for non-toll highway construction, maintenance, and right-of-way acquisition. However, infrastructure funding will remain an ongoing challenge. We must find creative ways to ensure that Texans have access to a strong road and highway system that is vital for continued economic development, keeping citizens safe and providing a better quality of life.
How can state government help ensure Texas has enough affordable housing to accommodate its growth? The supply chain crisis, due in large part to the monetary policies of the Biden Administration, has dramatically increased the cost of construction materials. This creates long waits, sometimes months, for routine things such as windows. Excessive government regulation also drives up housing costs. One estimate is that 25% of the cost of a single family home is due to government regulation. Current regulation must be carefully examined to identify unnecessary regulation. Lending institutions must also have more flexibility to make capital available for development and home buyers. Skilled labor shortages also compound the problem so we must continue an emphasis on getting more workers into the construction trade; career and technical education plays an important role here. Finally, lowering the property tax burden will help remove large barriers to affordable housing.
If the Supreme Court opens the door to new abortion restrictions, what should Texas’ policy be? Should abortions be allowed, and under what circumstances? By what level of fetal development, if any, should abortion be permitted? Life begins at conception. I believe that every human life is precious, that all life is a gift from God and that government has a duty to protect the unborn.
What further changes, if any, in Texas election law do you support? Election integrity has never been more important. In 2017, I carried the legislation implementing the Texas Voter ID law. The courts had struck this vital statute and changes were necessary to comply with the 5th Circuit ruling so Texas could reinstitute this integral part of election integrity.
After the 2020 election, we learned that in the months leading up to that election Mark Zuckerberg dispersed an estimated $350 million to local county elections offices through grants provided by The Center for Tech and Civic Life. These private funds (which came to be known as Zuck Bucks) were heavily funneled to urban areas where, without transparency and oversight, they were ripe for fraudulent use. In response, this year I authored and passed a bill prohibiting local county election offices from accepting private donations, such as Zuck Bucks, to prevent the danger of undue influence and fraud.
Should Texas legalize marijuana? Why or why not and to what extent should the state’s marijuana laws be changed, if at all? No. I am, however, open to legitimate medicinal use that is doctor prescribed and pharmaceutically prepared.
What steps should Texas take to continue to address COVID-19 in Texas, including North Texas? During the recent legislative session, I supported legislation which ensures that businesses which follow safety protocols will not be subjected to frivolous lawsuits for alleged COVID-19 exposure, while ensuring that grossly negligent businesses are held accountable. We must continue to oppose vaccine mandates; no one should be forced to choose between being vaccinated or their job. Businesses and employees have suffered greatly, and we must ensure that Texans can get back to work.
