Texas Senate District 12 candidates in Republican primary March 1
Tan Parker
Occupation: Businessman/ Entrepreneur
Age: 50
Campaign website: Tanparker.com
Best way for voters to reach you: 972-945-5511, Email: info@tanparker.com, Facebook: Tan Parker, Twitter: @TanParkerTX, Instagram: @tanparkertx
Education: University of Dallas, B.A. Political Philosophy, 1993
London School of Economics, M.Sc. Economics, 1994
Have you run for or held elected office before? State Representative House District 63
Please list highlights of your civic involvement (for example, service on boards/commissions or leadership positions held): Since taking office, my service has been reflective of the voices of the people who placed their trust in me, and centered upon enacting policies to bolster economic development, strengthen border security, promote fiscal responsibility, reduce tax burdens, and increase public safety. I have also been honored to carry legislation that has opened new doors for Texans including providing improvements to prevent child abuse (Jenna’s Law) and making Texas the Nation’s leader for financial innovation by modernizing opportunities for digital currencies and blockchain technology.
I currently serve on the Committee on Higher Education and as vice-chairman on the House Committee on Pensions, Investments and Financial Services.
I am also on the Board of Trustees of the University of Dallas and the advisory councils for Communities in Schools of North Texas and Children’s Advocacy Center for North Texas. I have served as the honorary chair for Special Olympics Steak-N-Stetson fundraisers.
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
Who are your top three campaign contributors? John Matthews, Texans for Lawsuit Reform, Jody Smith
Why are you seeking this office? Over the course of working for the people of HD 63, we have produced significant achievements for the good of our state through conservative principles that honor Texas values and strengthen our security and wellbeing. I am enthusiastic and prepared to take our achievements to the next level. By serving as the people’s voice in the new Senate District 12, I am the conservative leader who voters know and trust to make the right decisions that will keep Texas strong.
I believe we must make the government accountable, accessible, and working for the people. Government service to the people must be rooted in purpose, and this has guided me to understand and appreciate the great need to listen and take bold steps to make meaningful differences.
While we have accomplished much together, our work is not yet done. I humbly ask for the people of SD 12 to allow me to earn their trust as their strong advocate in Austin and continue this legacy of economic vibrancy, innovation, and public good.
What are the biggest challenges facing the area you’re seeking to represent? In the past year, Texans have seen firsthand the failures stemming from federal overreach and reckless spending which impacts their daily lives. Higher grocery bills, higher gas bills, higher federal taxes, and rising inflation are leaving Texans with complex challenges as they work to provide for themselves and their families. Many of the Biden Administration’s policies have disregarded the Tenth Amendment which impacts our constitutionally protected rights more broadly. The simple fact is Texas has a proven track record of success when the heavy hand of government is restrained, allowing for innovation to flourish. We need legislators who are willing to stand up and push back upon federal policies strangling the ability for Texans to govern themselves and work to ease the burden of government intrusion. As President Ronald Reagan so wisely said, “Government exists to protect us from each other. Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves.”
What would your top 3 policy priorities be? Push back on Federal overreach to safeguard Texas.
Secure the border and support law enforcement.
Provide greater property tax relief and transparency in appraisals
Why should voters choose you over your opponents? SD 12 is the people’s seat, and one that brings forth the wonderful communities that play a vital role in the strength of the North Texas region as well as our state. I grew up in North Texas and have spent most of my life working here to make a better life for my family and the people I have been blessed to serve as a citizen legislator.
With the newly drawn lines for SD 12, we have the opportunity to take our proven record of success and achievements for Texas, and do much more to ignite prosperity and hope for a brighter tomorrow. My legislative and constituent service records are built from the voices of our fellow Texans and proves that I am prepared, experienced, and ready to address the needs and challenges facing the people of this area and state.
There are some sharp philosophical and experience differences with my opponent. I encourage anyone who wishes to learn more to judge for themselves to determine if I have earned the honor of serving them in the Texas Senate.
What should the Legislature do to reduce local property taxes? Throughout my entire time in the legislature, I have fought to lower property taxes and will continue to seek ways to lessen the burden on taxpayers. Revenue caps that were put in place in the last Texas Legislative Session are a good start. We must continue the rate compression of school property taxes that represent the largest share of your total property tax bill. At the same time, we have to bring sunlight and transparency to the appraisal process. Just recently, in my home of Denton County, the Appraisal Board sought to end agricultural exemptions for small farms and ranches. Thankfully, our local Denton County elected officials and local landowners spoke out in time to prevent this change from going through; however, it exemplifies the need for transparency and accountability in this process and a potential need to overhaul the way that appraisers are selected.
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? The 87th Legislature filed over 100 bills relating to the tragic winter storm impacting the Texas Grid. Of those, 23 bills were on winterization and 35 were on crucial reform to ERCOT, but we must continue to be proactive to ensure resiliency. We must not take for granted that every Texas life is depending on our grid’s stability and the life sustaining service it provides. In 2015, I led legislation related to ongoing concerns of potential areas of grid vulnerability. In 2017, I passed HB 787 in the house creating the Electric Grid Security Advisory Committee to study all grid vulnerabilities. I pleaded with my colleagues to choose grid security as an issue of great importance and take the first steps in protecting Texans from a possible catastrophic event. Sadly, despite being unanimously passed in the Texas House, HB 787 did not become law. Going forward, we must expand new electric generation capacity using fossil fuels and nuclear technology to ensure the lights stay on in Texas.
Should Texas be building a border wall? Should more or fewer state resources be dedicated to the border? The failure of our federal government to take the necessary actions to protect our border is one that continues to have devastating consequences for all Texans as well as America. During my time in the Texas Legislature, I have a proven record of prioritizing the resources needed to secure our border including making certain that entities such as the Texas DPS, Rangers, and the State National Guard have every resource available to protect public safety. As a lawmaker, I supported the nearly $3 billion in additional appropriations for border security passed in 2021. I will continue to prioritize public safety including taking any legislative action needed that will embolden our state to fight back including building a Texas wall, deploying aircraft, boats, and additional personnel. We must never waver in taking action to stop illegal crossings at our border. Where Washington fails, Texas must stand.
What should the state do to improve access to healthcare and make it more affordable? Innovation within healthcare must come from the place innovation always starts: the private sector. I believe in the private sector and I believe in the free market. In recent years, Texas has spent more than $43 billion per year on medicaid and I remain unconvinced that taxpayers are getting their money’s worth.
State government must pave the way for the free market to succeed and encourage competition and cost transparency wherever possible. I was proud to support SB 1137 during the 87th Legislature to codify the Trump Administration rule requiring hospitals to disclose the price of medical procedures. More work can be done to help increase competition, but we must use a light touch and be conscious of unintended consequences that may increase costs.
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? The legislature has already begun taking steps to increase highway construction to meet the needs of our growing populations. We have also worked to protect the rights of TxDOT districts when projects are delayed. Moving forward, we must further these efforts by allocating more resources to road construction and expanding effective public transportation. We must also ensure that the funds which have already been allocated to transportation infrastructure are actually put to use on road construction efforts instead of being diverted to other projects.
How can state government help ensure Texas has enough affordable housing to accommodate its growth? A combination of limited government and minimal regulation have led the Texas economy to flourish, and the same principles that are bringing people to the lone star state are the foundation of allowing housing development to keep pace with this growing demand. Cities in Texas must respect private property rights and reduce the quantity and complexity of land use regulations. Moving forward we must also provide a clear and final appeals process in the event of contradictory local ordinances or in the case that public officials offer conflicting interpretations. Most importantly, we must continue to fight to keep Texan’s property tax burden to a minimum by reining in local spending growth, and reassessing cumbersome fiscal programs.
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? As a pro-life Republican, I believe life should always be protected from conception to natural death.
What further changes, if any, in Texas election law do you support? Election integrity is paramount to our democracy. We must make certain that reform measures are founded upon the simple belief that it should be easy to vote and hard to cheat in any Texas election.
There is always the need for additional improvement and monitoring. The passage of Senate Bill 1 last year in the Texas Legislature is a good step. We must continue to make certain every legal vote is counted so that the citizens of this great state feel confident that their voice is heard and democracy is always protected.
I do believe we should reinstitute felony penalties for vote fraud and ensure prosecution is enforced evenly across the state.
Should Texas legalize marijuana? Why or why not and to what extent should the state’s marijuana laws be changed, if at all? I do not support the legalization of recreational marijuana in Texas. I have been an advocate for the use of medical marijuana when science has provided clear, demonstrable benefits and improved patient outcomes in cases of severe chronic illnesses, such as epilepsy. I am open to reviewing further scientific data that shows benefits for specific medical conditions.
What steps should Texas take to continue to address COVID-19 in Texas, including North Texas? I believe Texas should stay the course. We are going to be living with COVID and its variants for some time, but I am so proud of how we are adapting to this challenge. Our economy has now recovered past pre-pandemic levels of employment and we continue to move in the right direction. We also must embrace freedom of choice for vaccines. While it was the right choice for my family and I to get vaccinated, we must respect an individual’s right to make that decision free from government mandates.
I am so grateful for the heroic actions of doctors and nurses during the 2 year long pandemic. They have done an incredible job in saving the lives of countless Texans. At the same time, we must allow our citizens to make the best healthcare choices for themselves and their families and ensure that loved ones are able to visit the sick when they are hospitalized.
Chris Russell
Occupation: Business Owner / CEO
Age: 56
Campaign website: https://ChrisRussell.org
Best way for voters to reach you: chris@chrisrussell.org
Education: High school, some college.
Have you run for or held elected office before? No.
Please list highlights of your civic involvement (for example, service on boards/commissions or leadership positions held):
President of the North Texas Alarm Association (2002-2006)
President of the Texas Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (2007- 2012)
State Alarm Assoc. Legislative Committee 2001 – 2021
State Alarm Assoc. Legislative Committee Chair 2012 – 2019
President National Alarm Assoc. 2017 - Present
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain. I have never been arrested or charged with a crime. I have been involved as an expert witness and as a rebuttal witness in a criminal trial. Those were related to my professional expertise and not as part of any involvement in any crime.
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain. I have never been in a civil lawsuit that has involved impropriety or illegal activity. I have been pulled into civil suits related to business disagreements, including a case brought by Amazon.com related to my company’s ownership of Amazon.net. It was resolved to agree to disagree with no settlement. I have never declared personal or business bankruptcy.
Who are your top three campaign contributors?
Texas Burglar and Fire Alarm Association
Myself
Brian Turner
Why are you seeking this office? I am willing, able, and capable. Many competent and qualified people who can be ethical politicians and are knowledgeable in government matters may not be willing to take on the high-profile task of running for public office. I am eager to step up to the challenge with humility and hope that others share my goals. My primary goal is to promote term limits, reform public school funding, and help those without a public voice. We have seen families in North Texas who were victims of a serial killer see reasonable legislation undone in the last session to secure their safety. And there is a need to address health insurance before it collapses from big pharma gouging and unregulated hospital pricing. There will be hundreds of issues that cross my desk in Austin, and I am committed to examining each one for the details that continue to make Texas proud.
What are the biggest challenges facing the area you’re seeking to represent? From where I sit today, looking at the landscape of discourse, people are tired of career politicians who are not listening to their challenges and needs.
What would your top 3 policy priorities be? The top three things on my list are to limit out-of-control property tax (CAD and ISDs), set term limits for legislators to damper the corruption of buying politicians, and give a voice to those that are being mistreated, ignored, or overlooked in our society. Mostly meaning our children, our seniors, and our disabled. I feel these are the root causes of many of the problems in government and society.
Why should voters choose you over your opponents? I am experienced and capable of the task and will humbly take care of my District’s concerns. I will be a citizen legislator, and I will not be a career politician. I am an independent business owner with income derived from providing good products and services. I will set a personal term limit and encourage other legislators to support it, with a grandfather clause for existing elected officials, so they have no excuse to oppose it. I will fight for those with no voice in our system; our seniors, our disabled, our homeless, and especially our children.
What should the Legislature do to reduce local property taxes? The first obvious targets are to reduce government spending and corruption. A cap should be placed on all County taxes and County out-source contracts should be reviewed for ethics violations. Taxing authorities such as Central Appraisal Districts should be better regulated. ISDs continue to receive the lion’s share of Property tax, yet continue to underpay teachers, are outperformed by private schools, homeschools, and Charters while regularly creating community division. ISDs and all adjunct agencies should be audited to target reductions and decrease corruption.
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? Work on the Texas power grid needs attention. I have no specific proposals and will likely rely on advice from those who care about having fair rules and regulations for businesses and consumers. The Texas Winter freeze and subsequent failure and financial exploitation of consumers exposed mismanagement, short-sighted planning, and possibly corruption. An independent Texas Power System isn’t a bad idea but should receive a close review by a competent, independent agency.
Should Texas be building a border wall? Should more or fewer state resources be dedicated to the border? Our role is that we have no other options. I agree that a strong physical barrier is needed on our southern border, and I hoped the Federal government would have taken responsibility. But this is where career politicians have exacerbated the problem. Governor Abbott is redirecting Texas taxpayer dollars to secure the most vulnerable parts of our border. I’m not condemning or condoning that decision, but it is a travesty that Texas should pay the price when all 50 states should be sharing in the cost of securing the border and leading a pathway for legal immigration that includes refugees. Law enforcement should not have their hands tied where there is criminal activity in illegal immigration, and I would aggressively support laws that attack that problem. Texas, Arizona, California, and New Mexico should not be parking lots for the Federal government’s incompetence.
What should the state do to improve access to healthcare and make it more affordable? Sadly, Texas has the most uninsured residents by percentage and population of all states. Medicaid expansion will cost Texas taxpayers a small sum but could relieve taxpayers from paying for the care for the uninsured in our locally funded hospitals. Healthcare reform is a larger target on my radar. Affordable healthcare is more extensive than any one group. Fees charged by pharmaceutical companies and hospitals are unregulated and are exploited. Insurance rates are out of control, and universal healthcare (taxpayer subsidy) is the last straw before an inevitable collapse of the health care insurance system. Unless hospitals and big pharma fees are regulated, there is no other tenable solution.
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? Water management, transportation, electricity, communication, housing, and education are essential to support a growing and stable economy that will keep Texas an attractive place to live. Increased taxing is not the solution. Texas needs more opportunities for individuals, companies, and businesses to participate and compete for long-term viable solutions. The job of the legislature, should be to insure a competitive system for solutions.
How can state government help ensure Texas has enough affordable housing to accommodate its growth? Housing needs to be an attractive business. Government must do its part to avoid over-regulation of the housing industry and over-taxing transportation of building materials. It must stop over-taxing property owners. The government’s part is to ensure government agencies and taxing authorities are good and honest stewards of taxpayer dollars, services, and property.
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? I am Pro-Life and believe that life begins at conception. With that said; Texas gave the oath to support the U.S. Constitution and the interpretation of the Constitution is the Supreme Court. I am embarrassed for the short-sightedness of Texas Politicians that crafted language to circumvent the U.S. Constitution and created a potential pathway to circumvent all Amendments with similar language. The language that pits neighbor against neighbor and broadens the divide in our country. Texas Politicians boast that they “saved lives” without reporting that they doubled abortions in neighboring states. The solution lies in changing hearts and culture, listening and educating, and removing tax-payer money from those that profit from abortion. Government should not be weaponized against the people. When Government can legally and ethically protect or defend life, it should.
What further changes, if any, in Texas election law do you support? I support fair elections and believe that it is critically important that confidence in voter integrity is maintained. While there will likely always exist some variable of voter fraud, we must remain vigilant in our election oversight and be willing to make changes as needed that support both fair and accurate elections. I support the new voting requirements signed by Governor Abbott in the last session that better ensure both fair and secure elections.
Should Texas legalize marijuana? Why or why not and to what extent should the state’s marijuana laws be changed, if at all? Marijuana is part of a large underground economy. Much of that economy creates and supports drug cartels in foreign countries and contributes to crime. Despite the law, Americans use and abuse marijuana. Laws should make sense and be consistent. Classification of marijuana as a Schedule One controlled substance by the FDA does not make sense and is not consistent with other drugs in the same category, such as heroin and LSD. Tobacco and alcohol create little to zero health benefits yet create jobs, a tax base, and they do not feed an underground economy or support criminal cartels. Marijuana should be in the same classification. DUI laws should not be changed for the abuser of marijuana.
What steps should Texas take to continue to address COVID-19 in Texas, including North Texas? The pandemic was real and we should move forward from the fumbles of local, state, and federal government that had to navigate, with all of us, in unchartered territory. What is important moving forward is that we stop politicizing, stop dividing our families, friends, and neighbors down political lines. Individual liberties, protected by the Constitution, are not government options. Government agencies are not the pawns of political parties, and great care should be afforded to our Nation’s businesses, large, medium, and small. To be more specific; there should be no Government Mandate of vaccines, CDC’s role should be accurate accounting with full disclosure followed by “recommendations”. Masks should be private a choice of private business just as no shoes, no shirt, no service.
