Texas House District 92 candidates in Democratic primary March 1
Dinesh Sharma
Occupation: Solution Architect
Age: 49
Campaign website: DineshForTexas.com
Best way for voters to reach you: Phone / Email: DineshForTexas@gmail.com
Education: Bachelor of Engineering
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) As a passionate and Progressive Democrat, I a founding member of the Himalayan Democratic Club and have campaigned for a number of local Democratic candidates, working with a broad coalition of community organizers, social activists, neighborhood leaders, and friends, to help flip Tarrant County Blue. I was the Texas chair for Nepalese American for Biden 2020. I was the president of Nepalese Society, Texas for 2019-21.
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? Gouri Joshi, Prem Adhikari, Murali Adhikari
Why are you seeking this office? To have a Democratic majority in the Texas House. For the citizens of my constituency to enjoy a better quality of life, a safe place to raise a family and a comfortable place to retire. Among the issues that I will work on are women reproductive rights, a better healthcare system, raising the minimum wage, fixing our power grid, affordable housing and renter’s rights, improving public education, voting rights, worker’s rights, social justice and criminal justice reform, protecting LGBTQ rights, immigration reform and legalizing cannabis for adults.
What are the biggest challenges facing the area you’re seeking to represent?
Economic development, better healthcare and affordable housing.
What would your top 3 policy priorities be?
Women reproductive rights (Repealing SB8), improving Social Justice and improving public education.
Why should voters choose you over your opponents? Having been a Solution Architect for over ten years, I have experience solving complicated problems. I am not a career politician, but as a passionate and Progressive Democrat, I am a founding member of the Himalayan Democratic Club PAC and have campaigned for a number of local Democratic candidates, working with a broad coalition of community organizers, social activists, neighborhood leaders, and friends, to help flip Tarrant County Blue.
What should the Legislature do to reduce local property taxes? Legislature should work with local governments and education board to efficiently use the funds on education so that the effect on the property tax will decrease. Legislature should contribute more to the education fund so that the local government can use this fund thus helping reduced the property tax.
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 Texas power grid is not prepared for another winter storm. We will have to winterize the grid. Invest more on Green Energy. Hold energy companies accountable.
Should Texas be building a border wall? Should more or fewer state resources be dedicated to the border?
Texas should not build a border wall. More State resource should be provided where we can invest in Humanitarian support and in groups working to support border advocacy.
Texas should handle the border issues with more humane manner. Children should not be separated from their parents in the border.
What should the state do to improve access to healthcare and make it more affordable?
I will vote and work to expand Medicaid in Texas, which will insure over 1 million low-income Texans who do not currently qualify for Obamacare, increase funding and resources for CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program), work to keep prescription costs low, and expand community health resources.
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? *
We will have to invest in Public transportation. Promote highway programs which will lead to creation of new routes and better maintenance of the highway. Efficiently utilize the funding from the Infrastructure Bill passed by Congress.
How can state government help ensure Texas has enough affordable housing to accommodate its growth? Through a wide range of social investment programs preventing homelessness, investing in mixed-use development, partnering with our local municipal governments and developers, and funding the development of affordable housing, I’ll work to increase the supply of safe and affordable homes.
Whether one owns or rents, a good quality of life and living standards are essential. I support renters rights, and will partner with members of the Texas House to strengthen protections, develop and expand eviction prevention assistance and emergency housing support, and improve community safety in multifamily communities.
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 committed to repealing SB 8, promoting access to maternal healthcare, funding pregnancy planning services, enhancing resources for adoption, and protecting access to contraceptives. Decisions about pregnancy are personal and should be made between a woman and her doctor.
What further changes, if any, in Texas election law do you support? The right to vote by mail, easy access to voting locations, same-day registration, restoring and expanding 24-hour voting, ending partisan gerrymandering that suppresses minority communities — we can’t wait for lawmakers in D.C. to act — will join Democrats in the Texas Legislature to do whatever it takes to preserve the right to have free, fair, and safe elections.
Should Texas legalize marijuana? Why or why not and to what extent should the state’s marijuana laws be changed, if at all? Safe and legal use of cannabis by adults over the age of 21 is supported by over 80% of Texans, whether they are Democrats or Republicans. I will vote to support the decriminalizing of cannabis in Texas, and the legalization of cannabis sales in a manner that creates jobs, protects public safety, has sensible restrictions, requires cannabis locations not be located near schools, and invest in addiction treatment and drug use prevention programs.
The estimated sales tax revenue and revenue from job growth and economic development and the fundamental values of personal liberty should be represented in our State Legislature, and those who benefit from cannabis for medical use should not be denied access to cannabis any longer.
What steps should Texas take to continue to address COVID-19 in Texas, including North Texas?
Boost vaccination programs.
Make Covid-19 testing more accessible.
Raise awareness among citizens and communities.
Implement strict guidelines as prescribed by the CDC.
Salman Bhojani
Occupation: Attorney
Age: 41
Campaign website: bhojanifortexas.com
Best way for voters to reach you:
Email: info@bhojanifortexas.com
Education:
Bachelor of Science, University of Texas at Dallas
Juris Doctor, Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law
Have you run for or held elected office before?
Mayor Pro Tem of Euless (2020-2021)
Euless City Councilman (2018-2021)
Candidate for Euless City Council (2017)
Please list highlights of your civic involvement (for example, service on boards/commissions or leadership positions held):
-Euless City Council (2018-2021)
-Euless City Parks and Leisure Services Board (2015-2018)
-Boy Scout Troop Committee Chair for Troop 758 (2016-2018)
-Volunteer for 6 Stones
-Volunteer for the Young Entrepreneurs Academy
-Volunteer for Worldwide Education Fund
-Spearheaded the Youth in Government Program in the city of Euless
-Connected marginalized communities in Euless with city officials and staff, and hosted quarterly town halls for oft-ignored minority groups.
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. I have never declared any form of bankruptcy. As an attorney, I have handled many civil proceedings. My father was involved in a car accident several years ago, and as the title owner, I was named in a civil lawsuit which was ultimately dismissed.
Who are your top three campaign contributors?
Minhas Ladiwalla
Rania Mohamed
Eric Pelfrey
Why are you seeking this office? Our district deserves experienced, forward-thinking leadership that can fight for our rights and needs in Austin. I came to Texas as a 19 year old immigrant, and worked my way up from three minimum wage gas station jobs to owning my own store to becoming an attorney, and, finally, the first person of color elected to Euless City Council. My story is the American Dream we hear so much about, but a story that has become out of reach for too many Texans and residents of HD-92. This is one of the most diverse districts in the state, and we deserve representation that reflects this fact, and honors it with pride.
We need an advocate for our district’s unique needs, and I will fight for better funded education, job growth, reproductive rights, voting rights, and Medicaid expansion, so that everyone in HD-92 can achieve their personal American Dream.
What are the biggest challenges facing the area you’re seeking to represent? After knocking on hundreds of doors and talking with thousands of voters in our district, the number one concern I’m hearing is the lack of good paying jobs in our communities. I will be a firm supporter of continued and extensive job growth in our district, and I will work in my capacity as a state representative to incentivize the growth of minority-owned businesses, union jobs, and other good-paying employers in our district. We need to make our state and district an attractive area for companies, and we accomplish that by avoiding far-right culture war issues, providing quality school districts for the families of employees, and pushing for consistent, consensus-minded leadership in our state capitol.
What would your top 3 policy priorities be? My top priorities include Medicaid expansion, protected reproductive rights, and increased funding for our public education system. We need to reverse the uninsured and underinsured trend in our state, and give quality healthcare to hundreds of thousands of Texans. We need to protect the right to choose for all Texans, and repeal the draconian anti-choice laws passed in the past special sessions. We need a fully-funded public education system that gives a quality, robust education to all Texans, regardless of their income level or zip code.
In addition to the above three issues, I view protecting the right to vote, fixing the grid & holding ERCOT accountable, a minimum wage increase, and continued job growth for our district as equally as important.
Why should voters choose you over your opponents? I have had the distinct honor of already serving many HD-92 residents as an Euless City Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem. My experiences on council have shaped me for the job ahead of us, and I am uniquely fit to hit the ground running on day one. As the only Democrat on the seven-member council, I was able to build consensus for numerous commonsense solutions and initiatives for my constituents, which is a trait that will be key to passing legislation in our Republican-controlled legislature.
Additionally, I am someone who has lived through years as a paycheck-to-paycheck, minimum wage worker, working three jobs at a time during young adult life. I was able to climb out of that situation with the help of a supportive community and family, but many Texans find themselves unable to attain the American Dream we are taught to seek. I will be a fighter for the underserved and marginalized, and I will ensure they have a leader in their corner in the state legislature.
What should the Legislature do to reduce local property taxes? I will advocate for further expansion of homestead exemptions for property tax relief for homeowners, I oppose sales tax increases, and as your next Texas State Representative, I will ensure that we do not enact a state income tax. I will push to increase the state’s funding half of public education, to lessen the property tax burden necessitated by the local school districts.
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? I believe we must upgrade and expand the Texas energy infrastructure, ensure safety and stability, incentivize investment and innovation, provide sufficient dispatchable generation and equitable delivery, and continue the trend of lowering carbon pollution. We need policies that don’t leave the burdens of being unprepared onto the everyday ratepayers. We need practical but aggressive plans to reduce our emissions and transition to clean energy if we want to have a planet that is hospitable for human life. It’s time to improve our energy infrastructure and incentivize the development of new technologies and energy solutions. Our environment will thank us. Our children will thank us. And our economy will benefit from new industries, careers and jobs.
Should Texas be building a border wall? Should more or fewer state resources be dedicated to the border? I am absolutely opposed to funding a border wall. This is a federal issue, and should be addressed by federal officials with federal revenue. I would lobby our local federal representatives, and urge them to treat these asylum seekers with dignity and respect, and do what was feasibly possible to end the humanitarian crisis. We need to end our dehumanizing treatment of undocumented immigrants, and process them through our immigration system as gracefully as possible.
These are human beings, many of which are attempting to legally escape deadly situations in their homelands, and we need to ensure they are given resources to live in peace while they wait out the asylum process.
What should the state do to improve access to healthcare and make it more affordable? I believe that Texans should get their share of federal tax dollars back that they pay to the federal government. Those lost federal dollars would help reduce the level of the uninsured in Texas and would help lower the local property taxes we pay for uncompensated care. This is part of why the expansion of Medicaid is so important for Texans. Millions of Texans will get access to healthcare they can’t currently qualify for because Texas Republicans refuse to expand Medicaid. Working Texans should be able to get the benefits they need for their families to gain stronger financial footing, generate new jobs and continue to improve our economy.
I also believe that Texans will benefit from public health policies that align with the best research from our medical community. I want to invest more in ensuring mental health services and foster care services are widely available.
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? We need to expand our public transportation options, especially in HD-92. Arlington is the biggest city in the country with no public transportation system, and it leads to congested highways and longer traffic times.
Additionally, the legislature needs to increase its focus on rebuilding and revitalizing our crumbling state roads, highways, and bridges. Texas is the best state for jobs and families, but we need world-class infrastructure to accommodate the growth.
How can state government help ensure Texas has enough affordable housing to accommodate its growth? We need to incentivize the construction of good, affordable housing projects for working-class families and young professionals. Horizontal multi-family developments could be the key to affordable communities for the younger generations, and I would to see more innovation that takes us in a similar direction.
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 support reproductive justice for all Texans. Texas should do-away with the anti-choice reforms passed in this last legislative session, and Texas should codify Roe v Wade and the right to choose into state law. Texans deserve access to safe, legal, and accessible reproductive healthcare options.
As always, there will be necessary qualifications and constraints on the process, just as there is with any healthcare procedure. However, this should be left to medical professionals and the pregnant Texan, not politicians in Austin.
What further changes, if any, in Texas election law do you support? The draconian reforms passed in the past session must be repealed. We should make voting easier, not harder, for all Texans- regardless of presumed political ideology. I will push for universal, no-excuse mail-in voting for those that want it, automatic voter registration for all citizens after their 18th birthday, and extend voting times, including longer early voting periods and night voting.
Additionally, I would push to ensure that all poll watchers are trained and vetted, and that they are prevented from intimidating voters or interfering in the counting of ballots.
Voter suppression legislation and rampant gerrymandering are un-American and anti-democratic. We must fight to stop those who would take us backwards into a dark past of civil injustice and disparities based on race, gender or creed. I respect facts, human decency, the constitution, and the rule of law.
Should Texas legalize marijuana? Why or why not and to what extent should the state’s marijuana laws be changed, if at all? I would be in favor of fully decriminalizing marijuana, and legalizing its regulated and taxed sale in Texas. No one deserves to have a rap sheet because of their use of cannabis products, and we should make sure that what is purchased has health and safety oversight in-place. Past criminal charges for the possession and small sale of marijuana should be expunged, and we should treat it like we do alcohol or any other legal, controlled substance.
What steps should Texas take to continue to address COVID-19 in Texas, including North Texas? We need to combat the Omicron variant, and prevent further devastation in our community. I would push for free in-home testing kits, and increased economic assistance for struggling small businesses. We need to treat the current rise of cases with as much caution as we did on day one of the pandemic, and we need to prepare for overloaded hospitals and strains on our supply-chain.
Tracy Scott
Did not respond.
