Texas attorney general candidates in Democratic primary March 1
Mike Fields
Occupation: Attorney
Age: 56
Campaign website: www.mikefieldsforag.com
Best way for voters to reach you: Email (mikefieldsforag@gmail.com)
Education: B.S.C.J. Texas State University, J.D. St. Mary’s Law School
Have you run for or held elected office before? Yes. Judge Harris County Criminal Court #14 1999-2018
Please list highlights of your civic involvement (for example, service on boards/commissions or leadership positions held): Senior Fellow American Leadership Forum, Outside Director Leadership Houston, Board Member Salvation Army Boys and Girls Clubs, chair Harris County Bail Bond Board, Lifetime member NAACP, member Annie E. Casey Foundations, JDAI committee, Member State Commission on Judicial Conduct, Chair State Bar Committee on Grievance Review, Client Trust Funds and Public Protection, Board Member Lone Star Chapter Multiple Sclerosis Society, Texas A.F.M. Masons, Member of Century Council’s Judicial Advisory Board, Member Foundation for the Advancement of Alcohol Responsibility National Board.
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain: As a criminal court Judge, I have been involved in thousands of criminal proceedings and was placed on probation for DUI in 1985
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain: In my various roles, I have been involved in numerous civil lawsuits. No bankruptcies.
Who are your top three campaign contributors? I have chosen not to accept campaign contributions.
Why are you seeking this office? As a former Assistant Attorney a general for Texas, I believe the Texas Attorney General should be the peoples lawyer not an arm of a political party. I want to return the office to that position.
What are the biggest challenges facing the state and how should the AG’s office respond? Making sure our State laws are conducive to maintaining a strong economy is our biggest challenge. The State AG should advocate for and defend laws that make our State friendly to employees and businesses planning to move here and who are already here.
What would your top 3 priorities be as AG? The economy, equal rights for all and consumer protection.
What would you do to improve the performance of the child-support division? Utilize virtual docketing of cases. Allow parents to meet with Child Support officers and execute documents virtually. Seek to establish off hours and weekend dockets for parents who have difficulty making court appearance. Allocate funds to teach better parent communication and skills.
Should Texas have sued to challenge the election results of four battleground states in the U.S. Supreme Court? Why or why not? No. There was absolutely no reason for the Texas AG to involve our State in the election affairs of any other State. Additionally, the idea that there was voter fraud is a big lie.
How would you handle access to records and transparency as AG? Turn requested records over unless there’s a law saying they are classified and can’t be legally turned over.
How would you interact with the federal government as AG? As little as possible.
How should the AG interact with state leaders, including the governor, lt. governor and members of the legislature? The Texas AG is limited in the scope of the office’s powers and duties. I would restrict interactions to those duties enumerated under State law.
Joe Jaworski
Occupation: Attorney and Mediator
Age: 59
Campaign website: www.JaworskiForTexas.com
Best way for voters to reach you: my cell 409-771-7139
Education: B.A., Spanish Literature Davidson College, Davidson, NC (1984); J.D. University of Texas School of Law (1991)
Have you run for or held elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought or held, with years)
City Council District Three, City of Galveston, Texas (2000, 2002, 2004) (served the limit of three terms)
Texas Senate District 11 (2008) (earned the Democratic Party nomination in a contested race; lost general election to incumbent Republican Sen. Mike Jackson).
Mayor, Galveston, Texas (2010, 2012) (won a five way race in 2010; in 2012 I made it to a runoff in re-election bid for second term and lost the runoff). (Google Jaworski Galveston Public Housing)
Please list highlights of your civic involvement (for example, service on boards/commissions or leadership positions held):
Commissioner, Galveston Ethics Commission (1996-1998)
Trustee, Galveston Park Board of Trustees (1998-2000)
Councilmember District Three, City of Galveston, Texas (2000-2006)
Mayor pro Tem, City of Galveston (2004-2006)
Trustee, Galveston Wharves (2004-2006)
Democratic Nominee, Texas Senate District 11 (2008)
Mayor, City of Galveston (2010-2012)
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain. No, I have not.
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain. I sued an individual and his employer for defamation in 2000 when I first ran for office. The Mayor and City Manager openly opposed my candidacy, and during the early vote, City leadership held an Island-wide event known as “Kappa Fest.” I learned that promoters were charging incoming vehicles $20 more than the posted price. When I reported the offense, Don Fields, the KappaFest 2000 spokesman, declared that I had bribed attendees with $20 bills to complain. I sued Fields and KappaFest 2000 in Galveston. The false allegation was obviously timed to defeat my candidacy, but by filing suit, I was instantly able to show the promoters for the scam artists they were. The Galveston Daily News reported the details of this affair, and I won election ten days later. The matter went to trial later that year. Fields was a no show at trial, and I obtained a default judgment against him. After a 3-day trial, I won a jury verdict which awarded actual and punitive damages against the organization.
Who are your top three campaign contributors? Jerome Simon (childhood friend); Jeff Westphal (personal friend) and Becky Lanier (personal friend and moot court partner from law school).
Why are you seeking this office? I seek to restore integrity to the consequential office of Texas Attorney General. Mr. Paxton’s unprecedented level of criminality has deeply injured the rule of law in Texas, and he has embarrassed our state. I run to repair that injury and to remove him from office.
What are the biggest challenges facing the state and how should the AG’s office respond? The loss of respect for the Rule of Law: Paxton’s biggest failure has been to elevate partisan politics over the law. The Texas OAG is a Constitutional executive office with great power to protect consumers – all consumers of whatever political affiliation. Instead, Paxton has picked winners and losers in a never-ending culture war. He sows division. I’ll lead and bring Texans together by protecting our common consumer, voting and economic interests.
Immigration: I will use some of the AG’s considerable budget to hire eight Special Asst. U.S. Attorneys (SAUSAs) and place them with the Dept. of Justice, specifically in the Western and Southern Districts of Texas, to fight cartels who ferry undocumented immigrants to and over our southern border. This cooperation with our federal partners will be a template for further cooperation in crafting reasonable immigration policy that is fair and protects our citizens’ safety and economic interests.
What would your top 3 priorities be as AG? Take Ken Paxton’s fake voter fraud unit and turn it into General Jaworski’s voter access unit which will be staffed by first class attorneys, investigators and organizers. All 18 year old Texans will be registered pursuant to Texas Election Code section 13.046(d). Staff a robust Civil Rights Division. Restore the Texas OAG to the principle task of being a consumer protection law firm for the people of Texas. For example, investigate and hold private health insurance companies to account so they timely and reasonably pay patients’ health care claims.
What would you do to improve the performance of the child-support division? I will order a full operational audit of the Child Support Division to identify ways to get money into custodial parents’ hands more quickly. This This may involve new equipment or possibly new policies. I will also identify ways to recover more funds to benefit children and their custodial parents.
Should Texas have sued to challenge the election results of four battleground states in the U.S. Supreme Court? Why or why not? Texas absolutely shouldn’t have sued to challenge the four battleground states because the State of Texas didn’t have standing to bring that suit. Also, the offending pleading wasn’t even drafted by the Texas OAG; it was written by Trump’s attorney Lawrence Joseph. Trump’s legal team couldn’t afford to file the action in Trump’s own name because, given the approaching December 14 Electoral College deadline, there was insufficient time for Trump’s lawyers to file suit in U.S. District Court and navigate the appellate ladder to SCOTUS in time to stop the electoral count. States, however, can file against each other as an original matter in SCOTUS, providing an immediate audience with the Court. Paxton shamed Texas by allowing our OAG to be used for Trump’s private gain. Texas Solicitor General Kyle Hawkins refused to sign the pleading (and resigned his position). SCOTUS summarily dismissed the frivolous action, leading to Paxton’s current investigation by the State Bar of Texas.
How would you handle access to records and transparency as AG? I will robustly defend transparency and public access to records as Texas AG. As Mayor and councilmember in Galveston, I always sided with the public on TPIA matters. In 2008, I sued the University of Texas System and all its Perry-appointed Regents for gross violations of the Texas Open Meetings Act when the Regents met illegally in executive session to deliberate the firing of 4,200 Univ. of Texas Medical Branch - Galveston employees weeks after Hurricane Ike severely damaged the medical school campus (and the employees’ homes too!). I won that important case, and as a result of that court victory, a rehiring program was implemented which led to UTMB’s revitalization into the powerful regional health center it is today.
How would you interact with the federal government as AG? I will pursue and encourage reasonable collaboration with our federal partners. My job as Texas AG is always to put Texas first, and I will do that. I will defend the laws and Constitution of Texas and of the United States, as my oath of office requires.I will not embarrass Texas or make a show of abusing the United States of America in order to promote my brand. I believe in coordinated levels of government: federal, state and local. That’s the true architecture of Federalism that our U.S. Constitution requires.
How should the AG interact with state leaders, including the governor, lt. governor and members of the legislature? The AG is not the governor’s attorney; he’s not the legislature’s attorney; he is the People’s attorney. In that way, the AG is an independent constitutional statewide executive with great responsibility. There are multiple occasions where the AG can assist the governor, the legislature and even the Courts (by, for example, issuing AG opinions on unsettled questions of law). Ultimately, this means I will treat all leaders with respect, and I will expect such collegial treatment to be reciprocal. If leaders don’t play fair, or if they refuse to act reasonably, I will go my own way, and I will use the constitutional and statutory powers of my office to serve the people who deserve the best my office can deliver.
Rochelle Mercedes Garza
Occupation: Civil rights attorney
Age: 37
Campaign website: RochelleGarzaForTexas.com
Best way for voters to reach you: info@GarzaForTX.com
Education:
University of Houston Law Center, J.D.
Brown University, B.A. with Honors
Have you run for or held elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought or held, with years) I previously ran to represent Texas’ 34th Congressional District as a Democrat before my run for Texas Attorney General as a Democrat.
Please list highlights of your civic involvement (for example, service on boards/commissions or leadership positions held):
Board Member (February 2019 – Present), Jane’s Due Process
Member (June 2020 – Present), Advisory (June 2019-20), Laws Relating to Immigration and Nationality Standing Committee, State Bar of Texas
Director (May 2018 – December 2021), Member (August 2015 - Present), Cameron County Bar Association
Chair (January 2021 - July 2021), Ethics Advisory Committee, City of Brownsville, Texas
Board Member (January 2018 – January 2020), Moody Clinic, Brownsville, Texas
Class of 2018-19 Member, State Bar of Texas and Texas Young Lawyers Association’s Leadership SBOT Program
Chair (June 2008 – June 2009), Cultural Affairs Advisory Committee, City of Brownsville, Texas
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain. No, I have never been arrested, charged or involved in any criminal proceedings.
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain. No, I have never been involved in any civil lawsuits or declared personal or professional bankruptcy.
Who are your top three campaign contributors? In the three months since we announced our campaign for Texas Attorney General, we have brought in more than 900 individual contributions. Over 80% of contributions were $100 or less and roughly 85% came from Texas donors.
Why are you seeking this office? I am running for Texas Attorney General to fight for Texas working families, to be the Attorney General for the people.
I’ve been fighting for Texas families all of my career and have experience in immigration, family, criminal, and constitutional law. My work has had broad impacts, like the “Garza Notice,” a federal notice requirement that teens in immigration detention have a right to abortion care without fear of retaliation or obstruction, and meaningful individual impacts, like helping Trans people affirm who they are through requesting name and gender marker changes in court.
As an expecting mother, I want to ensure that my daughter grows up with the freedom to determine her own course in life, to marry who she loves, to decide if, when or how to become a parent, and to grow up in a clean, safe environment.
I’m ready to take on Ken Paxton and roll back the harm he’s done to our families. Because everyone deserves a fair shot to get ahead.
What are the biggest challenges facing the state and how should the AG’s office respond? The state faces many challenges starting with the corruption and misuse of power by Paxton. His self-serving political agenda has left Texans without an attorney to protect them from bad actors like what we saw during and after winter storm Uri. We still have zero guarantees that our grid will not fail at a massive scale if another storm hits.
We need the AG to be a watchdog and prioritize consumer protection. The Colonias program, for example, can alleviate the spread of unincorporated cities across the state and ensure that rural communities have clean drinking water and basic sanitation services.
Instead of wasting taxpayer money on baseless litigation against the federal government, we would be better served by increasing the funding of the child support division and fully funding a civil rights division that will protect voting & reproductive rights, protect workers from wage theft & employee misclassification and ensure veterans have legal support to claim their full benefits.
What would your top 3 priorities be as AG? Voting Rights - I will use the power of the TX AG office to ensure that voting rights are protected in the courts if there are further attempts to make it harder for any Texan, especially people of color, to cast a ballot.
Reproductive Rights - Abortion care is health care, and health care is a human right. Reproductive choice is a moral imperative and an issue of racial, economic, and gender justice. I’m committed to restoring abortion access in Texas and defending the rights of women and pregnant people whenever they’re threatened.
Consumer protection - As Texas Attorney General, I will make consumer protection a top priority during my administration and investigate what went wrong with our power grid and ensure it never happens again.
What would you do to improve the performance of the child-support division?
The Child Support Division is a large portion of the work of the Office of Attorney General and is critical to ensuring the health, safety and well-being of our Texas children. The harsh reality is that the Child Support Division will require more resources going forward — funding, staff, attorneys, etc. — as a result of the anti-abortion laws that are in effect in Texas (the 6 week abortion ban and restrictions on access to abortion medication). We have to ensure that the resources are there in order to protect Texas children.
As AG, I will conduct a full audit of the division’s resources, including personnel, pay, caseloads, and anticipated/projected caseloads, to ensure that we have a streamlined method for evaluating, collecting and disbursing child support, that caseloads are manageable and employees are supported, and that we are using resources effectively.
Should Texas have sued to challenge the election results of four battleground states in the U.S. Supreme Court? Why or why not? Texas should not have sued to challenge the election results of four battleground states in the U.S. Supreme Court. This suit was a failed attempt to disenfranchise and silence the voices of voters and undermine our democracy. Paxton’s suit, along with the numerous other lawsuits filed to challenge the 2020 election results, were baseless and unfounded. The Justice Department and no court of law found any evidence of fraud that could have changed the election’s outcome.
Ken Paxton, who is still under felony indictment and FBI investigation, has used his power to pursue a hyper-partisan agenda that hurts our democracy and wasted millions of dollars. As AG, I will bring back integrity to the office and focus all resources on improving the lives of Texas families.
How would you handle access to records and transparency as AG? Texans have a right to access public records and keep state agencies and offices accountable. As Attorney General, I will strive to increase transparency by streamlining the records request process and ensuring that requests are fulfilled in a timely fashion.
How would you interact with the federal government as AG? I believe the Office of Attorney General should interact with the federal government in the same capacity that it serves the State of Texas, as both an enforcer of law and an accountability office. I will enforce laws in accordance with the US and Texas constitutions, regardless of which actor is infringing on those rights. Ultimately, my duty as an attorney and as Attorney General flows to the people of Texas, our constitution and the federal constitution. Any actions I take will be based on ensuring our rights and civil liberties are protected.
How should the AG interact with state leaders, including the governor, lt. governor and members of the legislature? The Texas Attorney General is a constitutionally independent executive position elected by the people of Texas. As such, the AG is not the attorney for the state legislature or the governor.
As an independent executive, I will take a hard look at all bills proposed by the legislature and ensure they adhere to both the US and Texas constitutions. I will fully audit all current litigation to ensure that the lawsuits the state is involved in are not frivolous lawsuits in nature. I will be a watchdog for protecting Texas families and holding the powerful to account, and that includes state leadership.
S. “T-Bone” Raynor
Occupation: Lawyer and part time Librarian
Age: 69
Campaign website: S.T.Bone.Raynor@gmail.com
Best way for voters to reach you: S.T.Bone.Raynor@gmail.com
Education: My education has never ceased. I was born and raised in San Antonio on various military bases, graduated High School at Punahou School Honolulu Hawaii; Graduated Southern Methodist University with a B.A. in Economics; Graduated SMU Law School with a J.D. in Law; and then started attending various Texas community colleges from time to time to keep my mind active and make more friends.
Have you run for or held elected office before?
Dallas County Criminal Court, Republican Candidate. Precinct Chairman 12 years.
Please list highlights of your civic involvement (for example, service on boards/commissions or leadership positions held):
President, Plano Kiwanis Club; past President Disciplined Order of Christ HPUMC Chapter, past President Dallas Bilingual Toastmasters, former member Highland Park UMC Administrative Board, General Board of Global Ministries, Police Athletic League, Tutor: Computer Learning Chappie James High School.; Tutor Hispanic elementary school children Urban Park UMC 5 years; Founder Urban Park Pro Bono Legal Clinic 3 years; Founder through the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church, JFON Legal Clinic S.E. Dallas 2 years; Mission trips to Russia, Philippines, Mexico-assisting orphans; reading tutor Wesley Rankin 9 years, Project Transformation, James Bowie Elementary, Phillis Wheatley 3rd grade field trip to Courthouse to visit Creuzot & Johnson Dallas, Wilkinson Center, Dallas Council World Affairs, SMU Presidential Center, Ambassadors Circle Carter Center.
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. Divorce, and collecting debts owed to me.
Who are your top three campaign contributors? Have not solicited contributions.
Why are you seeking this office? Seven Hundred Texans froze to death in the dark because of political corruption; high crime, folks pouring across the border, Tribal mentality caused political corruption by wolves in charge of the flocks of sheep who simply are too busy to notice our State government is broken. When we spend 2.2 million chasing non existent voting fraud and harass naturalized US citizens qualified to vote; when assistant A.G.’s are too legalistic to help disabled elderly folks to obtain I.D.’s to vote; when we politicize masks and vaccinations; when we allow anyone to buy and carry a gun like it is 1883 and inject frontier mentality; when kids that are different or LGBTQ which is about 10% of our student population are harassed by the governor. These kids know they are outcasts, there is no reason to publicly attack them through “book burning sensors” at school libraries. I have a plan that will put up to 12% more police back on patrol without raising taxes, which should take a bite out of crime.
What are the biggest challenges facing the state and how should the AG’s office respond? A primary purpose of the A.G. is to protect foster children from abuse, from neglect, from hunger, from starvation. 10,000 children or more are abused and abandoned or starved by Texas. The failure of the A.G. to properly collect child support; this A.G. worships a “cult King.” This A.G. instilled an attitude of legalism instead of Christian mercy and equity guiding decision making. Many of the lawsuits involving this A.G. could be resolved with a phone call. But everything is done to delay, and to fight even if it is a losing case. The energy sector which powers our State is running out of resources and we need to protect and prepare our people for a future that may be harsher and more competitive, through education and job training, equality, fair elections, winterized energy distribution and securing more drinkable water.
What would your top 3 priorities be as AG?
Train the assistant attorneys to resolve disputes quickly through reason not force.
Quit suing the federal government over issues that do not benefit most Texans or defending the State when it fails to protect children, or property, or voting rights, freeing up attorneys to resolve child support collections quickly and fairly, modernize the case dockets.
What would you do to improve the performance of the child-support division? I started practicing law managing nationwide debt collection for every major department store except Sears and as general counsel for the parent corporation managed lawsuits and lawyers nationwide, after I started my law firm; my office mate became General Counsel at ATT managing 601 attorneys. The first thing I would do is re-task attorneys who are wasting court’s time and taxpayers money on frivolous lawsuits toward debt collection and life protection of children. The A.G. is violating Texas law by using paralegals to resolve these cases. I would get some former prosecutors from rural Texas to impress upon the 10% of the parents who can’t seem to find work when our State needs a million more workers, to get and keep a job. There are other agencies that I would coordinate with to improve collection, education and protect children.
Should Texas have sued to challenge the election results of four battleground states in the U.S. Supreme Court? Why or why not? NO. The “cult King” aka the former US President, lost his job by 7,000,000 votes. We adopted an electoral college idea from Germany. It was a mistake. We should amend the Constitution to have direct election of our President just like we did 100 years ago by amending the Constitution to allow direct election of U.S. Senators.
None of the other Republicans who were elected who were on the same ballot as the former President challenged their vote totals because they know the election was fair. I was a former precinct chairman for 12 years and election judge. The lawsuit filed by the A.G. was solely to corrupt American Democracy. It was not in good faith and I would probably fire anyone whose name appears on the pleadings and recommend they be disbarred from practicing law in this state for wasting the Taxpayers money.
How would you handle access to records and transparency as AG? Freedom of information, even though Thomas Jefferson came to believe otherwise when public opinion was against him, is the life blood of democracy. However from time to time, there may be a few occasions where the greater good, i.e., the name or a method of a terrorist, might outweigh the public’s right to know.
How would you interact with the federal government as AG? Currently our A.G. bites the hand that is about to give our state $35,000,000,000 which almost every Republicans in our state voted against receiving that money. Beto has pointed out that Texas forfeited $100 Billion dollars in Medicaid aid which would have cost us $10 Billion. As a trained economist, I would point out that $90 Billion would have generated at least $90 Billion in better health outcomes protecting our children from diseases and/or death, protected elderly from death and disease. Those dollars being spent in our communities could have strengthened our businesses, employed tens of thousands more men and women in restaurants, construction, and an equal number in service industries. Less partisanship and more problem solving. I don’t care who gets the credit as long as we protect: foster children from starvation, abuse and death; the elderly from freezing to death in the dark. Our elderly residents need better nursing home care, better home care.
How should the AG interact with state leaders, including the governor, lt. governor and members of the legislature? As a General Corporation Counsel, I flew across the country discussing financial matters with various Secretaries of State. As a private citizen I have met with former Presidents of the US and other countries; met with former Ambassadors and discussed security, immigration and economic issues. Our state leaders have some good ideas and some that are stinkers. Every state leader is here to serve. Money is not the root of all evil. Seeking absolute political power is. I am not here to worship the “cult King”. I choose to worship Christ but I will not impress my beliefs upon anyone else. Christ was rebel who persuaded people that helping our neighbor is best for everyone. Before Christ everyone in the western world worked every day of the year except two or three days and rarely thought of anyone else but their own family. Texas like a very large family only works within its budget, and must provide, protect and/or punish each member according to various laws and customs.
Lee Merritt
Occupation: Constitutional Attorney
Age: 39
Campaign website: www.leemerritt4texas.com
Best way for voters to reach you: susan@merrittfortexas.com
Education: I graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s in history from Morehouse College then attended Temple University’s James Beasley School of Law.
Have you run for or held elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought or held, with years) No
Please list highlights of your civic involvement (for example, service on boards/commissions or leadership positions held): I have spent my legal career doing the work of the “people’s lawyer” running one of the leading constitutional firms in the country. I have worked alongside the leading social reform organizations in our country, using the law to engineer social change. My work has been recognized by Our Revolution, NAACP, ACLU, Innocence Project, National Bar Association, Southern Poverty Law Center, and National Urban League.
Additionally, I have represented families in executive conferences with the President of the United States, in session with the United States Senate, and before the United Nations. In Texas, I served as Bernie Sander’s State Chair as well as on the Biden-Sanders transition team and as a delegate to the 2020 DNC. In the last 12 months, I have volunteered with the ACLU to advocate for justice for Ronald Greene. Additionally, I have worked with the Innocence Project and Roc Nation to serve countless families in coordination with the NFL Players League.
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? Grassroots Law Project, Milla Jovovich, and Ashley Schaffer
Why are you seeking this office? First and foremost, the Attorney General must represent the interests of the people of Texas, not just the most privileged. Texas needs an advocate in the position of Texas Attorney General that will stand up to the right-wing extremism that is eroding away at the basic fabric of American democracy. The Attorney General’s office should be a source of relief for the people of Texas being confronted with an onslaught of extrajudicial and unconstitutional attacks on individual rights. I am running for Attorney General in order to disrupt the governmental activities that are rapidly eroding away at the basic rights and freedoms of Texas citizens. Our voters deserve a candidate with a proven record for successfully advocating for individual rights, who reflects the diversity of the Texas population, who inspires the next generation of voters to participate in the system, and one who signals to disenfranchised voters that they are welcomed to participate in the political process.
What are the biggest challenges facing the state and how should the AG’s office respond? Our state’s biggest problems are the mental health crisis, the ongoing war on drugs that is producing the nation’s largest prison population, a lack of voter’s rights, Republicans’ attacks on public schools and women’s reproductive rights.
The Attorney General should conduct outreach into the communities who are harmed by these challenges and partner with organizations that address these issues, working together to ensure they are addressed properly. The actions of the Attorney General should support Texans and protect their constitutional rights and not disenfranchise any particular group.
What would your top 3 priorities be as AG? First, to protect voter rights and fight to ensure all Texans can participate in the political process. Republicans have disenfranchised millions of new Texans through gerrymandering and the AG continues to intimidate Black and Brown voters.
Second, to protect public education and stop Republican efforts to defund public education. I will support local control for decisions concerning public safety in reliance with medical professionals and support access to educational resources chosen by school boards. As a former teacher, I will always be on the side of educators and local control concerning issues impacting the classroom.
Third, to protect women’s reproductive rights by working to codify the rights secured in Roe v. Wade and coordinate an agreement with the DOJ concerning the unconstitutional provisions of SB8. Women deserve to be respected and protected by the Constitution, including the right to privacy and personal autonomy. We will fight to protect women’s right to choose.
What would you do to improve the performance of the child-support division? Attorneys are currently working on frivolous legal actions, such as Ken Paxton challenging the 2020 Presidential election and building of the border wall. I will redirect the attorneys’ resources to addressing issues that affect the daily lives of Texans, which includes the child support division. To maximize the division’s efficiency, the Attorney General’s office must use the latest technology to digitize paperwork instead of having legal staff review it by hand, which is causing an unnecessary backlog.
Finally, we should decriminalize child support. There are other civil remedies to ensure parents fulfill their child support obligations. Instead of incarceration, which guarantees no future child support payment, we should invest in mental health, family counseling, job training and career placement so parents are successful in meeting their financial obligations.
Should Texas have sued to challenge the election results of four battleground states in the U.S. Supreme Court? Why or why not? No. Texas should not have sued because it was falsely asserting that there was a lack of voter integrity in those elections. Texas misrepresented that their litigation was seeking to protect voter integrity when in fact it was an attempt to suppress the will of the voters and to disenfranchise sections of our communities to maintain power.
I agree that the Attorney General should challenge when the national standards of voter protections are not followed. But this was a vexatious lawsuit. We want conversations on enforcing the constitutional protections of voting rights. For example, the practice of redrawing voting district maps to impact only certain characteristics, including seeking to disenfranchise Black and Brown people. The unconstitutional and discriminatory maps violate the requirements of the constitution and therefore should be challenged by the Attorney General’s office to ensure constitutional protections of voting rights are enforced.
How would you handle access to records and transparency as AG? We must have rules in place for greater transparency. The first step to combat corruption and ensure transparency is to order an internal integrity audit performed by an outside agency. It is not for the Attorney General’s office to investigate the Attorney General’s office: instead, an outside review will allow us to hold bad actors accountable. When we open ourselves up to an outside review, we can maintain an office that is free of corruption.
Where possible, the AG office should volunteer information and provide greater transparency where possible and not just in response to Freedom of Information Act requests. Our office will identify the best practices pursued by AG offices throughout the country that result in greater transparency and prevent corruption. Through the Democratic Attorneys General Association, I would conference with AG offices to ensure transparency across the country to identify best practices and ensure transparency.
How would you interact with the federal government as AG? I have a history of cooperating with the Department of Justice in my time advocating for victims of racial violence and police brutality and being a national voice in the civil rights community, which I will continue to do if elected as Attorney General. As a constitutional lawyer, I have taken on issues of constitutionality and enforcement of laws on a state level. I am particularly passionate about working with the DOJ to reduce the population of overcrowded Texas state prisons. If elected, I will accomplish this through working to decriminalize cannabis as a way to address the War on Drugs that has devastated Black and Brown communities for decades.
How should the AG interact with state leaders, including the governor, lt. governor and members of the legislature? The Attorney General is responsible for being a bipartisan counselor of the law to all of these parties. This is possible when the Attorney General focuses on the needs and rights of all Texans rather than the most privileged few or special interests of corporations.
While the Attorney General must be a neutral arbiter of our legal system, they must also be a dogmatic enforcer of its provisions.
