Candidates for Fort Worth area Texas Senate District 12 in Nov. 8 election
Tan Parker
Political party: Republican
Age: 51
Occupation: Businessman/Entrepreneur
Education: University of Dallas, BA; London School of Economics, MSc
Have you run for elected office before?
Yes, State Representative House District 63
Please list highlights of your civic involvement.
In addition to being a Texas State Representative, I have served on numerous House committees addressing important areas of policy for Texas including financial services, corrections, trade, redistricting, economic development, fiscal policy, social services, municipal operations, and state affairs. I have also served on the boards of the University of Dallas, Communities in Schools of North Texas, Children’s Advocacy Center, Ranch Hands Rescue, and Special Olympics Steak-N-Stetson
Who are your top three campaign contributors?
Kenny A and Lisa Troutt, Doug Deason, Jody Smith
What is the most important distinction between you and your opponent?
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.
In my capacity as a legislator and civic leader, I have worked directly with the broader population, area businesses, and a vast number of organizations that call SD 12 home. My record, experience, and life’s work is here, and I always welcome engagement and open doors that strengthen our collective successes.
Elections are the bedrock of our democracy and the opportunity for citizens to navigate the direction of our future. In this race, there are many sharp philosophical and experience differences with my opponent. However, my focus remains on encouraging civic engagement and an openness to 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 are the three biggest issues in this race?
1. Federal overreach and fighting for fiscally responsible spending to safeguard the Texas economy.
2. Public safety including securing the border and supporting law enforcement.
3. Property tax relief and transparency in appraisals.
Would you support a state ban on transgender treatments for those younger than 18? Which medical procedures or treatments and why? How should a ban be enforced?
I completely empathize with a parent’s desire to protect their child’s mental health and overall wellbeing. However, I am outraged at the idea of performing such permanent, life-changing surgical and hormonal procedures on children, and am in support of restricting minors’ ability to receive such procedures. There is still grave concern within the medical field regarding the safety of these treatments that change the biological sex of children - including permanent alterations to their bodies. Hormones are in constant fluctuation throughout adolescence, and we should therefore wait until they are adults before life-altering treatments are carried out, when they are mature enough to make such informed decisions.
I believe the Texas Medical Board is the best entity to enforce any law that the legislature passes on this subject.
Should Texas change its abortion law to make exceptions for rape and/or incest? At what point in a pregnancy should abortion be barred, if at all?
I believe we must protect human rights, which begin at conception.
Huge numbers of Texas schoolchildren are lagging behind grade level in reading, math and other basic skills. What can the state do about that? What specific policies do you support to improve achievement in as many Texas schools as possible?
Educating our children is the bedrock of Texas’ future and a responsibility we must uphold. It is my belief that if we don’t invest in the front end, we will pay a far greater cost over the course of a lifetime in terms of dollars and precious lives. House Bill 3, passed in 2019, was transformational and dramatically improved Texas public education funding beginning with the $11.6 billion finance measure that we invested in new funding while also providing for much needed property tax relief. Lawmakers must continue to work to make certain we keep education a top priority for all students, and I believe our work reflects this commitment. Moving forward we must continue to appropriate at a level that accounts for population growth and inflation, and invest in our classrooms and educators in a manner that meets the needs of every Texas student - working to make certain that we provide appropriate supports to close the gap in loss of learning that our children have endured.
The state has a huge budget surplus in the coming years. How should that be used? How much would you allocate to property tax cuts, bolstering education and improving pay and benefits for teachers? What other priorities should the Legislature should consider?
Our top priority going into this legislative session must be property tax relief. Current inflation rates are crippling families, and right now every dollar counts. Appropriating half of the surplus for property tax relief next year, and a permanent increase of the homestead exemption will result in meaningful savings for Texans. We must also support our educators, past and present, who too are grappling with inflation while tirelessly sacrificing for our students. We can’t overlook the need to provide pay increases for our teachers, including protecting funding for our retired teachers, who in many instances, have been hit hardest by inflation. Lastly, we must invest in our state’s future. We are one of the fastest growing states in the Nation, and our infrastructure must meet that demand. A substantial investment in our infrastructure will meet the needs of Texans for generations and provide a more mobile, safer state to further strengthen our prosperity.
Do you support Medicaid expansion? If not, what changes would you like to see in the health care system to make care more affordable and accessible?
I do not support expanding Medicaid. The solution is not more government involvement in our health sector, but energizing the forces that deliver better care and services and lower costs through the rest of the economy. That requires a federalist approach to problem solving. The federal government’s micromanagement of our health care has created tens of thousands of pages of rules and regulations in its clumsy and misguided effort to overhaul the individual health insurance market. It has driven up costs, reduced choices, and made it harder for sick people to get care—all while giving a blank check from taxpayers to health insurers, hospitals, and other big health care businesses.
Health care is too local and personal for a one-size-fits-all approach to work. Health reform should be about your care and your coverage to put you and your doctor in control of your health care decisions.
Should Texas declare an invasion and attempt to enforce federal immigration law?
Let’s be clear: Texas is enforcing federal immigration law. The failure of our federal government to take action to protect our border is one that continues to have devastating consequences for all Texans and Americans. Besides the record amounts of drugs and human trafficking victims which strain the resources of law enforcement, our southern border has seen nearly 750 migrant deaths just this year making this a humanitarian crisis in our own backyard. 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 our safety. I will continue to prioritize public safety including taking any legislative action needed that will embolden our state to fight back. We must never waver in taking action to stop illegal crossings at our border. Where Washington fails, Texas must stand.
What gun policy changes would you vote for, and/or how should Texas continue its efforts to make schools safer?
As a legislator, and more importantly, as a parent, I was horrified at the heartbreaking violence that took place in Uvalde. The anguish that has forever changed the families of the victims and all those who witnessed this darkness will never be forgotten. In the next legislative session, my colleagues and I will do the work for every Texas school child to keep them safe from such senseless acts of violence. The Texas House issued their interim report on Uvalde marking a significant first step to understanding the failures that led to the devastating loss of innocent lives. Your Texas legislature must ensure that schools have the resources and reliable tools needed to more quickly implement lockdown procedures, while giving law enforcement the tools, training, and leadership needed to effectively identify and neutralize threats and active shooters. We can also ensure that juvenile criminal histories are shared with the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).
Francine Ly
Political party: Democrat
Age: 51
Occupation: Court coordinator
Education: BS in Legal Studies
Have you run for elected office before?
No
Please list highlights of your civic involvement.
Chair of the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs - North Texas Chapter: partnered local & national organizations to assist w/organizing & hosting Anti-AAPI Hate /Unity Against Hate rallies, Get Out the Count for the 2020 Census, & Get Out the Vaccine efforts.
Who are your top three campaign contributors?
Jeff Tillotson, Lisa Blue, and Amy Witherite
What is the most important distinction between you and your opponent?
When elected, every decision will be based on the needs of our community and not on special interests.
What are the three biggest issues in this race?
Women’s reproductive health, education, and children’s safety.
Would you support a state ban on transgender treatments for those younger than 18? Which medical procedures or treatments and why? How should a ban be enforced?
No.
Should Texas change its abortion law to make exceptions for rape and/or incest? At what point in a pregnancy should abortion be barred, if at all?
Yes. As I have always said, this decision belongs to the woman involved and to her medical professional. I do not support any bans on the freedoms of any Texans.
Huge numbers of Texas schoolchildren are lagging behind grade level in reading, math and other basic skills. What can the state do about that? What specific policies do you support to improve achievement in as many Texas schools as possible?
As a mother, I saw my own children struggled and all I can do was to give them the best support by ensuring that the internet is working, secure the necessary reading material, and provide a safe environment. Inclusion of an 11-minute protocol, which is a teacher assigned article, student reads/watch video for 5 minutes, writes for 5 minutes, and 1 minute for class discussion. This exercise is meant for all discipline. It will help students engage in meaningful discussions and class filled with high rigor and intensity. (This is information gather from teachers and from multiple districts.)
The state has a huge budget surplus in the coming years. How should that be used? How much would you allocate to property tax cuts, bolstering education and improving pay and benefits for teachers? What other priorities should the Legislature should consider?
Nutrition and mental health for students and teachers. Fix the TRS and increase teacher’s pay and health benefits.
Do you support Medicaid expansion? If not, what changes would you like to see in the health care system to make care more affordable and accessible?
Yes.
Should Texas declare an invasion and attempt to enforce federal immigration law?
No.
What gun policy changes would you vote for, and/or how should Texas continue its efforts to make schools safer?
Enhanced background check that targets people on terror watch list and history of domestic violence.
This story was originally published October 23, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
