Candidates for Fort Worth area Texas House District 98 on the November 8 ballot
Giovanni Capriglione
Political party: Republican
Did not respond
Shannon Elkins
Political party (if applicable): Democrat
Age as of November 8, 2022: 36
Campaign website: elkins4texas.com
Occupation: Teacher
Education: BA, Northwestern University; MEd, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought)
no
Please list highlights of your civic involvement:
Community Volunteer, Activist
Who are your top three campaign contributors?
Leslie Elkins, AFL-CIO, Northeast Tarrant Democrats
What is the most important distinction between you and your opponent(s)?
I am pro-choice and acknowledge the need for increased maternal care in Texas. I also want to actively fix our grid.
What are the three biggest issues in this race?
Reproductive Rights, Gun Safety, Voting Rights
Should property taxes be lowered? What can the state do to lower property taxes for Texans? Be specific.
Property taxes need to be lowered. One way in which we can go about doing so is by using state funds to finance our school systems. Right now, the burden of school funding is on the taxpayer, and Texas, as a very wealthy state, has the money to increase its contribution to our public schools.
What should the state do to address immigration at the Texas-Mexico border?
We need comprehensive immigration reform, including easier paths to citizenship, better work programs, and support for refugees seeking asylum.
Do you support changes to Texas gun laws? If so, what changes? Would you support raising the age to buy AK-style rifles from 18 to 21?
We need comprehensive background checks, red flag laws, and limits on ammunition purchases. I wholly support raising the age to buy AK-style rifles, but it makes more sense to outlaw their sale to civilians in order to protect our citizens.
How should Texas continue its efforts to make schools safer?
We need stronger gun safety laws. The burden should not be on educators.
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?
Reproductive decisions should be up to a person and medical professionals. Abortion laws are fascist.
What can the state do to help students who are lagging behind grade level in subjects like math and reading? What specific policies do you support to improve achievement in Texas schools?
If ‘grade level’ is determined by achievement on the STAAR test, it is not an accurate measure of a student’s ability. These standardized tests need to be reformed. We need to focus on basic reading (phonics programs) and math fluency (math facts) in elementary schools, and work with students to grow at their pace. We can also increase pay for support staff, such as instructional paraprofessionals, in order to shrink the student-staff ratio in a classroom.
Should there be a statewide ban or limit on gender-affirming health care treatments for transgender Texans younger than 18? Which medical procedures or treatments and why? How should such a ban/limit be enforced?
Medical decisions should be made by individuals, guardians of minors, and medical staff.
Do you support Medicaid expansion? What changes would you like to see in the healthcare system to make care more affordable and accessible?
I support Medicaid expansion. We need to increase our funding for maternal care and mental healthcare specifically. As the least-insured state in the nation, Texas is failing our communities by not providing low-cost insurance.
Texas is expected to have a huge budget surplus in the coming legislative session. How should those dollars be spent and what priorities should be addressed with those dollars?
We need to better fund our schools and invest in infrastructure, such as our fragile energy grid.
Should Texas loosen its marijuana laws? Would you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational and/or medical use?
I support the legalization of cannabis products for medical and recreational use. Texas wastes far too much money, effort, and time in cannabis prohibition.
Should Texas legalize casino gambling? Should the state legalize sports betting? If so, what should be the framework and parameters?
Legalized gambling is not a priority of this campaign. However, I do support efforts to legalize sports betting.
Has the state done enough to fix the power grid? What should be done going forward to ensure its successful operation, particularly in times of extreme weather?
The state has done very little to fix the power grid. We need to create legislation that requires weatherization of our power plants, and transition towards renewable energy. Our solar and wind plants in particular need to be regularly updated and maintained.
