Meet the candidates for Texas House District 99 in the Nov. 5 general election
READ MORE
2024 Tarrant County and Texas voter guide
Read about the Tarrant County, Texas and federal races before you head to the polls on Election Day.
Expand All
Republican Rep. Charlie Geren, who was first elected in November 2000, is once again facing Democrat Mimi Coffey in his reelection bid.
Geren, the owner and president of Railhead Smokehouse BBQ, said his priorities include border security, fully funding schools, tax cuts and promoting economic development in Tarrant County and Texas. For Coffey, priorities include public education, infrastructure and a “women’s right to choose.”
House District 99 covers part of northwest Tarrant County. That includes Lake Worth, most of Azle, part of east Saginaw and part of east Fort Worth.
Charlie Geren
Political Party: Republican
Age: 74
Campaign website: https://www.charliegeren.com/
Best way for voters to reach you: info@charliegeren.com
Occupation: Owner and President of Railhead Smokehouse BBQ
Education: Southern Methodist University
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought, with years)
Yes
Please list the highlights of your civic involvement/activism:
- Trustee, Texas Christian University
- Vice President, Southwestern Exposition & Livestock Show
- Board Member, Texas Water Development Board (1994–2000)
- Chairman, Texas Resource Finance Authority
- Board Member, Tarrant Regional Water District Board of Directors (1990–1994)
- Board Member, State Preservation Board
- Board Member, Ronald McDonald House
- Board Member, Fort Worth Zoo
- Board Member, Lena Pope Home
- Board Member, Junior Achievement
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?
See Ethics Report
Why are you seeking this office?
Serving my neighbors is in my blood. I will always look for the best way to advocate for our families. It makes me very proud to deliver on border security, tax cuts, better public education and a stronger economy.
What are your top 3 policy priorities?
- Securing our border
- Fully fund our schools
- Cutting taxes & promoting economic development in Tarrant County and across the state
Why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?
There’s a saying: ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ I believe this sentiment reflects the trust my constituents have placed in me, returning me to Austin multiple times. I’ve worked diligently to serve the citizens of Tarrant County, and I am grateful for the recognition I’ve received in areas like agriculture, water issues, veterans affairs, and public education. I was honored to be appointed as Speaker Pro Tem of the Texas House, which reflects the collaborative spirit of our community. I work hard to deliver for our district and wake up each day with a mind for earning the vote countless people have entrusted to me on behalf of their families, jobs, and the communities we all care about.
What is the biggest challenge facing the district where you’re running, and what is your plan to address it?
I’m driven to fully secure our southern border. I voted to empower our law enforcement to arrest and turn back those who trespass on Texas. We increased border security funding by 630% since Biden took office. We’re finishing the wall in Texas, designated Mexican drug cartels as terrorists, and cracked down on fentanyl and human trafficking. Though it’s the federal government’s job, we must step up to protect our families. This is the biggest challenge we face, and the stakes are life or death. I’m running again to finish the job and stop Biden’s open border. The fact is: we’ve got to always look to improve our security at the border until this is no longer a threat to our families. We can never stop until we have achieved full security and this means rendering the cartels and human traffickers completely ineffectual. They have to be put out of business for good.
How would you measure your success as a state legislator?
Since I have served, the Texas economy has grown to be the 8th largest in the world - larger than Canada or Russia. I am proud to have helped steer our state toward a mindset of consistent tax relief and job creation - which has paved the way for our outstanding success.
Do you support vouchers or voucher-like programs, such as education savings accounts? Why or why not?
One of my most important duties as your representative is to ensure Texas has a robust and exceptional public education system to serve all Texas children. For this reason, I cannot support voucher programs, which would serve to divert funds away from public schools and undermine their ability to provide all children with a quality education.
What is your plan to fund Texas public schools?
I am very proud to be an advocate for your children at the State Capitol. Last session, I fought hard to restore $5 billion in public school funding and added over $3 billion to the Foundation School Program, designed to give every child in Texas the best chance for success, regardless of their zip code or tax bracket. I also fought for our educators, securing a much-needed cost-of-living adjustment and a 13th check for our retired teachers. There’s much more to be done to ensure our public schools are set for success, and I will continue to push for more state resources to allow districts the flexibility to prioritize teacher pay raises, hire additional staff, and invest in infrastructure improvements.
Has the state done enough to ensure a steady supply of electricity, even in tight grid conditions? What more should be done?
Ensuring the reliability and security of Texas’ electric grid has been a top priority for me. The passage of Senate Bill 2627 and House Bill 1500 last session marked significant progress, strengthening grid infrastructure, increasing energy storage capacity, and providing oversight to prevent future disruptions. However, this is just the beginning. I remain committed to improving grid resilience, exploring new technologies, and ensuring reliable energy access for every Texan, especially during extreme weather and high demand.
What should the state do in the coming legislative session to address road infrastructure?
As Texas continues to grow at an unprecedented rate, it’s essential that our roads and thoroughfares are equipped to handle the increased traffic. By working closely with transportation authorities and local and state officials, I constantly seek to increase funding for road maintenance and expansion, improve traffic management, and prioritize safety and efficiency for Texas drivers.
What should the state do in the coming legislative session to address the supply of water in Texas?
Water supply is a critical issue, especially as Texas’ population grows and droughts become more frequent. I have spent much of my career shaping local and state water policy through my service on the Texas Water Development Board and the Tarrant Regional Water District Board of Directors. Last session, I voted to allocate $1 billion to improve water infrastructure and develop new water sourcing methods, including desalination and the collection of groundwater as a byproduct of drilling. We must continue our conservation efforts and pursue innovative projects to secure Texas’ water supply for generations.
What should the state do in the coming legislative session to address border security along the Texas-Mexico border and immigration?
Last session, I supported the largest increase in border security funding in Texas history — over 630% — and worked to raise penalties for drug and human traffickers. I will continue to fight for law enforcement resources, improve interagency cooperation, and crack down on criminal activity at our border. We also ensure that all fentanyl deaths are prosecuted as murder. There have been enough deadly doses of fentanyl smuggled into Texas to kill every man, woman and child who lives here. We must completely shut down cartel activity in Texas. While Biden and Harris’ open-border policies have left our state in crisis, I will keep fighting until our border is secured.
What should the state legislature do to address property taxes and affordable housing for Texans in the coming legislative session?
Property taxes are a significant burden for Texas homeowners, which is why I am immensely proud of the work we did last session to secure the largest property tax cut in Texas history. The $18 billion allocation raised the homestead exemption to $100,000, instituted appraisal caps, compressed school taxes, and provided franchise tax exemptions. In the upcoming session, I’ll continue to focus on reducing the tax burden and increasing the availability of affordable housing to ensure Texans are not priced out of their homes. We have to maintain the focus on lasting relief and incentive the construction of new homes because a strong, competitive real estate market and better housing availability will help ensure better prices for families.
Should Texas make any changes to its current abortion laws. Why or why not, and what changes would you support?
As a staunch advocate for the unborn, I have always supported pro-life policies and am proud of our achievements, including the passage of the Heartbeat Bill, which bans abortions after a heartbeat is detected. Like President Trump, I also recognize that in certain unfortunate and unavoidable circumstances, such as rape, incest, or threats to the mother’s life, exceptions are necessary. I will always be a champion of pro-life policies while showing compassion and understanding in these difficult situations.
What’s an issue that doesn’t make as many headlines but is important to you? Why is it important?
Protecting our kids is always the most important duty to me. Two ways we’ve done that is by passing legislation to protect our kids from being targeted by online predators and Big Tech who prey on them for their personal information. I’m also proud to have passed the school marshal program to keep children safe in the classroom. There are not big headlines about those pieces of legislation but they are very important. As a parent and grandparent, I never want our children to live in fear or want for anything that they need in their lives. They deserve the best.
What steps will you take to communicate with constituents about their concerns, needs and the actions of the state legislature?
As your State Representative, I am honored to serve the people of Fort Worth, a community I’ve been deeply connected to my entire life. Fort Worth isn’t just where I live — it’s my home, and the people here are my family. Whether at my local office in Fort Worth or my Capitol office in Austin, or even down at The Railhead, my door is always open. Your thoughts, concerns, and ideas are important to me, and I will continue to be transparent in my decisions, making every effort to listen and fight for your best interests at the Texas Capitol. Thank you for your trust and for allowing me the privilege of representing you.
Mimi Coffey
Age: 56
Campaign website: https://mimicoffeyfordistrict99.com/
Best way for voters to reach you: mimi@mimicoffeyfordistrict99.com
Occupation: attorney
Education: Baylor University , BA 1991, Texas Tech School of Law 1994
Have you run for elected office before?
2002 Tx HD 99, 2022 Tx HD 99
Please list the highlights of your civic involvement/activism.
Giving high school scholarships to the WSISD for years
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:
Yes- divorce related.
Who are your top three campaign contributors?
Tony Coleman- attorney, Krisi Kastl-attorney, Dion Dragoo- IT
Why are you seeking this office?
To help people. Corporate greed has taken over everything.
What are your top 3 policy priorities?
Public Education, Infrastructure for District 99, Women’s Right to Choose
Why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?
My opponent has served the district well, because of his anti-voucher stance he has very little clout with the Governor and Lt. Governor. As a Democrat, the Governor and Lt. Gov. can’t intimidate me .
What is the biggest challenge facing the district where you’re running, and what is your plan to address it?
Infrastructure, the Saginaw area in particular needs new roads to meet the burgeoning population.
How would you measure your success as a state legislator?
Accessibility. When people know they can call me and either me or my office will respond. Good customer service.
Do you support vouchers or voucher-like programs, such as education savings accounts? Why or why not?
NO. The Texas Constitution tasks the legislature with funding public education, not private.
What is your plan to fund Texas public schools?
Increase funds. Pay teachers more. We have over $32 billion in surplus currently and Republicans choose not to fund our schools properly.
Has the state done enough to ensure a steady supply of electricity, even in tight grid conditions? What more should be done?
No it has not. Energy lobbyists who donate to Republicans and Governor Abbott, in particular, are in charge. Profit for energy companies is running the show now.
What should the state do in the coming legislative session to address road infrastructure?
We need to a new engineering study that is up to date with our population. We need to pass a huge infrastructure bill, like the feds did. This will help local cities too.
What should the state do in the coming legislative session to address the supply of water in Texas?
I took water law at Texas Tech Law School. I need to brush up on these issues and consult with experts.
What should the state do in the coming legislative session to address border security along the Texas-Mexico border and immigration?
No doubt- border security is a federal issue. We need more help and funds from D.C. and Congress. Texas Democrats can work together and get this done. AG Paxton and his constant barrage of lawsuits does not solve any issues.
What should the state legislature do to address property taxes and affordable housing for Texans in the coming legislative session?
We need to compile studies of how property taxes are handled across the 50 states. A huge concern which must be addressed is seniors getting taxed out of their homes.
Should Texas make any changes to its current abortion laws. Why or why not, and what changes would you support?
We need pro-choice legislation which protects women in their right to choose.
What’s an issue that doesn’t make as many headlines but is important to you? Why is it important?
I would like to see large scale chip manufacturing plant come to District 99. We have the land for it. It would bring a lot of good paying jobs to the district.
What steps will you take to communicate with constituents about their concerns, needs and the actions of the state legislature?
Newsletter, update legislative office website, hispanic radio and sometimes text campaigns.
This story was originally published October 14, 2024 at 2:14 PM.
.jpg)
