Conservative Fort Worth lawmaker gets challenge from right. Here’s our endorsement | Opinion
Once again, Fort Worth Rep. Stephanie Klick faces challengers questioning whether she’s conservative enough.
The answer has always been yes, and Klick has been an effective lawmaker on conservative priorities. There’s no need for Republican voters in House District 91 to lose her clout. Klick, a 67-year-old nurse, has earned another term representing north Fort Worth, Haltom City, Watauga and North Richland Hills.
“We still have more to do,” Klick told us in a candidate interview. “We made a great dip this session in property tax relief but I still believe that there’s more work to be done as far as reforming the session.”
Klick voted to increase border funding to improve border security. After a recent visit to the region, she said she believes Operation Lone Star is working.
“We need more of the same,” Klick said. “The efforts that we’ve taken more recently seem to have reduced the number of people who are coming across illegally.”
Klick was a registered nurse for 35 years before venturing into politics. She uses this to her advantage, chairing the Texas House Public Health Committee. Klick said she wants to continue work on reducing the cost and improving access to healthcare.
David Lowe, who ran against Klick two years ago, is back for another challenge from the incumbent’s right. Two-time Fort Worth City Council candidate Teresa Ramirez is also in the race. Both declined our interview requests.
Early voting in the primary begins Feb. 20 and runs through March 1. Election Day is March 5. If no candidate gets more than half the vote, the top two will compete in a May runoff. There are no Democratic candidates, so the GOP winner is all but certain to capture the seat in the fall.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREHey, who is behind these endorsements?
Members of the Editorial Board, which serves as the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s institutional voice, decide candidates and positions to recommend to voters. The members of the board are: Cynthia M. Allen, columnist; Steve Coffman, editor and president; Bud Kennedy, columnist; Ryan J. Rusak, opinion editor; and Nicole Russell, opinion writer.
Read more by clicking the arrow in the upper right.
How does the process work?
The Editorial Board interviews candidates, asking about positions on issues, experience and qualifications, and how they would approach holding the office for which they are running. Board members do additional research on candidates’ backgrounds and the issues at hand. After that, members discuss the candidates and generally aim to arrive at a consensus, though not necessarily unanimity. All members contribute observations and ideas, so the resulting editorials represent the board’s view, not a particular writer.
How do partisanship and ideology factor in?
We’re not tied to one party or the other, and our positions on issues range across the ideological spectrum. We tend to prefer candidates who align with our previously stated positions, but qualifications, temperament and experience are important, too.
This story was originally published February 14, 2024 at 5:31 AM.