Sprawling North Texas Senate district needs a multitasker. Here’s our endorsement | Opinion

Frisco and Graham don’t have a lot in common, but they share one thing: a state senator.

District 30 is an interesting mix of some of the state’s fastest-growing areas and sparsely populated Red River counties. And it’s been the center of attention plenty in recent years. A 2020 special election included candidate Shelley Luther, the salon owner who made national news by defying COVID shutdown orders. Now, the race to replace retiring Sen. Drew Springer is heating up as Republicans battle one another over one candidate’s residency.

But the complicated district, which includes big parts of Parker and Denton counties, needs strong representation, a senator who can balance a range of needs across a diverse area. The Republican with the most promise is Carrie de Moor.

The 43-year-old emergency physician from Frisco would bring important healthcare knowledge to the Senate, along with small-business sense, as she owns an urgent care center. In our candidate interview, de Moor came across as almost obsessive about the issue of border security, tying most issues to the crisis. But that’s where a lot of Republican voters are, and she shows an ability to multitask, with thoughtful answers on education, water-supply issues, state mandates on local government and other concerns in District 30. Her membership on the board of the Texas Medical Association and state panels dealing with medical issues give her a window into state health issues. De Moor is also a past medical director and emergency room trauma director at JPS Health Network in Fort Worth.

Brent Hagenbuch, who owns a transportation services company, is probably the frontrunner. He enjoys the support of Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Sen. John Cornyn and former Gov. Rick Perry, among others. His opponents have questioned whether his residency in the district is legitimate.

Senators must reside in the district they represent for at least a year before taking office. His campaign has won legal battles so far, but his answers have been cagey. Hagenbuch, 63, told talk radio host (and Star-Telegram contributor) Mark Davis recently that he has lived in Denton since October. Butit stretches credulity to believe that he lived regularly in the corporate apartment of an office building, as his campaign legal team told a court at the last minute in January. Hagenbuch did not attend our candidate interview.

Candidate Cody Clark, 41, of Krugerville, showed promise as a candidate who works in the field of state care for the disabled. His insider view of the bureaucracy and the challenge of caring for the most vulnerable would be useful in the Senate. But Clark was revealed to have recently signed a petition supporting a referendum on Texas secession. That’s disqualifying.

The fourth candidate, attorney Jace Yarbrough, showed strong knowledge of the issues facing the district and the state. But the 37-year-old Sanger resident is overly focused on hard-right views on cultural issues.

Early voting is Tuesday through March 1. If no candidate wins half the vote in the March 5 primary, the top two will advance to a runoff. The winner will face one of three Democrats. Senators are elected to four-year terms.