Philip Cortez, 47, is seeking a sixth consecutive term in the Texas House. He was first elected to his Westside seat in 2012, unseated in 2014, and then reelected two years later. He is a former San Antonio City Council member and U.S. Air Force veteran.
Hear from the candidate
1. Please tell voters about yourself.
I am a product of HD 117. I have lived in my district all my life, and I live there with my wife and daughter. I got my Associate’s from PAC, my Bachelor’s from UT-SA, and my Doctorate from UT-Austin. I served two terms on City Council, where I fought to improve police and fire services, clean parks, and modernize libraries.
I established the Willie Cortez Senior Center to meet community needs. After my term, I became the State Representative for House District 117 in 2012 and have passed over 40 pieces of legislation supporting veterans, public schools, seniors, and job creation in Bexar County. I currently serve as the Chairman of the Defense and Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
2. Briefly describe your top policy priorities.
Residents of House District 117 and local advocates have helped our office identify the most critical issues in our district: public education, public health, public safety, and support for military members and senior citizens.
I have successfully passed over 40 bills into law that enhance access to healthcare, improve public schools, protect seniors, empower law enforcement, and assist veterans and their families. During this past legislative session, I collaborated with numerous advocacy groups, including the Texas Silver-Haired Legislature, to pass a significant bill aimed at assisting seniors. This legislation increases the font size of vote-by-mail ballots for better readability.
Additionally, after working with food allergy advocates, we passed a law that expands access to the life-saving drug epinephrine, allowing the use of epinephrine nasal sprays alongside the already FDA-approved auto-injectors
3. What would you like to see the legislature do to make Texas cities better places to live? In what ways could state officials work better with local officials?
As a former City Councilman, I understand the unique relationship between local and state governments. I believe that the state should take more action to empower cities and respect their existing boundaries, as local governments have the best insight into the needs of their communities.
4. Texas has taken major steps to reshape its public education system, including allowing taxpayer dollars to fund private school tuition. What do you believe needs to happen to monitor the success of Education Savings Accounts, and to ensure every student still receives a quality education?
I have consistently opposed the passage of voucher programs and remain committed to opposing the harm they would cause in my district and across Texas. Now that they have become law, I support efforts to prevent the expansion of this pilot program and to ensure that public schools receive adequate support.
That is why I backed the Legislature’s historic $8.5 billion investment in the state’s public education system. I knew that this funding would provide much-needed raises for teachers and support staff, ensure more equitable funding for special education, and promote campus safety.
5. Reducing the burden of property taxes is expected to be a major focus of the next legislative session. Describe your ideas for balancing the needs of a growing state with state leaders’ desire to rein in that major revenue source?
During every session, I have actively worked to reduce the burden of property taxes. In the 89th session, I played a key role in the passage of SB 4 and SB 23, which offer essential property tax relief to homeowners and vulnerable Texans.
Additionally, I successfully passed HB 3234 into law, saving Bexar County taxpayers $14 million, and I supported legislation to provide a 13th check to retirees. Going into the 90th session, I am further committed to doing whatever I can do to support working-class families.
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