To inform readers about the candidates seeking their votes on the November ballot, the San Antonio Report asked all candidates to answer the following questions. We edited answers for clarity, not substance or grammar, and we did not fact-check responses. We restricted responses to 200 words for each question.
Read other candidates’ answers here.
Party:
Democrat
Incumbent?
No
Link to campaign website:
Age:
50
Education background/degrees earned:
Central Catholic High School 1989; BA Political Science, UTSA; JD, St. Mary’s University School of Law
Current occupation, employer, or job title:
Immigration attorney
Previous elected offices held and/or sought:
San Antonio City Council District 3 and State Representative District 119
Why do you feel you are the best candidate for the office you are seeking?
I have been representing my community for over 15 years, I have a proven record of getting big things done, first in the city council and then in the Texas House. I’m the only candidate with trusted leadership and the most experience working in Austin. I’ve helped stop and fought a lot of bad legislation my opponent’s party insists on imposing in Texas. Elections have consequences, and it is important in who we elect. I believe my values are more representative of this district. I will stand up for the needs of this district and have outlaid many new legislative proposals that are necessary for this upcoming session. What we have now representing us in Austin for this district is a rubber stamp for the Lt. Governor. I will represent everyone in this district from San Antonio to Pecos and not only serve to those in power.
What three issues do you feel are most important to voters in your district?
Access to health care, more funding to public education, and high-paying jobs.
If elected, what would be your top priorities after taking office?
The top priority when the session begins is creating real, sensible solutions to the current COVID-19 pandemic, which includes access to more testing. Another top priority is the budget. We are going to have a shortfall so it’s finding monies to make sure our promises from last session are funded. Finding new revenue is a top priority and not by asking taxpayers to pay more but create creative legislation to find new revenue such as cannabis legalization and gaming.
How has the coronavirus pandemic shaped your priorities?
The coronavirus has only reaffirmed my legislative priorities, the most being health care. It is very important every Texan has access to quality health care and it starts with expanding Medicaid. Access to more testing for the coronavirus and a reasonable response to the pandemic.
For incumbents: What do you consider your most significant accomplishments in office? What would you change?
N/A
For non-incumbents: What, if anything, would you do differently from the current officeholder?
It’s my ability to get things done that have led to many accomplishments while in office: building a library on the South Side of San Antonio, passing legislation to help kickstart the development of Hemisfair Park, and as chairman of the Defense and Veterans’ Affairs Committee I was able to protect our military bases from being encroached on by developers.
