The Tribune ran a comparison of the candidates for Texas House District 127.
I’ll let Joe Montemayor Speak for himself.
Education
Montemayor strongly believes that Texas has failed to prepare students for college and/or the workforce, and that schools need to be fully funded in order to improve student performance.
“I’ve been concerned with the representation we’ve been getting for our kids,” he said. “It also concerns me that tuition fees for college are getting outrageous; I’ve talked to kids in heavy debt; it’s been a big concern for me.”
He also strongly advocates for mentoring programs for high-school students.
“We need to start doing that now,” he said. “I’ve helped kids all my life, and what we are working for is the future of our children.”
Economy
“I’m a conservative Democrat,” said Montemayor on the topic of economy. “I believe in transparency and accountability.”
In a similar stance to Huberty, Montemayor also believes that the margins tax is ill-advised.
“It shifted the burden to small businesses to pick up the load for the lack of funding for our schools, basically,” he said. “When that happened, we knew this was going to bite us in the backside. We have to go back and revisit that whole system.
“Small businesses need relief or it will strangle our economy,” he concluded.
Montemayor also said he is an advocate of lifting the moratorium on deep-water drilling, because of how much it is hurting the economy.
He pointed out how important it is to have someone in Austin who can relate to the average Texan.
“I’ve been blue-collar all my life,” he said. “I didn’t sit behind a desk. I know what it’s like to struggle to pay the mortgage. We need someone in Austin who understands that.”
Border Control
Montemayor believes intelligence, not a “boots-on-the-ground” mentality, is what is needed most to address the challenges Texas faces at the border. He brings several years of experience to the table with immigration and border issues, having spent 25 years with the Department of Homeland Security as an agent with ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement).
“Boots on the ground is great, but I’ve been preaching intelligence forever, and how intelligence gathering is key,” he said. “We need to be smart about how we enforce the laws, and develop the resources and critical contacts necessary.”
Montemayor feels confident he can handle these issues.
“I think I’m better qualified to know what border security is all about,” he said.
Wrap-up
Montemayor believes in a life of service, and he wants to continue that tradition by serving the state of Texas.
“I’ve devoted over half my life to serving the community,” he said. We are in a crisis situation, and we need a representative who has the best interests of the people at heart.”
Montemayor also asserts that Governor Perry has run up the debt and did not make tough choices. He compared the situation to that of parents that know their child has gotten out of control and needs boundaries, and that a “fraternity brother” mentality has reigned over the politics in Texas.
“It’s time for the parents to step in and say, ‘you know what? It’s over,’” he said.
Meanwhile, his opponent talks the same old line, especially regarding “border control” where he includes “strict Voter ID” law as part of the border. The waste on “fraud” charges at the Texas Attorney General’s office where over $4,000,000 was wasted shows that the whole idea of voter fraud is a Republican myth that continues the tax waste.
On Education, Joe’s opponent calls for “local control,” but under Dan Huberty, Humble ISD has struggled, taxes have increased with little return, and teachers are not effectively represented and defended. We may have a shiny new stadium that we’ll pay off in 30 years, but our teachers will not get raises and our children will still be in over-burdened classrooms today.
On the economy, Huberty calls for less regulation, but Huberty doesn’t mind Rick Perry’s Corporate Slush Fund, which has benefited Republican donors and has resulted in low wage jobs and a failure to meet job-creation targets. Huberty believes in government for a few if it’s his chosen few, and not you.
And on “border control” Huberty is simply ill-prepared, taking lessons from Ted Poe’s right-wing mentality. Joe Montemayor offers experience and talks sensibly, rather than divisively.
Simply put, as the article mentions the end of Joe Crabb’s career, this election is about whether voters want to continue the Joe Crabb Era or have a new beginning in state government. With Joe Montemayor, you get representation, an independent voice, and a representative not tainted by corporate contributions.
With Dan Huberty, well, you get the same old songs with a different album cover.
Contribute to Joe Montemayor today.
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