The health & wellness of Texans is my top issue. The healthier people there are across the State, the lower costs we end of paying for insurance and healthcare services. Expanding access to healthcare directly enhances a person’s physical & financial well-being. Additionally, we must expand coverage for routine, preventative healthcare services, especially those that impact the health needs of women, children, and the elderly. Access to these services is necessary to increase people’s lifespans and enhance the lives of Texas women & children. As a small business owner in the insurance & employee benefits industry, I understand how these industries work and what issues are important for the Texas Legislature to consider when expanding access to healthcare.

A community thrives when people have access to high-paying jobs, because families can afford nice homes, make investments to benefit their future, and save for college & retirement. Every Texan deserves a living wage that doesn’t require them to live paycheck-to-paycheck, or avoid major expenses that are necessary for a higher quality of life. It is necessary to implement policy that makes it easier for businesses, especially small businesses, to provide high-paying jobs with high-quality benefits to prospective employees. If so, businesses across every industry will be able to hire & retain top talent.

Texas has one of the largest economies in the world, and we should aim to continue to diversify our economy. The more industries Texas is able to attract, the more job options people will have. We must continue to make investments in industries like technology, energy, and healthcare, and at the same time enhance our film & music, agriculture, and tourism industries. It is also important to balance the needs of every industry, so that we can maximize the number of diverse job opportunities in Texas. As a City Councilman since 2018, I have worked with a diverse group of local businesses & organizations to ensure that different industries are able to work together to create a strong, diverse economy for local residents.

For many Texans, their greatest source of wealth is their home. The goal should be for every Texan to have the ability own a high-quality home. The Texas Legislature should implement policy that funds assistance to First-Time Home Buyer programs, thus expanding the number of Texas families that are able to purchase a high-quality home. Also, the State of Texas should work with non-profit organizations that provide pathways to affordable homeownership for Texans.

As someone who’s three children are university graduates, I personally understand the value of education. Each Texas student deserves a world-class education. Therefore, it is important to have the best teachers in the country, who have high-paying salaries and high-quality benefits. If schools are not funded adequately, students miss out on educational opportunities. Schools across the State of Texas compete with each other to hire teachers, so they can provide high-quality instruction to their students. By increasing teacher salaries & benefits for Texas teachers, we can attract teachers from across the country, and retain the excellent teachers already here in Texas.