For representatives
Stephenson, Coleman have what it takes
The following are truncated endorsements for Houston-area state representatives. You can read the full versions at HoustonChronicle.com/opinion/endorsements. Early voting ends Friday, Nov. 2. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 6. For more information about voting, go to HarrisVotes.com or call 713-755-6965.
State Representative, District 3: Lisa Seger
Cecil Bell, Jr. - Republican Party:
Lisa Seger - Democratic Party:
With her dyed pink bangs and cat-eye glasses, Lisa Seger doesn’t look like the usual Texas farmer. She does, however, embody a common presence during the 2018 campaign — a woman frustrated with the political status quo stepping up to run where no Democrat has run in years.
She’s running on a platform shared by Democrats and moderate Republicans that supports increasing state funding for schools and expanding Medicaid.
Seger faces three-term state Rep. Cecil Bell Jr., who, according to his Texas Monthly Worst Representative rating from 2015, is known for two things: Wearing a cowboy hat and — in his second session, at least — filing bills to prevent gay marriage in Texas.
Bell didn’t meet with the editorial board.
State Representative, District 26: D.F. “Rick” Miller
D.F. “Rick” Miller - Republican Party:
L. “Sarah” DeMerchent - Democratic Party:
Two years ago we endorsed Republican state Rep. D.F. “Rick” Miller against Democratic challenger L. “Sarah” DeMerchent, and as the candidates face off again, we risk repeating what was previously said.
Miller, running for his fourth term, again impresses with his focus on important local concerns while relying on expert advice on issues like tax, health, education and transportation.
DeMerchent is an IT manager and programmer who advocates for equal pay and greater maternity and paternity leave.
State Representative, District 29: Ed Thompson Ed Thompson - Republican Party:
James Presley - Democratic Party: ½ As a former Pearland city councilman and former trustee of the Pearland Independent School District, three-term state Rep. Ed Thompson, an insurance salesman by day, knows this suburban district well.
Thompson has a pro-growth attitude and realistic perspective on politics.
Thompson’s challenger was James Presley, a 23-year-old libertarian-minded veteran whose main focus seems to be on legalizing marijuana. According to his Facebook page, he is no longer running.
State Representative, District 85: Phil Stephenson Phil Stephenson - Republican Party:
Jennifer Cantu - Democratic Party: ½ State Rep. Phil Stephenson’s a straight shooter, and you get the feeling that if there’s a problem, he can fix it. He’s “conservative as heck,” as he puts it, but also has a fair amount of heart for the less fortunate, maybe because of his hardscrabble beginnings in West Texas.
We endorse him for re-election for all of the above qualities, but mainly because he really wants to fix the state pension system.
We did not meet with his Democratic opponent, Dr. Jennifer Cantu of Rosenberg.
State Representative, District 126: E. Sam Harless
E. Sam Harless - Republican Party:
½
Natali Hurtado - Democratic Party:
½
Our endorsement goes to E. Sam Harless. He has a deep knowledge about the district and a confidence in what must be done on important issues like flooding and school funding. Perhaps that’s because his wife, Patricia Harless, represented the district for 10 years.
Democratic opponent Natali Hurtado impressed us with her knowledge about the issues and passion for public service.
State Representative, District 130: Tom Oliverson Tom Oliverson - Republican Party:
Fred Infortunio - Democratic Party:
½
First-term Republican state Rep. Tom Oliverson quickly learned the ropes during last year’s legislative session and passed or helped pass useful legislation to protect citizens from rapacious emergency care clinics and prevent voter fraud at old folks’ homes.
Democratic challenger Fred Infortunio has a couple of master’s degrees and a doctorate,
and is running on a shoestring. State Representative, District 131: Alma A. Allen Syed S. Ali - Republican Party: Alma A. Allen - Democratic Party: State Rep. Alma Allen is known for her long career as a principal in HISD schools, a 12-year tenure on the State Board of Education and 14 years in the Texas House of Representatives.
Her Republican opponent, Syed Ali, has owned convenience stores and several other businesses and wants to pay this country back by joining the Legislature and enacting beneficial laws, particularly aimed at helping young people.
State Representative, District 141: Mary Ann Perez
Ruben Villarreal - Republican Party: ½ Mary Ann Perez - Democratic Party:
½
State Rep. Mary Ann Perez’s campaign platform is practical, not visionary, with proposals that include limiting the size of so-called “heavy haul” trucks and making stores and gas stations responsible for keeping their equipment clear of illegal credit card skimmers.
More substantially, she favors an Ike Dike project to hold back storm surge and an increase in the state’s share of school funding to take pressure off property taxes.
Her Republican opponent, Ruben Villarreal, co-pastor of La Iglesia del Pueblo church, knew very little about the issues when he met with us during the primary election. He could not attend our general election candidate screening.
State Representative, District 147: Garnet F. Coleman
Thomas Wang - Republican Party: ½ Garnet F. Coleman - Democratic Party:
½
State Rep. Garnet Coleman has been a force for good in the Texas House of Representatives for 27 years, and we have no compunction about endorsing him for another two-year term in the upcoming election.
Coleman has learned to introduce socially progressive bills that are either palatable to the Republican-dominated Legislature or too subtle to garner much opposition.
Coleman’s opponent, Republican Thomas Wang, is making his first run for political office and comes armed with some interesting ideas, particularly having the state pick up the whole tab for public education.
State Representative, District 148: Jessica Christina Farrar
Ryan T. McConnico - Republican Party: ½
Jessica Cristina Farrar - Democratic Party:
When your biggest success was a satirical bill to fine men $100 for masturbating, you know the 2017 legislative session was tough. Such was the case for Democratic State Rep. Jessica Farrar, a 23-year incumbent trying to accomplish something — anything — in a state government held firmly by Republicans.
The masturbation bill was a send-up of the many rules and regulations the Legislature has imposed in recent years on women seeking abortions and made a big splash in the press. But it also symbolized the futility Democrats face in Austin these days and Farrar’s particularly frustrating session, in which Texas Monthly named her one of the worst legislators.
Farrar’s Republican opponent, Ryan McConnico, is an engaging 28-year-old energy company employee who gives off a bit of an Alex P. Keaton vibe, and we mean that as a compliment.
Assuming Farrar wins, she’ll rank at least eighth in seniority in the House in the 2019 Legislature, which will give her more perks and power. We hope she can use them more effectively next session.
State Representative, District 150: Michael Shawn Kelly Valoree Swanson - Republican Party:
Michael Shawn Kelly - Democratic Party:
½
Republican state Rep. Valoree Swanson had an undistinguished first term in Austin where, by our count, she authored 56 bills, none of which became law.
Among them were bills that would have prevented all doctors from performing abortions, encouraged teachers to teach that climate change is a myth and eliminated ad valorem taxes, which is not the worst idea if you have a reasonable replacement, which she doesn’t.
She did not meet with the Chronicle editorial board this year.
Her Democratic challenger, Michael Shawn Kelly, thinks Swanson and her allies, with their tastes for charter schools and vouchers, are damaging public schools, with visible consequences.
Kelly, a former “Jack Kemp Republican” running now as a moderate Democrat, says Texas needs to hire more teachers to improve education, help create a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who have been here a while and are good workers, fine polluters to raise money for state coffers and lower property taxes.
He ran against Swanson in 2016.