McGee, Cantu top picks in Democratic primary

It’s been called Harris County’s “best-kept secret.” Some have also suggested it’s a dirty little secret, considering its scandals and general intrigue.

Created in the days of oneroom county school houses, the Harris County Department of Education is a critical source of support for Harris County’s 25 independent school districts.

They rely on HCDE’s purchasing co-op to buy supplies at discount prices, and to access therapy services for thousands of special education students each year.

For the students struggling the most with misbehavior, addiction or severe emotional and physical disabilities, HCDE offers four “special schools” that promise to get them back on track to graduation.

With a budget that is only about 8% of Houston ISD’s, the department uses grants, fees and co-op revenue to fill gaps in our public education system.

Its tax rate is minuscule — the average homeowner with an assessed value of $200,000 pays an annual cost of a beer at Kirby Icehouse.

That seems like a decent deal given that it runs 21 Head Start early childhood education programs, after-school enrichment programming, and the largest adult education program in the state.

Even so, Republican legislators have targeted the department, calling it a drain on tax dollars.

State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, with the support of HCDE Trustee Mike Wolfe, filed bills in past legislative sessions to try and abolish HCDE, or to put it before a sunset review committee, arguing it is duplicative and lacks accountability.

The department has survived the scrutiny so far — and so have some of its more problematic trustees.

Wolfe became infamous for using HCDE money to name a building after his mother, and for sexual harassment allegations, though that hasn’t stopped him from running for Harris County tax assessorcollector in this year’s Republican primary.

More recently, Eric Dick, an appointed trustee currently running unopposed for reelection has faced sanctions, campaign ethics fines and an investigation by Hawaii officials related to his work as an attorney.

If the board is going to exist, it needs trustees voters can actually trust. We recommend the following in the Democratic primary:

Precinct 1, Position 6: John McGee

Politics is always going to attract some people more interested in the game than the work, but there are occasional exceptions. John

McGee, 59, is a breath of fresh air.

He began his term in November, when he was appointed after a trustee resigned to run for state office.

Despite his short time on the board, McGee has proven himself valuable, bringing the financial know-how to assess and manage the department’s budget of $165 million.

Born in Oklahoma and raised in Dallas, McGee derives his passion for equal educational opportunities from his own experience in the federal Head Start program.

He began his 33-year career in public service as a budget examiner with the Legislative Budget Board, where he monitored over half a billion dollars in state agency budgets and determined the fiscal impact of legislation.

While working at the Texas Education Agency in the 1990s, McGee was asked to serve as the chief financial officer for a struggling Dallas school district under TEA control that was known for its board infighting and mismanaged funds.

Within four months, he says he helped get spending under control and paid back the $2 million the district owed the state, persuading TEA to relinquish control.

“It was a nightmare, but it was the best place to learn about school finance, board governance and relationships, as well as academics,” McGee said.

With stints at school districts in Aldine, Spring Branch and Houston, and his current work performing financial reviews for Houston’s housing department, McGee’s commitment to responsible public finance is clear.

But we’re most heartened by his passion for what the HCDE does for underprivileged students.

McGee’s opponent, Richard Bonton, is a former candidate for state representative who pleaded guilty to an election fraud charge related to the “ghost candidate” who forced state Rep. Harold Dutton into a runoff in 2020.

He did not participate in the screening.

We recommend voters give John McGee a chance to finish what he started.

At-large, Position 3: Richard Cantu

Voters have two accomplished, capable candidates with strong ideas for this at-large position.

The incumbent, Richard Cantu, 54, is a native Houstonian who has spent the better part of three decades deeply committed to public service as the director of citizens’ assistance under two mayors, treasurer for the Harris County Department of Education, and heading the East Aldine Management District.

“I’m the trustee that asks the toughest questions at the table, challenging the administration to do more with the resources we have,” Cantu told us.

When Cantu saw the dismal state of the department’s adult education center, he helped them connect with Lakewood Church to host expanded programming opportunities. Cantu then advocated for a new, state-of-the-art building that through bonds they were able to make a reality.

The $19 million building, complete with an inspiring “Goddess of Grit” mural and 17 classrooms, allows HCDE to host three times the number of adult learners, Cantu said.

As the son of parents who emigrated from Monterrey, Mexico, to the U.S. with only a sixth-grade and high school education, Cantu understands the critical difference ESL, GED. citizenship classes and vocational training can make.

His opponent, Josh Wallenstein, 48, agrees.

But he argues HCDE can go even farther, partnering with unions and nonprofits to provide long-term career training.

A compliance and ethics attorney by trade, with degrees from Southern Methodist University and Stanford Law School, Wallenstein brings a fresh perspective and welcome focus on “avoiding even the appearance of impropriety” on the board by drawing up airtight contracts that better detail the limits of trustees.

Wallenstein has compelling ideas for expanding HCDE’s services to fill two critical gaps in public education right now: librarians and mental health services.

For Cantu, the latter priority is personal. He lost his teenage daughter less than three years ago after she got caught in the crossfire of a gunfight. It has made him all the more dedicated to youth engagement, especially in inner-city neighborhoods with high crime and poverty.

“We boast that we serve 15,000 students in after-school programs, but are they in the right places?” Cantu asked. Expanding outreach to Fifth Ward, Northeast Houston and Acres Homes is a priority.

Voters can’t go wrong with either Wallenstein or Cantu. Both ask the right questions and bring a clear-eyed understanding of HCDE’s mission.

Ultimately, we’re swayed by Cantu’s track record. Voters should give him a second term to implement his ideas.