Thompson in HD 141
Long tenure in Legislature has allowed her to reach consensus on difficult issues.
There’s a reason why Senfronia Thompson is the longest-serving woman in Texas legislative history. First elected in 1972, she has amassed a long list of accomplishments and continues to be a strong voice speaking for vulnerable Texans.
She has helped raise the state minimum wage, pass hate-crime legislation protecting LGBT communities, reform the criminal justice system, treat veterans with PTSD, crack down on human trafficking and made it easier to secure spousal maintenance.
Her long tenure in the Legislature has allowed her to reach consensus on issues that seemed intractable, building coalitions and refusing to get discouraged.
“You have to work with people and sometimes it takes a while,” Thompson told the Editorial Board. “Spousal maintenance took us 20 years to get done, because we can’t change people’s minds, we have to keep working with them so they can understand the gravity of the problem and hope they can see your point of view.”
Thompson, 81, has a long list of issues she wants to tackle if she returns to the Legislature, including securing funding for allday kindergarten and improved wraparound services in schools. She also wants to help cities combat homelessness and boost affordable housing, and increase state help on flooding.
Her opponent in the race is first-time candidate Willie Roaches Franklyn, 57, a career educator who said she wants to make a difference in the lives of everyday people and that it’s time for Thompson to pass the baton. “It’s a rally, not a marathon,” Roaches Franklyn said. While her passion and dedication to public service shine through, she is less successful in conveying why voters should choose her over the incumbent. We can’t blame her. Thompson has a strong record, works hard for the district and has earned the support of Democratic voters and our endorsement, too.