Allen in Democratic primary for House 131
Her skills and ‘great relationship’ with those across aisle are assets.
Voters in District 131 have an incumbent with the seniority and acumen to pass legislation.
Alma Allen, 80, was first elected to the House in 2004. One of her opponents in the primary told the Editorial Board she is a pillar of the community in a district that sweeps across parts of south and southeast Houston.
Allen has decades of experience in education at every level. She began her career as an elementary school teacher. She was a principal and then in HISD’s central administration, and was elected and served on the State Board of Education for more than 10 years. She has a doctorate of education from the University of Houston and has taught as an adjunct professor at Texas Southern University and Prairie View A&M University.
When she spoke with the Editorial Board, Allen demonstrated deep knowledge of the Legislature where friendships across the aisle and mastery of procedures matter at least as much as passion.
“I have a great relationship with the Republicans,” she said.
In the last session, she authored or co-authored nine bills that passed, including House Bill 3 that increased public education funding by several billion dollars. Other bills she authored or joint authored require prisons to stop rationing sanitary napkins for women, improve the transition from alternative schools to regular classrooms, allow people who have served time to be eligible for occupational licenses like plumbing and cosmetology, and give defendants who must meet community supervision officers the option to do so by video conference to avoid missing work.
If the Democrats manage to take control of the House, her seniority and know-how will make her an even more effective advocate for her community.
Also running are Elvonte Patton, a teacher and doctoral candidate at Texas Southern University whose passion and dedication to his community we applaud, and Carey Lashley, an educator and social worker.