Eastman is the best pick in HD 148 primary
Consider the new incumbent’s head start, track record at HISD.
It’s too soon to know what Anna Eastman will do as the incumbent District 148 state representative. After all, she was just elected to the seat in a special runoff election in January.
But we can look at her record in eight years on the Houston ISD board of trustees, where she proved herself smart and committed to progressive policies. That record of accomplishment earned her our endorsement in the special election to replace longtime state Rep. Jessica Farrar, a Democrat who stepped down after 25 years.
Eastman, whose HISD district included 75 percent of District 148, told the Editorial Board that education would be one of her priorities. She wants to ensure that funding from HB3, the school finance bill passed in the last session, is preserved and the money goes where it is needed.
She also believes the state school rating system needed to be reviewed.
“There’s a huge disconnect when you have a district like HISD getting a B rating, triggering a board of managers and having schools that we know really are not serving our kids in a way that they're worthy of,” said Eastman, 52.
She also supports increasing access to safe, legal abortion and a number of gun reform measures, including closing background-check loopholes, red-flag laws and banning assault-style weapons and ammunition.
We were also encouraged by Eastman’s plan to spend the next several months establishing her office, getting to know her constituents and “showing up in Austin in January ready to serve and do work that matters.”
The other candidates in the race impressed us with their desire to help the community. One, attorney Penny Morales Shaw, has earned Farrar’s support. But Eastman’s track record as an elected official and the head start she gets as a new incumbent earn her our recommendation.