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Texas House of Representatives - District 51 candidates

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Written by Eric Pulsifer Friday, 24 October 2008

Get to know candidates running for District 51.

Eddie Rodriguez, Democrat (incumbent)

463-0674 , eddie.rodriguez@house.state.tx.us
Hometown: McAllen, Texas
Education: B.A. in Government, University of Texas at Austin; Third Year Law Student, University of Texas Law School
Political background: Executive Director of Travis Co. Democratic Party; campaign manager for various democratic candidates

Q. How did you become involved in politics?: A. I developed an interest in politics in my early teens and began following state and federal government. In college, I volunteered for the Ann Richards for Governor campaign and led voter registration efforts. I began working for the Travis County Democratic Party and also worked for a member of the state legislature.
Q. What are some priority issues for you if re-elected?: A. Texas has made quick progress in wind energy production and this session we have the unique opportunity to become a world leader in solar energy, as well. Texas has been referred to as the “Saudi Arabia of sun,” yet many solar energy companies choose to operate in our bordering states because Texas does not offer competitive incentives. This session, I will work to make Texas a desirable place for the solar industry.
I will also file legislation to encourage use of public and mass transit in Central Texas. I will offer ideas for funding mechanisms to allow municipalities outside of the Capitol Metro Service Area to obtain membership.
Also, re-examining our school finance systems so taxpayers are not shouldering the bulk of school funding, while ensuring our schools are funded at the appropriate level. And making changes to our public school accountability system so our schools are treated equally instead of being punished by a flawed system. I will also file an array of health and human services bills to address systems problems and offer ideas for new programming.
Q. What accomplishments are you most proud of as a representative?: A. Establishment of a Homestead Preservation District in East Austin, giving the City of Austin tools to maintain and increase affordable housing. Specifically, the establishment of a reinvestment zone within the HPD that will allow for money to be reinvested back within the district for acquiring and renovating affordable housing. *My other legislative accomplishments include bills that assist and advocate for children and young adults with disabilities and ensure that all eligible homeowners receive their homestead exemptions.
Q. What do you view as a representative’s most important responsibility?: A. Creating and voting for legislation that will have a positive impact on your local constituency while monitoring the statewide implications of legislation. *It is also my duty to ensure that the government is working fairly and properly for my constituents in House District 51 and to intervene in instances where they are experiencing problems with their state services.
Q. In the past, you’ve proposed a state personal income tax. Why is this something you believe taxpayers should support?: A. I believe voters should have a say in how schools are funded. My proposal would have cut school property tax by 60 percent. My legislation would ask for a voter referendum on the actual tax and voter approval before any increase in the tax can take place. Voter approval would also be necessary to have exemptions in any part of the tax.
Q. Besides voting, how can citizens get involved in the legislative process?: A. By spending time listening to issues that affect them and contacting their legislators. You can simply log on to the House website at www.house.state.tx.us, and send me a message to let me know your opinions on any issue.

Arthur DiBianca, Libertarian

707-2809, adibianca@austintx.net
Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio
Education: Princeton University, 1989-1991
Political background: Libertarian since 1992, served on Libertarian county executive committee since 2004, assistant director of the Libertarian Party of Texas since 2005.

Q. How did you become involved in politics?: A. I have been interested in politics for a long time, and I got heavily involved in the Libertarian Party here in Texas when we had to undergo a very onerous ballot access petition drive in 2004. The Republicans and Democrats do not have to undertake these expensive drives. They get to spend all their money on campaigning.
Q. What is your platform and why?: A. There are many problems with Texas government. My platform is to reduce state spending, reduce taxes, and reduce regulation of individuals and businesses.
Q. What will be some of the major issues during the next session and how would you deal with them?: A. I don’t know exactly how to predict that. The budget will always be a major issue, and I want to sharply reduce state spending and taxes. In particular, I want to throw out the horrible business margins tax that was enacted in 2006.
Transportation will also be an issue. I oppose state spending on public transportation, which is extremely inefficient and serves only a small part of the population. I oppose public-private toll road partnerships such as the Trans-Texas Corridor. And I want to ensure that the fuel tax is not diverted to non-transportation projects.
Education will also be an issue. I want to throw out the Robin Hood plan. I want to return school control to the local level. I want to allow individuals and businesses to get property tax credits for contributions to private schools. I want to maximize school choice.
Q. What do you view as a representative’s most important responsibility?: A. The most important responsibility is to leave your constituents alone and resist the urge to meddle with them. The purpose of government is to protect rights, not to redistribute wealth, not to “help people,” and not to force people to make “wise decisions.”
Q. Besides voting, how can citizens be involved in the legislative process?: A. Citizens can get involved by talking to candidates about their concerns, and even by running for office themselves. Too many of our legislators are career politicians. We need more citizen legislators who serve because of their principles, not in order to make connections so they can eventually become highly-paid lobbyists.
Q. What challenges do you face as a third-party candidate and how are you working to overcome them?: A. The main challenge is the presumption in the media that other parties aren’t worth covering. It creates a catch-22, where voters assume you’re not worth consideration because your party isn’t mentioned in the newspaper, but the newspaper won’t cover you because you haven’t received much voter consideration in the past. I appreciate Community Impact
running these candidate side-by-side articles.
Q. How would the Libertarian philosophy of smaller government and more personal freedom affect the legislation you would support or author if elected?: A. Every bill would go through this filter: Does it increase or decrease the liberty of Texans? Unfortunately, most bills decrease liberty. They burden us with increased spending and taxes, encumber our personal choices and restrict our ability to make agreements and contracts with each other. I’m sure that most of my job would be voting no on bad bills, much like Congressman Ron Paul does at the federal level.