It’s 2018 and another “rebuilding” year for Texas Democrats. Their hopes are high this year, with some even predicting this is the year they will turn Texas blue for the first time in more than a quarter century.
To that end, Democrats have fielded a number of candidates, including nine for governor and two for lieutenant governor. Whether the Democrats can — and will — spend the kind of money it will take to win these and other statewide races is unclear, If they don’t, well, 2020 can be another rebuilding year.
The Editorial Board invited the candidates in all the contested Democratic Primary races to meet, but only a very few chose to do so. Here are the recommendations in the contested Democratic Primary races. Candidates are listed in ballot order.
Our recommendations are but one source of information voters should use when making their decisions. Other sources could include news stories, advertising, campaign literature and friends and co-workers.
Governor
Adrian Ocegueda vs. Cedric Davis Sr. vs. Andrew White vs. Joe Mumbach vs. James Jolly Clark vs. Lupe Valdez vs. Jeffrey Payne vs. Grady Yarbrough vs. Tom Wakely — Only Ocegueda, Mumbach, Payne and Yarbrough met with the Editorial Board. Valdez is the former Dallas County sheriff. White’s father, Mark White, was governor in the late 1980s and is remembered as a school reformer.
Mumbach, a self-employed consumer electronics specialist, said he is not afraid to use the governor’s “bully pulpit” and a series of town hall meetings to pressure the Legislature into doing what is right. “We need somebody at the top with vision,” Mumbach said. “There is none in state government now.” Calling himself a “pro-life Democrat” he said Texans must take care of each other from birth.
Yarbrough is a delightful retired educator who has run repeatedly for U.S. Senate, Railroad Commission and, now, governor. If elected, he said he would work to increase state funding for public education and end what he terms “tax giveaways” to businesses. He also said he would work to recapture federal Medicaid funds rejected by the state several years ago.
Ocegueda calls for “structural change” in Texas government, although he doesn’t clearly outline what that change should be. He is willing to consider a state income tax as a replacement for the current property tax.
Payne moved to Texas after he lost his house and job in Louisiana in Hurricane Katrina. Since settling in Dallas, Payne has started a court-reporting business, bought into a nightclub, opened a men’s clothing store and created a property management company. “I know how to create jobs,” Payne said.
He said the governor must set the agenda for the state and not seek solutions to nonexistent problems. His biggest issues, he said, are public education, health care, women’s rights and gerrymandering.
He said Texas must stop giving “sweetheart” deals to corporations to avoid paying their fair share of property taxes. Payne said he is not accepting PAC or corporate funding.
Payne understands Texas runs best when it is governed from the middle.
Of the candidates interviewed, The Eagle recommends a vote for Jeffrey Payne for governor in the Democratic Primary.
Lieutenant Governor
Michael Cooper vs. Mike Collier — Cooper did not meet with the Editorial Board.
Collier ran for comptroller four years ago and it is a shame he lost. He said he opposes vouchers as “unfair,” adding they don’t lead to choice because the cost of private education is exclusionary and puts state dollars into an unregulated industry.
He said too many education decisions are being made by non-educators. The state needs to spend more on education, but that money can’t come from homeowners property taxes, adding that big businesses must pay more of their share of funding education. “We can’t have the state we want on the backs of homeowners and small businesses,” he said.
Collier said the state must secure our southern border, but building a wall is not the answer. He said the state must enforce its labor laws and businesses should hire Texans.
The Eagle recommends a vote for Mike Collier in the March 6 Democratic Primary.
Comptroller
Tim Mahoney vs. Joi Chevalier — Only Mahoney met with the Editorial Board. He said the state must focus on regional economies, helping each be as robust as possible. He said the state’s tax burden currently falls on those who least can afford it and must be changed.
As comptroller, Mahoney said he would work to help other agencies have the funding they need to do their job.
The Eagle recommends a vote for Tim Mahoney for comptroller in the Democratic Primary.
Commissioner of the General Land Office
Tex Morgan vs. Miguel Suazo — Neither met with the Editorial Board.
The Eagle makes no recommendation in the Democratic race for Land commissioner.
Railroad Commissioner
Chris Spellmon vs. Roman McAllen — Neither met with the Editorial Board.
The Eagle makes no recommendation in the Democratic race for Railroad commissioner.