By: Gloria Johns
Mike Collier-D, candidate for Lt. Governor for the State of Texas, presented his views on public education, property tax reform, school safety, gun safety as it relates to arming teachers, and more during a town hall meeting Thursday at Fuentes Cafe.
Having prior careers as an Exxon executive and PriceWaterhouseCoopers executive accountant, one of the biggest accounting firms in the world, you could say Collier knows his business.
But this is his first time running for public office, and the issue at the top of the list of his concerns is public education, specifically not enough funding for education.
“As an accountant there are ways to fund public schools without imposing higher and higher property taxes on homes and small businesses,” Collier said. “Republicans have allowed the tax burden to slam onto the backs of homeowners and small businesses.”
Collier cited loopholes that allow big businesses to pay less taxes as part of the issue.
“Tax abatements mean less tax dollars going into the public education pool, that isn’t always recouped just by adding new jobs,” he said.
As for school shootings and arming teachers in the classroom, Collier said “it’s a terrible idea.
“Most teachers don’t want that.” he said.
Collier recounted a comment a friend had made on the subject: “The good guys and the bad guys will be in a gunfight over the heads of our children.”
Instead, Collier recommends adding counselors to school staff who could “red flag” concerns before they become a crisis. “And there is money there to do it if we’re putting our revenue to good use.”
And he called for a special session to discuss the issue of school safety.
“If the Texas legislature can call for a special session to discuss the bathroom bill, surely than can call a special session to discuss safety in our schools,” Collier said.
Collier also introduced the idea of creating the Audit, Performance, and Integrity Commission (APIC).
“The scope of the commission will be financial audits, performance audits, and public integrity assurance,” he explained. “The APIC will be completely shielded from political influence and would stop corruption in government.”
“It would require a constitutional amendment,” and by Collier’s own admission it would “start a revolution in good government.”
Based on Collier’s experience as an accountant, his approach to governance is “to close loopholes, and make better use of revenue that is already there.”
For more information, visit Collier’s website at collierfortexas.com.
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