CANDIDATE Q&A
Get to know candidates running in November’s midterm elections
Incumbent Candidates were asked to keep responses under 75 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity.
LEANDER ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES, PLACE 1
DAVID DOMAN
TRISH BODE
MIKE SANDERS
Occupation: electronic engineer Relevant experience: served as pastor in three churches, experience serving on numerous committees and boards, proven problem-solver with teamwork experience, fearless protector of the innocent 512-975-9768 | www.mikeforlisd.com
Occupation: corporate communication Relevant experience: trustee since 2015; president since 2019; chair: Legislative Priorities Comm.; member: Safety & Secu- rity Comm.; president: CTSBA; Region 13 Legislative Advocacy Comm. 512-593-1386 | www.trishforlisd.com
Occupation: electrical engineer Relevant experience: taught at middle school, high school, college level, wrote a college-level textbook; involved in SBOE, including running for SBOE; Ran 100+ person design center 512-461-7494 | www.daviddoman.org
What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve noticed within Leander ISD, and how would you work to address them?
[Diversity, equity and inclusion] does not belong in our classrooms. Graphic content books are not literature. Fentanyl is a huge threat to our children. All of the above needs to be systematically addressed and cannot be in 75 words or less. Come listen to me, and I will expand on my proposed actions.
State funding. The funding system isn’t congured to adequately support public education in Leander ISD, and our property taxpay- ers end up shouldering the burden. We will go through recapture— over $30 million of tax revenue must be sent back to the state. I am working aggressively along with the board to address legislative solutions such as raising the basic allotment, which would provide raises to teachers and reduce the amount of recapture.
Our biggest challenge is paying down the $2.4 billion debt currently owed by LISD, including long-term liabilities over $1.6 billion. In August of 2022, the TEA gave Leander ISD a Financial Integrity rating of 2 out of 10 under Category 11 titled “Was the ratio of long-term liabilities to total assets for the school district sucient to support long-term solvency?”
Do you support the upcoming voter-approval tax rate election ballot item (Proposition B)? Why or why not?
VATRE is a shell game that is being foisted on our LISD parents in the guise of “do this or the teachers don’t get paid.” There are better ways of assuring decent funding of our teachers.
As a taxpayer, a mother, and supporter of public education I will be voting for both Prop A and Prop B (the upcoming VATRE item). I am a yes because it allows the district to continue pro- grams and impact class-size ratios for our students. It also helps us fund teacher and sta§ raises and saves an equivalent of 450 teaching positions while also decreasing the overall tax rate to property taxpayers by $0.06.
I will vote no on LISD Prop A and Prop B, also known as a vot- er-approval tax rate election, in which voters will choose whether or not to approve a tax increase of 35% (M&O). If passed, these propositions will impose a permanent tax increase on property owners, severely hurting those who live on limited incomes and forcing us to begin paying property taxes to the state of Texas for the rst time.
www.AngelaWilliamsforJP2.com *Ready to Serve on Day 1 *Impartial Justice for All *Committed to the Community *Continue Teen Court EARLY VOTING Oct. 24-Nov. 4 ELECTION DAY NOVEMBER 8
-INTEGRITY -DEDICATION -IMPARTIAL
TRUSTED AND ENDORSED BY:
Cedar Park Police Assoc. Leander Law Enforcement Assoc. Liberty Hill Police Officers Assoc.
Williamson County Deputies Assoc. Pct. 2 Constable Jeff Anderson Williamson County Assoc. of Realtors
Paid Political Advertisement by Angela Williams for Justice of the Peace Pct 2 Campaign
Public education is always on the ballot. And the countdown to the legislative session is on.
Join us to get engaged in supporting our teachers, students, and schools.
Visit us at RaiseYourHandTexas.org
Ad paid by Raise Your Hand Texas
28
COMMUNITY IMPACT • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Powered by FlippingBook