CANDIDATE Q&A
Get to know candidates running in November’s midterm elections
2022 VOTER GUIDE
Republican D 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. Democrat R
Incumbent
COMPILED BY HANNAH BROL & RACHEL CARLTON
Klein ISD board of trustees, Position 6
Klein ISD board of trustees, Position 7
CATHY M. ARELLANO
Occupation: business owner Experience: JM from Liberty University KRISTIN COBB
ROB ELLIS
JACK "JOAQUIN" VELASQUEZ
Occupation: Candidate did not respond as of press time.
Occupation: attorney Experience: born and raised in Klein
Occupation: retired ed- ucator, business owner Experience: BS from The University of Texas; master’s degree from Prairie View A&M; educator for 40 years (29 years in KISD); trustee for six years 346-525-6059 www.cathy4klein.com
Harris County judge
Why are you running for the role of county judge?
What is the biggest issue facing Harris County?
Our priority on Commissioners Court will be public safety, and as long as we are in agree- ment that that is the top priority, we will be able to nd ways to work together. My obligation as judge will be to our residents above partisan politics. [Previously], Harris County worked in a bipartisan fashion and didn’t get bogged down in left vs. right. That’s what I believe we need to be moving toward. How will you work with your colleagues to get things done? Opposing perspectives can push us to nd more equitable solutions, and I am dedi- cated to keeping Harris County moving for- ward. Since taking oce, I led a bipartisan Commissioners Court to invest in reducing the criminal court backlog and cut home- lessness by 20%. My priority is providing access to brighter opportunities. While my colleagues and I sometimes disagree, we share the goal of providing the best services and outcomes for all residents.
ALEXANDRA DEL MORAL MEALER
Experience: Candidate did not respond as of press time. Facebook: Jack “Joaquin” Velasquez For Klein ISD
schools; Harvard Law School; father of four kids currently in Klein ISD schools; second- generation Klein ISD board member 713-775-7360 www.facebook.com/ellis4klein
School of Law; BS from University of Houston; AS from Lone Star College; have run a business in KISD for the past nine years; KISD parent www.kristincobb4klein.com
Occupation: energy investment banker Experience: West Point grad; captain, U.S. Army bomb squad; Harvard JD/MBA; wife and mother of two young children www.alexandramealer.com
I watched as petty crime in my neighbor- hood turned into violent crime and our local ocials refused to even acknowledge the problem, let alone try to nd solutions to immediately address the issue. When I launched my campaign in November of 2021, public safety was my top priority. ... My family and I love living in Harris County, and the rst and foremost responsibility of government is to protect the most vulnerable. Before I was elected, county government ew under the radar, dodged tough decisions and operated reactively, not proactively. I’ve steered Harris County through a winter storm, chemical res, oods, hurricanes and COVID[-19]. I did it while making bold changes to how our government operates— from record law enforcement funding to early childhood education [and] smarter ood control. I’m running to protect our progress and keep Harris County moving forward.
The biggest issue facing Harris County is the lawlessness that has been allowed to fester. ... To tackle this unprecedented rise in crime there is a funding element and a legal element. [The county] stripped the constables and the district attorney of their saving accounts during an unprece- dented crime epidemic, … and denied the overwhelming majority of their budget requests. [The county] signed the ODonnell Consent Decree that created a cashless bail system for misdemeanors. 1. Keeping Harris County safe: from natural disasters, from crime, and from any other threat to our health and well-being. 2. Building an early childhood education system that gives every child in our county a fair start in life. 3. Continuing to strengthen our ood resil- ience and our disaster preparedness.
R
If elected, what will be your top priorities?
If elected, what will be your top priorities?
My top priorities include providing all students tools and resources to further their education and purpose in life; continuing to work to bridge the academic gap and learn- ing loss created by the pandemic; securing funding for safety in all facilities, and provide training for its implementation; insuring continued conservative scal management while advocating for state and federal funds due to in ation; and retaining and recruiting highly qualied teachers.
Increased transparency, increasing safety, fostering relationships through better communication within the district, reducing the pressures placed on teachers, and diving into the budget to nd ways to cut costs and save taxpayers money. I would like to give community members a voice at school board meetings. Allowing parents and community members only 60 seconds before the meet- ing starts to address their concerns prevents the possibility of positive changes in the district and disenfranchises the community.
My top three priorities are (1) supporting our teachers; (2) improving upon our strong tradition of academic achievement and (3) ensuring the safety of our Klein family.
Candidate did not respond as of press time.
Occupation: Harris County judge Experience: medical interpreter, Texas LINA HIDALGO
Civil Rights Project, advocacy throughout Southeast Asia, Harris County judge 281-624-6225 | www.linahidalgo.com
D
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