In this year’s Democratic primary for Texas House District 67, we recommend that voters choose elementary school teacher Jordan Wheatley.
Wheatley, 28, is a political novice, but he came to our candidate interview ready to articulate thoughtful ideas about how Texas can address important issues residents face.
The most pressing topic on candidates’ and constituents’ minds this cycle is property tax. Wheatley has taken a bold approach to this issue, proposing a sovereign investment model he argues could eliminate school maintenance and operations tax while still increasing the basic allotment to public education.
Would the plan work? Maybe, maybe not. Either way, it’s a creative idea that Wheatley has clearly put some thought into. That’s more than many candidates can say.
Opinion
In the Voter Guide, Wheatley argued that if private schools are going to receive taxpayer money through the education savings account program, they should be held to the same standards as public schools.
Wheatley argued that Texas should let voters make a choice on marijuana legality through a constitutional amendment and said he is a firm supporter of expanding Texas’ medical marijuana program toward a recreational market.
Wheatley expressed concerns about expanding gambling and said that, if the state moves forward with legalization, there should be an option for local communities to get the final say.
Another candidate for the northeastern Collin County district, Emeka Eluka, will appear on the ballot. However, he announced last month that he would not campaign any further and endorsed Wheatley.
“I am stepping back from campaigning to let Jordan Wheatley be the front runner for the Democratic party,” he wrote on Facebook.
Wheatley is inexperienced, and we don’t agree with him in several areas. But he’s the best choice for Democratic voters, and the only choice if there’s to be any chance of defeating whoever wins the Republican primary.
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