Tarrant County Northeast Court House on election day in Hurst, Texas, Tuesday, Mar. 01, 2022. (Special to the Star-Telegram Bob Booth)
Bob Booth
Bob Booth
Republicans have three candidates to replace Rep. Giovanni Capriglione in a northeast Tarrant County state House district, but the best choice for good governing is clear: former state and local party officer Fred Tate.
Tate, 49, of Colleyville would bring a conservative but no-nonsense approach to the job. He’s well-versed on issues of statewide importance and the impact on District 98, which includes Grapevine, Keller, Southlake, Colleyville and nearly half of Euless.
Tate, the owner of a business that provided financial-officer services to other companies, favors an aggressive approach to property taxes, including reforms to the appraisal process. But in an interview, he indicated the need to tackle the complex issue gradually. He noted that it must also come with reform to the revenue-sharing plan for schools known as “Robin Hood,” a major sore spot in this district.
He also displayed a welcome sense of independence. Tate indicated areas where he would have vote similarly to Capriglione, who is retiring after seven terms, and also disagreements — for instance, he said, he would have bucked his party on providing financial incentives for film and TV productions.
His main rival is Keller Mayor Armin Mizani, who has demonstrated political talent but run as this race as an attention-grabbing fearmonger. Mizani, a 38-year-old lawyer, has consistently punched down, seeking to have his city condemn sharia, an Islamic code that is in no danger of enveloping Keller. On his watch, the City Council also reversed an invitation for an Episcopal priest to deliver an invocation after complaints that his church had allowed an LGBTQ event. Mizani declined our request for an interview with the Editorial Board.
The third candidate, Zdenka “Zee” Wilcox of Southlake, is perhaps best known for successfully fighting off the Tarrant County Republican Party’s effort to remove her from the primary ballot. It was a display of fortitude, and Wilcox, a 48-year-old owner of a company that makes custom personal care products, has been a reliable conservative activist. But she could use seasoning in a different position before aspiring to state office.
Early voting begins Feb. 17 and runs through Feb. 27. Election Day is May 3. If no candidate wins a majority in the primary, the top two finishers will advance to a May 26 runoff. The winner will face one of two running in that party’s primary. House members serve two-year terms.
Fred Tate, candidate in House District 98 ABOUT OUR CAMPAIGN ENDORSEMENTS BEHIND THE STORY MORE Hey, who is behind these endorsements?
Members of the Editorial Board, which serves as the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s institutional voice, decide candidates and positions to recommend to voters. The members of the board are: Cynthia M. Allen, columnist; Steve Coffman, editor and president; Bud Kennedy, columnist; and Ryan J. Rusak, opinion editor.
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How does the process work?
The Editorial Board interviews candidates, asking about positions on issues, experience and qualifications, and how they would approach holding the office for which they are running. Board members do additional research on candidates’ backgrounds and the issues at hand. After that, members discuss the candidates and generally aim to arrive at a consensus, though not necessarily unanimity. All members contribute observations and ideas, so the resulting editorials represent the board’s view, not a particular writer.
How do partisanship and ideology factor in?
We’re not tied to one party or the other, and our positions on issues range across the ideological spectrum. We tend to prefer candidates who align with our previously stated positions, but qualifications, temperament and experience are important, too.
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