State Rep. Terry Wilson wants to ensure that college coursework leads somewhere — a credential, a better-paying job, greater research opportunities at Texas universities.
Wilson, a Georgetown Republican, earned our recommendation for a sixth term with those types of bipartisan efforts to strengthen higher education.
“We need to have an education system that equates to credentialing that leads to the American dream and the middle class,” said Wilson, a retired Army colonel representing Texas House District 20 in western Williamson County. “And we have done a tremendous amount of work in that.”
But we share many of Wilson’s priorities to improve K-12 education, including raising teacher pay, giving teachers greater support in student disciplinary situations, and hiring more guidance and mental health counselors.
It is also clear that Wilson values bipartisanship. He noted the Democratic support he garnered for HB 127, protecting Texas research universities from foreign adversaries, made the bill better.
“The biggest honor I get is when a member from another party comes and says, ‘Hey, I know this isn’t anything that you can vote for, but I value your opinion. Will you help me make it better?’” Wilson said.
“Considering the political environment we’re in,” he added, “I think we’re all starving for the days when Tip O’Neill and Ronald Reagan used to work together.”
Wilson faces a challenge from Democrat Matthias-Jonah Early, an earnest first-time candidate who recently graduated from the University of Texas-Arlington. We appreciate Early’s commitment to improving access to health care and other social safety net programs.
But District 20 residents have a legislator who has shown he can deliver meaningful results while working across party lines. We recommend Wilson for another term.