Two Republicans and one Democrat are competing to represent Texas Senate District 9 in a special election on Nov. 4. Located in northern Tarrant County, the district includes a large chunk of Fort Worth and is reliably red. Republican Kelly Hancock of North Richland Hills held the seat until he resigned in June to become acting state comptroller.
The district has more than 966,000 residents and is a mix of core city, older suburbs, newer exurbs and a few areas that still feel rural. Democrat Taylor Rehmet resides in Fort Worth. The two GOP candidates, John Huffman and Leigh Wambsganss, both live in Southlake, a center of particularly intense Republican politics.
The two GOP candidates have slightly different brands of conservatism. Together, they have raised more than $1 million in campaign donations.
We recommend Huffman, 42, because of his prior experience in local government — he served as a City Council member and mayor of Southlake — and his stated preference for collaboration over culture war.
Opinion
Huffman, a small-business owner, described high residential property taxes as residents’ top concern. He wants to see the state move toward eliminating property tax on homesteads, and said he would consider expanding consumption-based taxes to help offset the loss of property tax revenue. The district also faces the challenges that accompany growth, he said, such as traffic congestion, the need for new water supplies and infrastructure repair and expansion.
His comments about public education were somewhat nuanced. Huffman said he and his wife chose to homeschool their three children but acknowledged that arrangement isn’t possible or desirable for every family. He strongly supports the new educational voucher bill lawmakers passed this year.
“If implemented correctly,” he said during our candidate interview, “this school choice program could be amazing for Texans, but again, only if we also make sure our public schools, who are going to continue to [teach] the vast majority of Texas kids … are fully funded and prepared to do that.”
The other Republican in the race, Leigh Wambsganss, is a divisive party activist who has not held elected office. She did not complete our Voter Guide questionnaire or participate in an editorial board interview.
The third candidate, Rehmet, 33, is an Air Force veteran, machinist and union leader making his first run for public office. He said residents’ chief concerns are inadequate public school funding and basic economic issues. He supports developing renewable energy but notes that many Texans rely on oil and gas for high-wage jobs. He would like the state to develop more alternatives to college, such as technical training, for high school graduates.
Rehmet is energetic and said he’s committed to working across the aisle, which is commendable, but he needs to develop a deeper understanding of the machinery of local and state government. Huffman is best qualified to represent this district.
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