LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) – Independent candidate Mike Collier visited the Gateway City as part of his campaign for Texas lieutenant governor.<\/p>\n
The lieutenant governor presides over the state Senate and controls which bills move forward. Collier is one of several candidates challenging incumbent Republican Dan Patrick.<\/p>\n
Collier wants to fix the power grid, improve public schools and reform the tax system.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe tax system in the state is way outdated. It is not working,\u201d Collier said. \u201cSo most of the money for public education comes from property taxes, and people are tired of paying high property taxes. And if you look at the state, you\u2019ll see they\u2019re sitting on a mountain of cash. The state raises enormous amounts of money that they do not send to the schools. They make homeowners pay, the lion\u2019s share of it, and homeowners don\u2019t want to pay. And I don\u2019t blame them. I\u2019m a homeowner. I don\u2019t want to pay any higher property taxes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Patrick is facing three other candidates on the Republican side. On the Democratic ballot, three candidates are hoping to win the primaries. The Libertarian and Green parties each have a solo candidate.<\/p>\n