Voters Guide Candidate Statement
League of Women Voters of the Austin Area
http://www.lwvaustin.org
Education:
Washington & Lee University
B.A. in Philosophy
Minor in Business Administration
Graduated cum laude 1981
Grove School of Music
Composing & Arranging 1988
Experience:
TOPAZ Technologies - Client Services Specialist (2006)
Elementary & Middle School Teacher (1989 - 2005)
Candidate for State Rep, District 136 - Houston (1992 & 1998)
Mankind Project Houston - Integration Committee (1995 - 1996)
1. In recent years, the trend has been to outsource or privatize
state services. What is your position on the effectiveness of this
trend? (75 word limit)
Because one of the fundamental tenets of libertarian thought is that
proper government is only authorized to protect the property of its
citizens, I love this idea and hope the trend grows. All functions of
government that do not pertain to this defining criterion, at every
level, ought to be dissolved - and thus privatized. The free market
will do a superior job of offering a greater variety and quality of
services than the government.
2. Texas is one of the fewer than ten states that does not require
routinely recorded votes. Will you support legislation, or a
constitutional amendment, to require that votes in the Legislature are
recorded and published? (75 word limit)
Absolutely! Not recording and publishing votes in the Legislature is
sloppy and irresponsible. Perhaps somebody at the Capitol is hiding
something. On the contrary, I am unafraid to state explicitly what I
believe in and how I would vote on any issue. If elected, I would
eagerly display my voting record. A constitutional amendment
requiring the recording and publishing of votes would protect Texans
from those embedded professional politicians who have something to
hide.
3. The funding for state parks has diminished in the last years.
What do you propose to increase funding to restore and maintain the
present parks for the public? (75 word limit)
For such a valuable resource and commodity, I would suggest raising
the rates mildly. As one who frequents some of these lovely
sanctuaries, I believe a slight increase would still leave them
accessible to most Texans. Meanwhile, the savings that would accrue
by virtue of some of my proposed crime and punishment reforms (visit
my website for details) would help pay for fully maintained parks and
wildlife preserves.
4. Many citizens groups have called on the Legislature to create an
independent bipartisan commission that would be responsible for
redrawing congressional and state legislative districts at the end of
every census. If this legislation is introduced, would you support
it? (75 word limit)
Yes, for that is the purpose of the census: to properly allocate the
elected representatives to the constituents. Gerrymandering, a kind
of turf war, is wrong and counter-productive. The root of this silly
practice is bipartisanism - the false belief that we have a two party
system. Please consider the fact that we have a multi-party system,
and join me in supporting straightforward solutions created by free
thinkers of all registered parties.
| 
