Senatorial Candidate Forum - Feb. 27

Description

The Richardson Chamber of Commerce will host a candidate forum for Texas Senate District 8 in Collin and Dallas counties. Senator Van Taylor's departure to run for Congress has left an open seat in the Texas Senate. Hear from candidates for SD 8 and their plans for our region at a moderated candidate forum. 

Candidates Angela Paxton (R), Phillip Huffines​ (R), Brian Chaput (D) and Mark Phariss (D) will participate. More information, including their stated bio and positions on their websites, is below.

Sponsorship opportunities are available! Contact Molly Ulmer at (972) 792-2811 or molly@richardsonchamber.com for more information.

Angela Paxton  -  Republican
Bio
A proud native Texan, Angela is a resident of McKinney where she has lived, served the community, and raised a family for over two decades. She was born on Valentine's Day 1963 in New Braunfels, Texas, and was adopted and welcomed into her new family the day after her birth. She was raised in Mansfield, Texas; her father worked at Bell Helicopter and her mother was a teacher's aide.
     Angela attended Baylor University, where she earned a degree in Mathematical Science and became the first person in her family to graduate from college. She continued her graduate studies and earned a Master's in Education from the University of Houston - Clear Lake.
     An educator by profession and passion, Angela Paxton has 22 years of teaching experience. Angela and her husband, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, met at Baylor University. They have been married for 31 years and have four grown children: Tucker, a software engineer; Abby, a 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Air Force; Mattie, a junior education major at Texas A&M; and Katie, a freshman nursing major at Texas A&M.

Angela Paxton's priority issues (from angelapaxton.com)

• Fight for Property Tax Relief
• Secure the Border; Enforce the Ban on Sanctuary Cities
• Work Tirelessly to Improve Education
• Oppose New Taxes and Wasteful Government Spending
• Promote Jobs and a Strong Texas Economy

Phillip Huffines  -  Republican
Bio
For over 35 years, Phillip has operated his real estate land development business, working in Collin County and the DFW area. He is running to fight for property tax relief, a secure border, the sanctity of life, and to the fix the disaster of Obamacare at the state level. He will be a strong voice of the people in Austin. He has vowed never to take a dime from the state of Texas as per diem, pension, travel vouchers or any form of compensation.
Phillip and his wife of 31 years, Holly, have three children, Haley, Hayden, and Garrett. Phillip enjoys hunting and the outdoors and, for the last 25 years, has been passionate about teaching business classes at high schools. As a volunteer and board member with Junior Achievement, Phillip encourages students to start their own businesses and inspire their entrepreneurial spirit.

Phillip Huffines' priority issues (from philliphuffines.com)

• Stopping illegal immigration
• Reducing government regulation
• Getting government out of healthcare
• Lowering property taxes
• Eliminating toll roads

Brian Chaput - Democrat
Bio
Brian Chaput graduated from Plano Senior High School and attended Washington University in St. Louis, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. After college, Chaput returned home to work in industry as an engineer and continue his studies at The University of Texas at Dallas where he received a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. Chaput has been employed and actively involved through leadership and organizations in the local community for over 25 years. He has served as an officer and board member of a local non-profit organization, a representative and Chairperson for the City of Plano's Heritage Commission, and a member and Past Master of the Plano Masonic Lodge. Chaput lives with his wife and two children in Plano and appreciates his family time as well as his community involvement through coaching youth soccer and softball and the school PTA.
 
Brian Chaput on the issues (from www.votebrianchaput.com)

• Economy: For our local economy, I will focus on opportunities for workers and industry, where quality jobs are available to everyone seeking employment.
• Education: This district expects quality educational offerings in secondary and higher education to afford opportunity and support our continued growth.
• Environment: All who live here should enjoy clean water, fresh air, and well-sustained green space for recreation and rest.

 
Mark Phariss - Democrat
Bio
A graduate of Vanderbilt Law School, Mark has been a business attorney for the past 32 years. He began in private practice helping small businesses grow and succeed. Since then he has worked as a general counsel for companies from a variety of industries.
    Mark has been a civil rights advocate for the past 20 years. He fought for pro-equality legislation, like the Equality Act and non-discrimination ordinances in San Antonio and Plano, and against harmful legislation like "bathroom bills." He has served on the boards of numerous organizations that have advanced equality, including the Board of Governors of the Human Rights Campaign and Equality Texas. He has also served with The Family Place, a Dallas-based refuge for victims of domestic violence; the Alamo Bowl; and the Texas Lyceum.
     In the fight for marriage equality, Mark and his husband, Vic Holmes, were one of the two couples who successfully sued the State of Texas for marriage equality, and they filed amicus briefs supporting marriage equality in Obergefell v. Hodges.
 
Mark Phariss on the issues (from www.markphariss.com)

• I will be a Senator who supports our public school system, builds the infrastructure our future demands, supports the growth of good jobs, ensures affordable college education, and works for a Texas we can all believe in.
• Classrooms, not bathooms, will determine our state's future.
• When Austin spends more time on 'show your papers' laws than funding public education, relieving high property taxes, or building roads worthy of Texas, there is something wrong with our legislators' priorities.