Texas is holding elections, including for school boards, on May 6, 2023. A number of candidates running in these elections completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office.
Below is a selection of responses from the candidates who filled out the survey as of April 10. To read each candidate’s full responses, click their name at the bottom of the article.
Incumbent Angie Hanan (nonpartisan) is running for Fort Bend Independent School District school board Position 1 and the general election is on May 6. Here’s how Hanan responded to the question: What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
“…It is so important that policies dealing with 21st Century Learning, graduate profiles, special programs, programs of choice, program evaluation, and school safety are met with a high degree of support and oversight to ensure all children have the opportunity to engage in safe school environments that produce graduates who are able to: 1) think critically and creatively, 2) communicate competently in face to face settings and within a digital world, 3) use traditional and digital literacy skills for life-long self-improvement, and 4) work collaboratively to solve problems in a global society.”
Click here to read the rest of Hanan’s answers.
Michael Cook (nonpartisan) is running for Plano Independent School District school board Place 5 and the general election is on May 6. Here’s how Cook responded to the question: What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
“Focus on improving the academic outcomes of all students. Improving the parent-teacher relationship to better serve students, reduce stress on teachers and reassure parents that their children continue to receive a high-quality education. Provide more mental health resources to aid students, teachers and parents as they continue to deal with mental health challenges in and out of school.”
Click here to read the rest of Cook’s answers.
Simon Salinas (nonpartisan) is running for Plano Independent School District school board Place 7 and the general election is on May 6. Here’s how Salinas responded to the question: What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
“I’m passionate about helping make decisions that personally impact the daily lives of teachers and students. One of the roles the Plano ISD School Board has is approving the school year calendar. Teachers depend on the calendar to make sense and remain consistent with the feedback of surrounding districts. Decisions like those that mean so much to the community are important and I’m running to make sure sufficient community feedback is gathered in every important decision.”
Click here to read the rest of Salinas’ answers.
Michelle Slater (nonpartisan) is running for Northwest Independent School District school board Place 7 and the general election is on May 6. Here’s how Slater responded to the question: What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
“As a believer in the importance of public policies, I understand their impact on shaping our society and the opportunities available to our citizens. One area that I am particularly passionate about is public education, recognizing that it is a critical factor in individual success and overall community prosperity. Addressing the challenges that our school district faces, such as projected growth and learning gaps, is my top priority, along with advocating for special needs students and investing in intervention programs. By improving public policies in these areas, I am dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of those in our community.”
Click here to read the rest of Slater’s answers.
If you’re a Texas candidate or incumbent, click here to take the survey. The survey contains over 30 questions, and you can choose the ones you feel will best represent your views to voters. If you complete the survey, a box with your answers will display on your Ballotpedia profile. Your responses will also populate the information that appears in our mobile app, My Vote Ballotpedia.
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