Zeph Capo, a public school science teacher, is president of the Houston Federation of Teachers as well as president of the statewide Texas AFT. He previously served as an elected trustee for Houston Community College and on several community boards that have helped him build his reputation in Houston and across the state for honest, direct problem solving and for building lasting relationships between community groups and schools at all levels.
Capo is a proud graduate of community college and Florida International University where he received a degree in International Relations before beginning his teaching career.
Brett Cain is a trial lawyer who has tried over 50 jury trials and has resolved hundreds more disputes by mediation since 2006. He is the owner of Cain Firm, a partner of The Law Center, a national network of top law firms with decades of experience in advocating for those who have suffered from personal injury, asbestos-related diseases, motor vehicle accidents and more.
Chris Tackett has been tracking all of the state level campaign finance numbers since 2017 at his website, christackettnow.com, breaking down the money and donors into easy to understand charts and graphs. He’s a founding member of Project Ēdūcō, a public education scorecard for the Texas Legislature, a former school board trustee, and a proud parent and husband.
Lex Frieden is Professor of Health Informatics and Rehabilitation at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. He also directs the Independent Living Research Utilization Program t TIRR Memorial Hermann. Frieden has served as chairperson of the National Council on Disability, president of Rehabilitation International and chairperson of the American Association of People with Disabilities. He is recognized as one of the founders of the independent living movement by people with disabilities. He was instrumental in conceiving and drafting the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Frieden currently serves on the board of the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County.
Professor Jessica Mantel is a professor at the University of Houston Law Center and co-director of the Health Law & Policy Institute. Her research explores how law and policy influence the provider-patient relationship and efforts to address the social determinants of health. Before coming to the University of Houston, she was an attorney at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Fiana Garza Tulip, born and raised in Texas, graduated from the University of Texas in 2002. Now, she lives with her husband, Charlie, and daughter, Lua, in Brooklyn, NY where she runs her own sales/marketing consulting business.
