Texas House of Representatives District 97

Craig Goldman

Craig Goldman is the current Representative and the Republican Candidate. Goldman is a four-term member of the State House, and is active in several real estate investment companies. Goldman’s top priorities are investing more state funds in education, reducing property taxes for Texas homeowners, and protecting our borders.

Craig Goldman Campaign Website

Criminal Justice & Public Safety

“For the third session in a row I am proud to support and vote for the $800 million border security package that sent Texas DPS Troopers to the border full-time to assist in maintaining safety and security.”

Education Funding & Teacher Pay

I will continue to fight to ensure our classrooms maintain adequate funding levels and our teachers can truly teach.
I voted to provide $1.6 billion in raises for teachers, librarians, counselors, and nurses in the 2020-2021 budget. I supported increasing the state’s share of education funding from 38% to 45%, and alleviating “recapture” pressures felt by districts and their communities by $3.5 billion.
In my four prior sessions, I have continually voted to provide the necessary funding to shore up the Texas Retirement System, and this past session I voted to provide every retired teacher a 13th check.

Texas Economy & Taxes

I supported reforms to our property tax system to make the process more transparent and voted to provide $5 billion in local property tax relief. Providing property owners with real-time tax information and triggering an automatic election for voters to approve the increase when it exceeds the voter approval rate are just a few reforms I have been proud to support during my time in the Legislature.

Healthcare

Nothing listed on Campaign website for this issue

Immigration

Nothing listed on Campaign website for this issue

Reproductive/Women’s Health

Women’s health funding increased 24.3% in the 2020-2021 state budget, with an additional $68 million dedicated to women’s health care over the next two years, including $11.5 million for breast and cervical cancer screenings. I am proud to have voted for these funding increases in women’s health care services outlined in the state budget.
The Healthy Texas Women program is a no cost program offering women’s health and family planning services to eligible women in Texas. Over 248 participating clinics are available within a 20-mile radius of HD 97.
I authored and passed House Bill 3106, also known as Molly Jane’s Law, to implement a statewide single source system for detectives to share information on sexual assault investigations, so detectives in different jurisdictions can communicate and identify violent predators.

Infrastructure & Environment

Nothing listed on Campaign website for this issue

Social Services

Nothing listed on Campaign website for this issue

Elizabeth Beck

Elizabeth Beck is the Democratic Candidate. Beck is an Army reservist who enlisted at 17 and served in Iraq during operation Iraqi Freedom. Upon completing her service, Beck continued her college education, and later earned her law degree, and currently represents workers in wage and hour claims across the country. Beck’s top priorities include improving access to quality and affordable healthcare, investing more state funds in education, and supporting local self-governance.

Elizabeth Beck Campaign Website

Criminal Justice & Public Safety

Make our criminal justice system “just” for all Texans – from police to prisons.
Whatever your race, background or zip code, no mother should fear that her child will not make it home. I am committed to working so every Texan shares in our prosperity.

Education Funding & Teacher Pay

“As a single mom raising two daughters who attend local Fort Worth public schools, I know firsthand how important our neighborhood schools are, even while parents are helping to teach at home, and teachers are teaching remotely during the coronavirus pandemic. I will push to: Raise teacher pay, make sure families have access to the tools they need for remote learning, [and] make sure teachers have the training they need to support our students with new social-distancing policies”

Texas Economy & Taxes

“I know what it’s like to live in the margins. That’s why I believe that everyone deserves a fair shot, and will always fight to: raise the minimum wage, expand job training apprenticeships, protect pensions, ensure women earn equal pay for equal work, [and] guarantee paid sick days for working families”

Healthcare

“Texans need access to quality healthcare. We have one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the nation, we’re last in the nation for insurance coverage, and those who are insured struggle to find in-network providers for the healthcare they need. I will fight to: ensure all Texans have access to high-quality healthcare, cut through the red tape to provide care for low-income children, [and] fund critical women’s health services like prenatal care and cancer screenings”

Immigration

Nothing listed on Campaign website for this issue

Reproductive Health

Nothing listed on Campaign website for this issue

Infrastructure & Environment

“We live in one of the fastest-growing communities in Texas, and we need to invest in infrastructure to support it. We need to stop shifting the burden of new construction to individual Texans and come together to make transportation, public facilities, and technology work for us. I will collaborate with state and local leaders to: build safe, reliable, multi-modal transportation systems, create high-quality jobs through investment in public works and technology, [and] construct and maintain energy-efficient facilities and structures”

Social Services

Nothing listed on Campaign website for this issue

Rod Wingo

Rod Wingo (Libertarian Party) is running for election to the Texas House of Representatives to represent District 97. Wingo is on the ballot in the general election on November 3, 2020. Wingo advanced from the Libertarian convention on March 21, 2020.

Currently, this candidate does not have a Campaign Website, or any “platform issues” or “priority issues” listed on his Facebook page.

Reform Austin