By Bill Brown, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-780478.mp3
Dallas, TX – Texas Democrats say they are within striking distance of winning the Texas House back from Republicans. One of the GOP seats they have targeted for increasing their numbers is District 102 in Dallas County, which has long been held by Tony Goolsby. KERA's Bill Brown has more on the race and the Democratic challenger trying to unseat him.
Ten times North Dallas County voters have sent retired insurance executive Tony Goolsby to the Texas legislature, where he's viewed as a likeable conservative.
Goolsby said he has an obligation to the people of District 102, but believes he has fulfilled that obligation up to this point, and said it is his intention to continue on for at least one more term.
But Democrats say they have increased their numbers in District 102, which includes parts of North Dallas, Garland and Lake Highlands. And they claim Goolsby, after 19 years in Austin, is vulnerable and hasn't proven he's a strong leader who gets things done. Democrats have targeted Goolsby's seat as one they can win from Republicans and move their party closer to taking back the Texas House. Their candidate in District 102 is 55-year-old Carol Kent, a Richardson school board member and college instructor who wants to strengthen public school funding and the job market.
Kent said poverty is very visible within the 102nd district; she said people will come up to her at events and talk about the dire straits they are facing.
Kent vows to spur economic development and says she won't rest until every child in Texas has health insurance. She says the air in North Texas just keeps getting dirtier, while those in power in Austin do nothing.
Kent said she is concerned by the 75-percent increase in the chance a child will have asthma, and the increase in the number of seniors having to use oxygen tanks, saying she realizes that those who are most vulnerable are being hurt the most. She said people want to know that the Legislature is going to step up and make a difference in cleaning up the air, making responsible decisions and standing up to special interests who she believes have exerted too much control.
Goolsby, who was a teacher, coach and principal, says education is also his top priority. He's angry with the current economic mess in the Dallas school district, and says the district is just too big and may need to be divided into smaller districts. Goolsby says he wants property appraisers to be more responsible to homeowners. He says board appointed appraisers should be replaced by elected county tax assessors, who must answer directly to the people.
Goolsby said he thinks property appraisals have been poor. He said that three years ago, property taxes for schools were reduced by one-third, but many people never saw that reduction reflected in their bills because "appraisal creep" ate it away.
Goolsby defends his records, saying he's always fought any foolish state spending and supported clean environmental initiatives, including alternative forms of energy like wind, solar and nuclear.
Goolsby said that he knows legislators are working hard to improve air quality, including the construction of more modern power plants that generate power through nuclear means or "clean" coal plants that don't put out as much carbon monoxide.
The veteran lawmaker says his greatest strength is being willing to work with anybody to solve a problem.
Goolsby said he is accessible and available, with public phone numbers and a track record of meetings lots of people in the community.
Carol Kent says her greatest attribute may be that she's independent, not part of the Austin machine.
Kent said she doesn't come to the table owing anyone promises, special interests or otherwise, and offers voters a "clean slate" of new opportunity.
While incumbents with longevity like Goolsby's are typically tough to beat, Kent believes the district is increasing diversity and her work in the community gives her an edge. But Tony Goolsby says he's not running scared, saying that worry can make people age more quickly and that he has confidence in the people of Texas and his district in particular.
Bill Brown, KERA News