Meet the candidates: Texas House District 74

House District 74 is the epidemy of wide open spaces in Texas. The sprawling district includes about 11 counties, many of which run along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Incumbent Eddie Morales, a Democrat from Eagle Pass, is facing Republican challenger Katherine Parker. The border, supporting businesses and helping families are key topics, but the candidates have different visions of how to improve daily life in the largely rural district.

Voters in Northeast and East El Paso and nearby Hudspeth County will help decide the race.

Representatives are paid $600 per month, or $7,200 per year. They receive a per diem of $221 when the Legislature is in session. This is a two-year term.

The El Paso Times sent questionnaires to the candidates in contested races in the Nov. 8, 2022, general election. Following are the answers to the questionnaire submitted by candidates for state Rep. District 74.

The candidates' responses are being published largely as they were submitted.

More:Who's on the ballot? Meet the candidates running in the El Paso 2022 midterm election

Katherine Parker - R

Please describe your personal and professional background.

I am a lifelong Texan and businesswoman who owns a cattle ranch and several hospitality businesses including a restaurant and hotel in my hometown of Alpine, TX.

How do you earn a living? Do you plan to continue if elected?

I will continue to earn a living as a rancher and businesswoman. I do plan to continue, but have succession plans in place for when I am elected to ensure the continued success of my business.

Please describe your education. Where did you get your high school diploma? What higher education degrees and certificates have you earned from where?

Fort Davis High SchoolSul Ross State University

What experiences in leadership do you have that qualify you for this position?

I have led businesses for over 30 years, hiring employees and ensuring year-over-year growth of those businesses.

Have you ever been arrested or charged with a crime? Have you ever had a civil judgment against you? Have you ever been in arrears on local, state or federal taxes? If so, please provide an explanation.

No

If elected, would you have any potential conflicts of interest that you are aware of that would impair your ability to serve? Please explain what they are and how you would avoid the conflict.

No

Eddie Morales - D, Incumbent

Please describe your personal and professional background.

Prior to public service, I attended Eagle Pass High School and after graduating, pursued a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a double minor in Business and Spanish from the University of Texas at Austin graduating in 1997. I then attended St. Mary’s University School of Law, graduated with my Juris Doctorate in 2000, passing the state bar exam given in February before even graduating from law school.

In addition to serving as State Representative, I am also a law partner and serve on the management board at Langley and Banack, Inc., Attorneys at Law. I currently supervise the satellite office in Eagle Pass as I have done for the last 20 plus years. I was past President of the Maverick County Bar Association serving multiple terms and stepping down after becoming State Rep but leaving them with the highest amount of membership funds since its inception. I currently sit on the St. Mary’s Law Alumni Association as a Board Member having served for over 5 years. I am also a City Attorney for Eagle Pass and Brackettville, and an avid real estate investor, as well as a commercial and residential builder. Most proudly, my wife and I are also the current owners of the family’s tortilla factory business, called “The Piedras Negras Tortilla Factory”, which is a staple of the Eagle Pass food culture in the community and recently celebrated its 34th anniversary of being in business.

How do you earn a living? Do you plan to continue if elected?

My primary job is the practice of law as partner at Langley & Banack, Inc. Attorneys at Law. My secondary job is running several different local companies focused on real estate and investment opportunities as well as oversee the management of the family tortilla factory. I do plan and have continued to handle the different and varied business interests as noted above after being elected in 2020. The key is to take care of your employees and build a good team that can assist with running the day to day affairs of the businesses. Having my wife and close family members assisting me is also invaluable.

Please describe your education. Where did you get your high school diploma? What higher education degrees and certificates have you earned from where?

I graduated from Eagle Pass High School in Maverick County in 1993 with a Top 10% recognition and honors. I then attended the University of Texas in Austin and graduated in 1997 with a bachelors of political science and a double minor in Business and Spanish. I then attended St. Mary’s Law School and graduated in 2000 passing the February state bar exam.

What experiences in leadership do you have that qualify you for this position?

Growing up in the family business at a very early age provided me with great insights in relation to management, budgets, fiscal responsibility, and leadership. While in law school I served as President of the Society of Legal Entrepreneurs and led a member driven organization focused on informing and providing the necessary resources for those law school students interested in setting up their own law firm. I also successfully completed the Leadership Eagle Pass training becoming a member shortly after returning to Eagle Pass. Running the Eagle Pass satellite law firm office and serving as President of the Maverick County Bar, and member of the St. Mary’s Law School Alumni board have also helped with the leadership experiences necessary to become successful. Finally, my experience in the Legislature after our first session serves as an example of the leadership capabilities instilled in me having passed over 30 legislative bills which I understand is a highly above average feat for a freshman state representative.

Have you ever been arrested or charged with a crime? Have you ever had a civil judgment against you? Have you ever been in arrears on local, state or federal taxes? If so, please provide an explanation.

I have never been arrested or charged with a crime. I have not had a civil judgment against me either. Nor have I been in arrears in local, state, or federal taxes.

If elected, would you have any potential conflicts of interest that you are aware of that would impair your ability to serve? Please explain what they are and how you would avoid the conflict.

I am not aware of any potential conflicts of interests and the Capitol staff and I have received training on compliance with state law requirements. It also helps that my law practice has been focused on representing local government agencies and municipalities and providing training on the open meetings and open records act; drafting ethics ordinances; and advising clients on local and state reporting and compliance measures. Our law firm also has a detailed conflicts check process when bringing on new clients or legal matters. All these checks, processes, and trainings provide the necessary foundation for us to address any possible conflicts of interests that may arise.

Issue related questions

Katherine Parker - R

Why are you running for this office?

I am running because of my belief that we need more people in the State House who think and operate like business people – bringing people together from all ideologies across the spectrum and arriving at solutions that are best for the people of Texas.

Why are you the best candidate for this office?

As a businesswoman I know how to bring people to the table and achieve results, and I plan on doing that in the state house.

What are your top three priorities?

We need to do what we can at the state level to get the border crisis under control, as well as be loud and keep pressure on the federal government to do their part.

We need to provide our children with the best education possible. That means fully funding public education and passing legislation to attract the best teachers to Texas and keep our talent in the district.

Cost of living is an issue I hear about all the time. We need to provide relief for people suffering from the rising cost of energy bills and everyday goods.

Property taxes continue to be a challenge for Texans. How would you address this issue?

I would explore every option available for property tax relief, starting with using state surplus funds to provide that relief.

Immigration is a federal issue, but migrant influxes pose challenges for the city locally. What is your vision for the states’s role in meeting immigration challenges?

First of all, everything we are legally allowed to do as a state we must do. That means ensuring DPS has the resources it needs to do their part. Beyond that, being elected to the State House means being elected to be the voice of their people. I will ensure to be in constant communication with any and all federal officials about the very real impacts of the immigration crisis on our border communities.

Should local government, working with FEMA, develop Migrant Welcoming Centers?

This is not a state-level issue but I have no problem with a center for migrants as opposed to allowing them on our streets. We must ensure there is a process for all migrants who cross the border.

What can Texas leaders do to reduce the number of mass shootings?

I think Texas leaders need to come together on legislation that protects the right to bear arms but also prevents firearms from falling into the hands of deranged individuals.

What’s your best idea for expanding health care for Texans?

We need to fund our rural hospitals and ensure that all Texans in need have access to health care, and that prices are competitive for all others who seek health care.

What does transparent government mean to you? Will you be personally accessible to answer questions while in office?

Transparent government means being visible in the community and answering people’s questions, personally, whether or not they disagree. Yes, I will be personally accessible to answer questions.

Eddie Morales - D, Incumbent

Why are you running for this office?

I believe I have been given a unique background and life experiences from an early age that have helped prepare me to serve in this role. I made the conscious decision to give back to my community by using these unique talents, attributes, and experiences to improve the lives of the residents in HD74 and Texas. From growing up in one of the colonias on the border; being a first generation immigrant in Texas; and being the first in a big family to go to a four-year university as well as being the first in the family to obtain a doctorate degree. My educational and work place experiences have prepared me for this role.

Why are you the best candidate for this office?

Because there is no one else that will work harder than my wife and I and our campaign team and volunteers and staff to make sure that we have a representative that is focused on bettering the lives of all Texans and taking HD74 to the next level. But do not just take my word for it, check our social media page and our website so that you or any one of the constituents can see our successful first term in office and the extensive amount of legislative bills passed and the several projects with state agencies that we have initiated while serving as State Representative. The most recent crowning achievement taking place this week, with the announcement of the largest higher-ed investment on the south central border with $30 mill for the construction of a new multi-purpose education building in Eagle Pass that will set the stage as the first step toward a comprehensive, four-year university.

What are your top three priorities?

1.) Fixing the electric grid and holding corrupt electric and gas utility companies responsible for the high electricity bills Texas residents are receiving;2.) Increasing access to telemedicine, telehealth, and expanding health coverage for working families; while incentivizing medical professionals to practice in rural areas and provide loan forgiveness grants;3.) Supporting vocational and trade school opportunities and retraining programs that will aid small and medium sized businesses with their workforce while focusing on roadway, water, sewer, and utility infrastructure improvements throughout the District.

Property taxes continue to be a challenge for Texans. How would you address this issue?

Property taxes in Texas are high primarily because the state does not contribute enough money to public education funding. Most of our property taxes are imposed by our local school districts. Our districts need these funds to be able to educate our children and our districts are consistently facing funding shortages. Because the state does not give enough revenue to school districts, the districts must in turn raise more local revenue through property taxes to help fill their budget shortfalls.

In this upcoming legislative session, it looks like there will be a large budget surplus, possibly over $27 billion. I will work to use some of that surplus for public education and to reduce the local property tax burden that so many Texans feel. Furthermore, I will continue to support increasing economic development in our state that will provide new revenue sources which may be further used to increase the state funding share of public education and reduce the local property tax burdens.

Immigration is a federal issue, but migrant influxes pose challenges for the city locally. What is your vision for the states’s role in meeting immigration challenges?

Earlier this year I sent a letter to the Governor outlining different ideas and plans for addressing the border migrant surge. Since Congress has failed to take action to address effective immigration reform policies that have been needed for over 30-40 years now, it is now incumbent upon the state to implement its own immigration and worker visa programs. We must first put a complete stop to migrants crossing into Texas through the river. The current process incentivizes the cartels and human smugglers and puts the safety of migrants, and our law enforcement men and women in significant danger. We must have an orderly and legal process that focuses on using land ports and Migrant Welcome Centers. Anyone caught crossing through the river would face immediate deportation and a ban of 5 or more years plus fines and penalties. The State could issue bracero type visas for ranch hands needed in Texas; the state could also implement a farm worker visa program and work with the Governors of Mexico that share a border with Texas. We have approximately 1,600 migrants crossing each day. Rather than the migrants paying coyotes $2,000-5,000 to help them cross into Texas through the river, the State could assess a similar migrant processing fee that would generate revenues of approximately $3.2 million daily and over $1 billion annually. In addition, migrants that qualify to stay in Texas would be obligated to have gainful employment and not enroll or receive state or federal benefits. They would become eligible after a number of years of being on “probationary” status and so long as they stay out of trouble and no criminal activity. The State could serve as a leader in the handling and processing of these migrant surges rather than just reactionary.

Should local government, working with FEMA, develop Migrant Welcoming Centers?

Yes. For the reasons listed and explained in Question 11.

What can Texas leaders do to reduce the number of mass shootings?

By prohibiting the sale of ARs to those 21 and under; passing a universal background check law; as well as red flag laws that include a due process requirement. These are reasonable and effective steps hat I have discussed with Democrat and Republican voters and public officials and there’s been a general consensus and support for these measures.

What’s your best idea for expanding health care for Texans?

By expanding Medicaid in order to receive federal funding and working with my colleagues to find ways for these funds to also help hard working low and middle class families struggling to make ends meet.

What does transparent government mean to you? Will you be personally accessible to answer questions while in office?

Means an open government to the public that requires government officials and employees to comply with ethics and state law requirements related to campaign, accountability, and government use of funds. I have and will continue to be available to address questions from constituents and the media. I usually give my cell number to constituents and it has never been private since I started practicing law.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Meet El Paso candidates for Texas House District 74