Green Screen Survey Questions:
What office are you planning to run for? Texas Land Commissioner
Of the Green Party's ten key values, what three do you feel are most important and what relevance do they offer to Texas voters?
Community-based Economics
We seek a new economics based upon the natural limits of the Earth which meets the basic needs of everyone on the planet under democratic localized community control.
Respect for Diversity
We honor the biological diversity of the Earth and the cultural, racial, sexual and spiritual diversity of the Earth's people. We aim to reclaim this country's finest ideals: popular democracy, the dignity of the individual, and liberty and justice for all.
Grassroots Democracy
We believe in direct participation by all people in the environmental, political, and economic decisions that affect their lives.
Do you disagree with anything in the GPTX platform? If so, please explain why you disagreements. So far, I don’t see any problems and I have no disagreements with the Green Party of Texas platform. In fact I enthusiastically support the Green Party of Texas platform.
What is your experience with the consensus decision-making process? I’ve volunteered as a meeting facilitator operating with the consensus decision making process in several different non-profit organizations and in the past 20 years they’ve overwhelmingly been Green Party organizations such as the Greens in Houston, Texas and the Green Party of Texas.
Do you believe Greens have relevance in the USA? Please list why you believe/don't believe a third party possesses relevance in the US electoral system. Yes, we do. Greens present the ideas for reform and progress that none of the other parties are willing or able to. Collectively, many of our ideas might even be considered a demand for a non-violent revolution. Alternatively, third parties like the Green Party present candidates and ideals that can stand in contrast to the other parties. We provide our democracy real options for public offices. One more thing, in the state of Texas, over time, the options of write in candidates, independents, and third parties have been made increasingly difficult for voters to access. The facts are that the state legislature has become increasingly fearful of even the most remote and unlikely to win alternative candidates. The establishment lives in fear of the public expressing their needs and desires in even a non-revolutionary, non-violent, establishment controlled way. I’ve seen that simply showing up can improve the debate.
Please list mailing addresses, phone numbers and other relevant contact information for your candidacy.
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Are you active with your county Green Party? Please list why if you are not. If you are active, please list your primary activities with your county party.
Yes. I’m active just as a participating member with a new start up Green Party club, the Green Party of Houston* We’re in the process of renaming it.
Yes, I’m active with the Green Party of Houston* We’ve been around for a few months but we’re just now settling on a new name. I’m simply an attendee and participating member.
In your race, please list the top five talking points that you would cover in a debate with your opponents. With each talking point, please show how the Green Party's ten key values or platform would provide a solution.
I have yet to finalize my campaign talking points. Improving the infrastructure that serves the public is my primary goal. My initial proposals are to increase revenue to the Permanent School Fund, and make it cheaper for all students to attend publicly funded colleges and universities, such that students leave or graduate from school with no debt. I would find ways to increase the number of full time employees to make state parks cleaner, and more accessible to the public. I would also propose a help desk for low to upper middle income people to provide guidance on cleaning up the titles to ownership of inheritable property. And develop a standardized group of methods to deal with complex home and property title situations. If the status quo is better for poor people then I support that.
List your constituency's characteristics and three ways you will reach out to them. Since I’m running for a statewide office.
My constituency is everyone in Texas. However, there are a number of voters who have previously been turned off of voting because no one has promised to work towards the most legitimate needs of the people. I hope present, promote and act upon the goals and ideals that bring back voters to our democracy.
List your opponents, their strengths and weaknesses and what is needed to win against them.
List the name of your treasurer and any other campaign workers you plan to have working with you. I don’t have a formal treasurer. Janis Richards might be able to help. If there’s someone additional you could suggest then I’m sure we’d all be grateful.
How do you plan to raise money for your campaign? How much money do you plan to fundraise? Please include a copy of your prospective budget(s). I have not yet determined the amount required to win election as General Land Commissioner. The amount of money required to win is usually based on the total amount of money money spent by all candidates for that position during the previous two elections. Then I would look at the number of voters the winning candidate spent. By spending a similar amount per voter as the previous winner I could win. I propose to raise most of the campaign’s money online. First, through friends who I already know online and second through various online sources which might get me in contact with people or members of organizations whom I’ve never met before. We don't yet have a formal budget. In my preliminary, informal campaign budget I propose to raise the filing fee, $3,750.00. After the campaign and after all expenses I propose to donate any remaining funds to the Green Party of Texas.
Please provide a profile with background information that is not addressed by the above questions. Feel free to list alma mater, employment, family, hobbies, etc. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Radio Television and Film from the University of Texas at Austin. My minor was in Government. I worked as a Teleservice Representative for the Social Security Administration national 1-800 number. My hobbies include archaeometalurgy, iron metallurgy, and the study of meteor impacts on earth. And yes, I’m single.
Monday, November 29, 2021