Hildner running for Texas House Seat 54 | Local News

Occupation: Small Business Owner

City of Residence: Killeen

Jonathan Hildner, 28, is a candidate for State House District 54, which represents part of Killeen and Bell County. He resides in Killeen and is a small enterprise proprietor. The Herald requested candidates questions on some relative points dealing with them as a group chief. The questions and their solutions are beneath:

1) Beto O’Rourke has said that if he’s elected governor of Texas, the STAAR take a look at will likely be no extra. However, federal legal guidelines signed by former presidents Obama and George W. Bush require the state to conduct standardized testing. What are your ideas on the present design of the STAAR take a look at? (*54*) you plan modifications to it? Explain.

Texas presently administers much more standardized testing than is federally required (which was Beto’s level). The outcomes of those checks are used to punish struggling academics and faculties. They eat up tens of millions of {dollars} and large chunks of tutorial time, they usually create a high-stress, overly prescriptive surroundings. The academics I’ve spoken with are clear–there are extra environment friendly, honest, and correct methods to evaluate pupil progress with out crushing kids’s pure need to study. We should hearken to our devoted educators as an alternative of those that are benefiting from the present system.

2) Some ladies say the state’s anti-abortion legal guidelines stop them from selecting the well being care companies they search and a few have sought companies out of state. What would you inform a pregnant girl if she got here to you and advised you that she had medical points that require an abortion to avoid wasting her life?

My beginning mom had the household and group help mandatory to hold me to time period. I want each being pregnant might be a wholesome, joyous event. The actuality is that there are numerous the explanation why somebody may select, with the highly-trained help of their medical professionals, to terminate a being pregnant. It is my perception that these selections are onerous sufficient with out bringing political video games into them. I help the bodily autonomy of all Texans, and the pregnant girl in query would obtain my sympathy and my dedication that I’ll struggle to make sure equitable, top quality medical care for all Texans.

3) What do voters must find out about your stance on marijuana? Do you help decriminalization and to what diploma? Do you help full legalization? Why or why not?

I help decriminalization and full legalization: primarily the identical rules presently utilized to alcohol consumption. Marijuana doesn’t belong within the fingers of youngsters and it doesn’t belong behind the wheel. However, veterans and civilians alike deserve entry to this well-researched, secure various to extremely addictive opioids. Marijuana is used to securely deal with continual ache, PTSD, nausea, seizures, and extra. With correct oversight, marijuana can enhance the lives of struggling Texans and turn into a secure income for the state, because it has in lots of different states.

4) Since just a few periods in the past, disabled veterans who get hold of a 100% incapacity score from the Department of Veterans Affairs would not have to pay property taxes. The misplaced property tax income places a pressure on companies cities can supply. Certain cities qualify for reimbursement of a portion of the misplaced income. Where do you stand on growth of the state’s reimbursement program for cities that lose cash as a result of 100% disabled veterans property tax exemption? Why? Where would the cash come from?

I help the growth of reimbursements. Bell County and Killeen have numerous disabled veterans. I consider those that have fought for our nation should be taken care of, however cities like Killeen shouldn’t bear that burden with out help. Reimbursement cash helps each resident of District 54. We can simply increase funding for reimbursements by releasing up state income via Medicaid growth, ending pointless nationwide guard deployments to the border, and even creating taxes on legalized marijuana to alleviate the hole in reimbursement funds.

5) Though not in your district, metropolis officers in Copperas Cove (a metropolis that qualifies for reimbursement from the 100% DV tax exemption) have requested residents to advocate to state Legislators for 100% reimbursement for misplaced property tax income. Copperas Cove’s misplaced income as a result of 100% DV exemption is round $2 million per 12 months, however reimbursement is simply round $700,000. Where do you stand on the thought of 100% reimbursement for cities that qualify for the reimbursement from the state? Why? Where would the cash come from?

I help 100% reimbursement. A significant a part of serving to taxpayers and exempt veterans is in increasing and revivifying the communities they reside in. Closing egregious tax loopholes for firms and new taxes from marijuana reform could be avenues I might struggle for within the State House.

6) What is your plan to make sure residents in your district have secure, dependable consuming water for many years to return? Explain.

I consider in reinstating and defending environmental oversight in laws, prioritizing the recommendation of scientists and environmental specialists over that of huge enterprise and actual property, and advocating for the long-term well being of individuals and the land that helps us. Profitability shouldn’t be our major concern when issues a lot extra pricey are on the road. I intend to work with county and native officers to advertise conservation efforts, fund analysis, and enhance public teaching programs. From defending Salado Creek to preserving water flowing to native farms and ranches, we should be proactive as an alternative of reactive.

7) Throughout District 54 – and statewide – there’s a giant homeless inhabitants. Others are both having a tough time discovering reasonably priced housing. What revolutionary options or concepts do you need to deal with housing insecurity in District 54?

The median earnings for Bell Co. is $55,000. This signifies that, to be able to be eligible for Section 8, candidates would should be making $16,500 or much less, which is egregious. We must increase reasonably priced housing to those that fall via the cracks, create extra protections in opposition to outright evictions and put in place a hire management mannequin that enables folks to stay within the communities they’ve helped to develop.

8) Throughout District 54 – and statewide – there’s a scarcity of academics in faculties and nurses in well being care services. What revolutionary options or concepts do you need to recruit certified educators and nurses to District 54 and to the state?

We must respect frontline employees by offering them with the funds mandatory for their necessary work. For too lengthy complaints have gone unaddressed by the state. Teachers, nurses, and extra have been compelled to pay out-of-pocket for supplies essential to their labor. This comes on high of a rising price of dwelling, a decline in infrastructure all through District 54, and a lack of issues so simple as fundamental meals safety for underpaid employees. I’ll be sure these frontline employees can get to work, can do their work with out sacrificing their very own pay, and reside comfortably on a single paycheck.