Forum spotlights Republican runoff candidates for District 24

The Bandera County Republican Women in conjunction with the Bandera County Republican Party hosted a forum for runoff candidates for the Texas Senate seat in District 24.

Pete Flores and Raul Reyes were each allowed a three-minute introductory statement, asked 22 questions posed by moderator Susan Junker and given three minutes to answer the question any way they chose.

Flores focused on his long years of government service both as a game warden and state senator, referencing his 10 years as a legislator to back his answers. A graduate of he is retired and lives in Pleasanton with his wife Elizabeth.

Reyes is a new face to politics. Much of his platform deals with securing Texas’ border from illegal immigration. As a Retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force, Reyes spent 22 years serving his country. He was born and raised in Del Rio but currently resides in Castroville. He is a home builder.

The first question asked of the candidates dealt with “unfunded mandates” from the state government. Candidates were asked what actions they planned to take to address this growth of state government programs without adequate funding.

Flores responded his prior experience on the Committee would allow him to investigate this matter and still maintain a balanced state budget.

Surplus monies at the state level, Reyes said, should be used to fund unfunded mandates. He also supports the elimination of the property tax, saying the state has plenty of money and should use it to “pay the bills.”

Junker posed a question dealing with balancing the rural and urban needs to ensure constituents are all equally served.

Reyes said Lt. Governor Dan Patrick would hold any endorsement as an obligation to serve the needs of the Republican Party before the needs of the 13 counties in Senate District 24. Reyes pledged to work for his constitu Party machine.

Referencing his work as a game warden in small rural Hill Country communities, Flores said he was aware of the needs of rural areas. He spoke about the endorsements given to him by the Texas Farm Bureau and the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association to show he was aware of rural issues.

Both candidates were asked about communication with constituents during and between legislative sessions, and both pledged to create avenues of contact with constituents by whatever means ecessary.

Subsidization of green energy was also discussed. Candidates were asked what recommendations they would make to provide energy to Texans while others lobbied for “green energy.”

Flores said he was familiar with the solar farm issue in Bandera and believed it was exclusively a local control concern.

Reyes asserted Proposition 313 should go away. As a small businessman, he was clearly not in favor of subsidies for wind and solar companies.

“If they can’t stand on their own two feet, we shouldn’t support them,” he said.

Each candidate was asked what their stance was on the checks and balances on TCEQ enforcement of environmental legislation.

Flores reiterated it was important to maintain the rural quality of life and tan environmental crime task force could assist TCEQ. Reyes said the main appointees on state water boards were advocates for coastal Texas rice farmers and they would continue to favor that group until other citizens were seated in their place.

The discussion continued as Junker posed a question about constitutional amendments on the homestead exemption.

Candidate Reyes asserted that getting rid of the property tax was the way to go. He was strongly in favor of making cuts to middle class taxes so that they could roll that money back into investments and small businesses. Flores responded he knew property taxes were high and getting higher, but admitted getting rid of property taxes was not an option and further study of the issue was necessary.

The next question dealt with school finance issues and what changes each candidate would propose.

Reyes again referenced the legislature’s piecemeal method of dealing with tax issues. He strongly felt property tax should be eliminated. Flores said Representative Muir’s proposal to eliminate the maintenance and operations tax was a step in the right direction and the state’s main purpose was to provide a great education for all students.

Each candidate was asked to describe their relationship with the Republican Party leadership and the party platform.

Reyes related that even though the platform was worthy, the party had only been able to get constitutional carry passed in the last session. Flores responded he felt he had a good relationship with state Republican leadership. Although he came from a family of Democrats, he says Ronald Reagan really caused him to change his outlook and political viewpoint.

The Texas Education System was the next topic.

Reyes said he felt school choice was a viable option for Texans. He also voiced school boards had gotten too powerful and the system was going in the wrong direction. Flores responded he felt teachers needed to be able to teach and not spend their time preparing for the testing. He encouraged the citizens to run for their local school boards and get involved.

When questioned about rural health care, Flores said that telemedicine and doctors’ loan forgiveness was an important solution to the problem and stated mental health was a huge issue for the state. Reyes spoke about the lack of trauma care centers in rural Texas. Adding hospitals had a monopoly on that care.

The final question concerned what type of legislation each candidate would file in the Senate should they be elected.

Reyes immediately harkened back to his stance on illegal immigration and stated that “we are under invasion from the southern border.” Flores reiterated his stance on property taxes by saying he would file a property tax omnibus bill that would help constituents while maintaining the quality of life in the Hill Country.

The 2022 Texas runoff election will be held May 24, with early voting held the May 16-20. If you voted in a party primary in March, you can vote only in that same party’s runoff. Voters who didn't cast a ballot in the primary can vote in either party’s runoff.