We recommend Democrat Susan Motley of Irving over GOP former state legislator Rodney Anderson of Grand Prairie in the race for Texas House District 105.
This is a race between two serious candidates who hold sharply contrasting views. Motley is an impressive candidate who seems to have a grasp of what Texas needs to be competitive and solve problems. As a first-time candidate, she has a learning curve, but her answers are informed, thoughtful and geared toward seeking solutions — traits that might earn her some bipartisan influence even in a GOP-controlled House chamber.
For example, Motley favors restoring education funding cuts and expanding Medicaid, positions similar to what business groups like the Dallas Citizens Council have advocated as ways to build a stronger economic future and reduce the burden of uncompensated health care. Anderson opposes both. His opposition to restoring education funds is particularly vexing. He said he voted not to make the education cuts during an early consideration of the state budget when he served in the House in 2011. However, he said school districts have learned to do more with less and now additional money is not needed.
Both candidates were disturbingly vague on how to balance the state’s budget, with Motley sounding too willing to tap the rainy day fund for operational expenses and Anderson glibly trumpeting “huge” savings from attrition from zero-based budgeting. Anderson’s reliance on easy sound bites led us to not recommend him in previous races. We also are uncomfortable that he is backed by Accountability First, a group formed to unseat House Speaker Joe Straus of San Antonio.
Anderson, 46, a title insurance executive, said the state doesn’t need additional safety regulations to prevent another chemical accident like the one that destroyed much of the town of West. He opposes allowing voters to decide whether to allow the medical use of marijuana. This position gives us pause.
Motley, 44, a public interest lawyer, displayed more nuanced assessments. She wants a reassessment of fire codes and a review of regulations to better control the risks of storing dangerous chemicals. And although she worries about anything that would make marijuana more available, she favors letting voters decide whether to allow the medical use of marijuana in Texas.
Also on the ballot is W. Carl Spiller, a Libertarian candidate.
