DISTRICT 13 CANDIDATES SQUARE OFF IN SECOND POLITICAL FORUM

  

Carolyn Bilski and Leighton Schubert faced off again in the KWHI Forum Monday night, and produced many questions from the audience and KWHI listeners. Listeners and the audience at the Brenham National Bank provided questions for the two candidates.  Both candidates were asked about mandatory immunizations, and each talked about local control and choice.  Bilski believes strongly in vaccinations for everyone.

 

Schubert saying he believed in choice and local control. 

 

Another topic involved questions on how much money was spent on each of the campaigns. Both candidates claimed to have each spent $50,000, and Schubert claimed to only have taken money from one PAC, that was Blue Bell

Each candidates was asked what ethical boundaries each has crossed during the campaign.

Bilski claimed that she had breached no ethical boundaries and has run a clean campaign and made mention of a photo used during the campaign

 

Schubert says he believes he ran a positive campaign

 

The candidates were asked about doing away with property taxes and replace with a state sales tax. Bilski

Carolyn Bilski
Carolyn Bilski

says that the idea of a consumer tax has been around for a while, but she was not sure if there was enough consumer money to replace the property tax, and any change would have to be done slowly.

Schubert answer that he was against any tax used to raise revenue, which he says is up 62%, and that in order for a sales tax to work, the rate would have to be between 15 and 19%, and would only support a consumption tax if it were used in conjunction with lowering other taxes, and that we need to find ways to lower our reliance on the property tax.

Both candidates were asked whether they were in favor of the proposed race track in Chappell Hill.

Schubert remarked that there would have to be a decision on whether it would provide a benefit for the area, and it must be decided on a local level.

Bilski believed that it would need to be a Commissioner’s Court decision on whether to give a tax abatement to the proposed race track owners, and since the race track is on private property, she felt that very little could be done, and as long as the race track did not harm the area, and as long as Texas remained a private property state, landowners have the right to use their property as they see fit.

Also discussed was the issue of designated funds being diverted to other uses.

Schubert noted that funds, notably gas taxes, do not go to help transportation infrastructure, that it is put into

Leighton Schubert
Leighton Schubert

the general fund. He noted that there was discussion of using some of the taxes from the sale of vehicles to possibly be used to support transportation infrastructure, which would be capped at 2.5 Billion dollars. Schubert says that TXDOT needs about 5 billion a year. He believes that there should be no new taxes, so new ways of supporting transportation need to be worked out.

Bilski noted that the state was using other funds such as the 911 money and Emergency Trauma funds were being used to balance the budget in the state legislature, and so she also believed that we need to come up with new ways to support transportation.

Bilski and Schubert were also asked what their definition of economic growth was.

Bilski said it a “two way street” involving controlled growth, meaning a good quality of life, and new industry in the area to keep young people in the area. Things such as sales tax and quality of life and no imminent domain will keep high the best and brightest from leaving the area.

Schubert noted that Brenham has a strong and involved Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development identities to grow jobs, and believes that the local area and people should decide, and believes this why this area has such a high quality of life.

Both were asked about where there money for their campaigns came from.

Schubert noted that 2/3 of his money came from the district, has and that he is only beholden to the voters of the district.

Bilski took note of her political signs disappearing around town, and expressed her disappointment in the community involving the signs. She also noted different endorsements of her campaign, including the Farm Bureau endorsement and the Teacher PAC.

Early voting began this week and runs until Friday, February 13. Election Day is February 17th.

There will be a rebroadcast of the Forum on Thursday at 9:15am on KWHI 1280

Questions from the Forum:

What is your position on open carry?

What is your view on water right of capture?

What would you do to insure local jobs for college graduates?

What is your position on home schooling and school vouchers?

What Washington Senators have you supported?

What offices have you held that qualify you to represent the district?

What is your opinion on mandatory vaccinations?

What is your opinion on replacing the current property tax with a sales tax?

How do define and encourage economic growth?

How much have you sent on this campaign?

 

 

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3 Comments

  1. …there’s an abandoned race track between Navasota and College Station. Perhaps it could be used for the proposed Chappell HIll project. Has anyone ever considered this option?

    1. The race track between College Station and Navasota is where this car club has been operating. The track is being demolished, and will be replaced by a residential subdivision.

  2. Thanks to KWHI for sponsoring and covering a professionally covered candidates forum. The coverage was so well done, that it made the differences between the candidates very evident. The attributes of maturity, experience, knowledge, common sense, and body language was clearly exhibited by one candidate. Some members of the audience could have followed that example and exhibited more mature behavior. The party rhetoric and lack of subject research and knowledge was clearly evident by the other candidate. Our area needs a candidate that talks to local public servants, such as law enforcement and the teachers who educate our children, and ALL citizens, to meet the growing and changing needs of the community.

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