Public Education | K - 12

Kristen will fight tirelessly for our local public schools and the students who attend them. She opposes all forms of vouchers and believes that our tax dollars should stay in public schools.

Vouchers redirect public funds to private institutions, leaving public schools with fewer resources. In rural areas like District 2, where public schools are often the primary educational option, this can lead to underfunded schools, larger class sizes, and diminished programs, directly harming the quality of education for all students.

Rural areas typically have fewer private school options. Even with vouchers, many families in District 2 would struggle to find nearby private schools, making the voucher system irrelevant to their needs. Instead, it would exacerbate inequities, leaving students in public schools with fewer resources and opportunities.

Vouchers contribute to a cycle where public schools lose funding, leading to lower salaries and fewer resources for teachers. This can result in a teacher shortage, particularly in rural areas where recruitment and retention are already challenging. Teachers may leave for better-funded districts or private institutions, further weakening public education in rural communities.

Kristen does not believe that the state should give public schools more unfunded mandates. Any new requirements imposed on public schools should be fully funded by the state. Unfunded mandates place an undue burden on school districts, forcing them to stretch already limited resources, which can lead to cuts in essential programs, increased class sizes, or deferred maintenance.

Kristen will champion legislation that prioritizes smaller class sizes, allowing for more individualized attention to students. She will also push for investments in school infrastructure, ensuring that every child learns in a safe, well-maintained environment that fosters their academic growth.

Educators

Advocating for Increased Teacher Pay and Benefits:

Kristen Washington will work to secure higher salaries and better health insurance for teachers, ensuring that educators are valued and supported. By advocating for competitive pay, Kristen will help attract and retain quality teachers, especially in underserved rural areas like District 2.

Kristen will work to improve TRS benefits and provide teachers a much-deserved raise.

Increase State Contributions: Kristen will advocate for increasing the state’s contributions to the Teacher Retirement System (TRS), ensuring that the fund remains solvent and able to provide adequate benefits to retirees. This would help alleviate the financial pressure on teachers and retirees who rely on TRS for their retirement income.
Adjust Contributions Based on Inflation: Push for legislation that ties state contributions to inflation or cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) to ensure that TRS benefits keep pace with rising living costs.
Increase the Basic Salary Allotment: Kristen will champion efforts to increase the basic salary allotment for teachers across the state. By raising the base pay for teachers, she can help ensure that educators receive a competitive salary that reflects their importance to society.
Establish Minimum Statewide Pay Standards: Push for legislation that establishes minimum statewide pay standards for teachers, ensuring that all educators receive a fair wage regardless of where they work in Texas. This would also help address disparities between urban and rural districts.

Healthcare

We must pass Medicaid Expansion to ensure all Texans have access to healthcare. Currently, Texas has the highest rate of uninsured adults and children in the Country. Texas has also lost the most rural hospitals in the Country over the last decade. If we expand Medicaid, it will reduce the burden on our cities, counties and local resources.

Recognizing the mental health challenges faced by rural communities, Kristen will work with local businesses and organizations to promote mental health awareness. By encouraging corporate initiatives that support mental well-being, she aims to reduce stigma and increase access to mental health resources, ensuring that residents in District 2 have the support they need.

We must expand access to telehealth. Kristen will advocate for increased funding and support for telehealth services and mobile clinics, bringing medical care directly to residents in remote areas. By leveraging technology and mobile healthcare units, she will work to ensure that every resident in Texas House District 2 has access to quality healthcare, regardless of their location.

Kristen believes we must strengthen training and loan repayment programs for nurses and health providers to increase the number of healthcare workers in rural communities. She also supports efforts to expand health access by allowing full practice authority for nurse practitioners.

Moving East Texas Forward with Economic Opportunities

Boosting Local Economies:

Economic development is crucial for the vitality of rural areas. By creating new job opportunities and supporting small businesses, we can stimulate local economies, ensuring that money stays within our communities and contributes to overall growth and prosperity in East Texas.

Supporting Small Businesses:

Kristen Washington will champion policies that provide small businesses with the resources and support they need to grow and succeed. By advocating for grants, tax incentives, and streamlined regulations, Kristen will help create an environment where small businesses can thrive, creating jobs and stimulating local economies in Hopkins, Hunt, and Van Zandt Counties.

Reducing Poverty and Increasing Financial Stability:

Expanding economic opportunities is key to reducing poverty and increasing financial stability for families in Hopkins, Hunt, and Van Zandt Counties. By advocating for better-paying jobs and supporting small businesses, we can help lift residents out of poverty and provide them with the means to achieve financial security.

Building Sustainable Communities:

A strong economy is the backbone of a sustainable community. By focusing on long-term economic growth and development, we can create a future where residents of East Texas have access to stable, well-paying jobs, quality education, and the resources they need to thrive.

Advocating for an Increased Minimum Wage:

Recognizing the need for fair wages, Kristen will fight to increase the minimum wage in Texas. Raising the minimum wage will help ensure that all workers in East Texas are paid a living wage, reducing poverty and allowing families to achieve financial stability. This will also help retain talent and attract new businesses to the area.

Creating Jobs That Stay:

Kristen is committed to creating jobs that are not only well-paying but also sustainable and long-term. She will work to attract industries and businesses that provide stable employment opportunities, ensuring that jobs created in East Texas remain in East Texas. By focusing on sectors such as renewable energy, technology, and healthcare, Kristen will help build a resilient economy that benefits all residents.

Public Education | K - 12

Educators

Healthcare

Moving East Texas Forward with Economic Opportunities

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