Tarrant County Republicans had a solid night last Tuesday, sweeping countywide races comfortably. Things went even better for the statewide GOP, which heads into its third decade of uncontested control of Texas government.
In a midterm election studded with Republican underperformance and disappointments, these are noteworthy exceptions. Texans may not endorse everything they see from Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, but they’ve affirmed their preference for conservative policies and the politicians who have implemented them.
Now, the best way for Tarrant and Texas Republicans to keep their momentum going is to embrace the kind of governing that got them where they are. They may be tempted to swing for the fences on every staunch-conservative priority, from school vouchers to policing school libraries. Some tending to the party’s red-meat desires is inevitable.
But when last Tuesday’s winners take office in January, they should set about seriously addressing problems that could threaten Texas’ future prosperity. That includes maintaining the low-regulation, business-friendly environment that has fueled Texas’ growth. It also means investing in Texans’ future.
At the state level, there are urgent education issues to address. Texas districts need help retaining and hiring teachers, which will require higher pay. And that’s just to hold the line: Texas schools need dramatic improvements and innovations to address poor performance that’s only been made worse by the pandemic.
Abbott has bragged about Texas’ high number of “blue-ribbon” schools and Tier One universities. But more broadly, Texas is not serving the majority of its students — and especially the most vulnerable — well enough to prepare them for the future. That must change. We spend tens of billions, and we’ll surely add more, but too many children slip through the cracks on basic reading and math.
Abbott likely got credit for a firm hand on the tiller during the COVID crisis, when he balanced safety measures with getting Texans back to work and — crucially — back in school. He can brag that the “red state” model he represents leads to sustained growth that benefits all.
But that ongoing population boom brings challenges that must be addressed, especially in transportation and housing that workers can actually afford. And not enough Texans have access to needed health care.
The good news is, Republican leaders will have a huge budget surplus to work with. But there are many demands on the money, much of which, Abbott has said, should go to offsetting local school property taxes. And with inflation and a possible recession looming, caution will be in order.
It’s unlikely, given their resounding wins, that Texas Republicans will back down from their hard-line stance on abortion. At the least, they should, as Abbott has suggested, revisit the state’s strict ban to ensure that doctors are able to provide care for women whose pregnancies endanger their lives— and that those doctors’ lawyers will let them.
In Tarrant County, Republicans will hold the same 3-2 majority on the Commissioners Court. But it will be a more conservative group, with Tim O’Hare replacing Glen Whitley as county judge. O’Hare campaigned on big cuts in the county budget and property tax rates. He’s pledged to reduce the workforce and scope of county operations.
O’Hare’s test will be whether he can lead the court to not just cut government, but improve it. In recent months, we’ve learned of significant deficiencies, particularly in criminal justice. The county jail needs intense scrutiny and staffing help. Problems remain in juvenile justice administration.
O’Hare and other commissioners have established their law enforcement bona fides. New Precinct 4 Commissioner Manny Ramirez is a Fort Worth police veteran and officers association leader. He’s positioned to help address problems, particularly with hiring and staffing, to make operations better for officers, too.
Voters in Tarrant County and Texas have spoken. They like the path we’re on, and they value the conservative governance that they’ve seen. To sustain the prosperity, both economic and political, new officeholders should make 2023 a year to dig in and fix what needs work.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
