I thought the fine folks at the Texas Parent PAC were done with their endorsements, but they weren’t. They have now added Diane Trautman to their list of worthy candidates. Here’s the press release:
“Families in House District 127 need better representation in Austin, and it is time for a change,” said Dinah Miller, a Texas Parent PAC board member. “Diane Trautman will have an immediate impact in the Texas House of Representatives, because she is a proven leader, energetic and intelligent, and totally committed to representing the people of her district.”
“Dr. Trautman is a fiscal conservative who will lead efforts to finally develop a long-term school finance plan that addresses the needs of our neighborhood schools while continuing to reduce property taxes,” Miller added.
[…]
“Unlike incumbent Joe Crabb, Diane Trautman will be a partner with parents and will act on their concerns,” said Texas Parent PAC chair Carolyn Boyle. Crabb has a reputation for not listening to parents, educators, and elected school trustees, she added.
Texas Parent PAC leaders said Dr. Trautman epitomizes the type of intelligent and dedicated public servant who should be elected to the Texas legislature. She will hit the ground running in the Texas House of Representatives due to her knowledge and life experience related to crime and law enforcement, health care, environment, public safety, and immigration.
Texas Parent PAC leaders believe families will be better served by a state representative with collaborative leadership skills who represents the mainstream views and values of the community. “Voters are tired of mean-spirited partisanship in Austin, and Dr. Trautman will be an independent voice representing her district instead of a mouthpiece for partisan power-brokers,” Boyle added.
Dr. Trautman grew up in Houston where she attended Houston ISD public schools, and went on to receive bachelor of arts and master of education degrees at the University of Houston and a doctoral degree in education from Sam Houston State University. A woman of faith and integrity, she is an active member of Atascocita Lutheran Church.
Prior to her educational career, Dr. Trautman worked in energy lending at First City National Bank in Houston. One morning she read a headline in the Houston Chronicle, “HISD To Start the Year 3000 Teachers Short,” which prompted her to change careers so she could make a difference in the lives of children and improve the educational system in Texas. She has been a classroom teacher, assistant principal and principal, and most recently an assistant professor at Stephen F. Austin State University where she trained teachers wanting to become school principals.
Diane Trautman is an excellent addition to the Parent PAC roster. You can listen to my interview with her here, and you can read more about this race here. As with Sherrie Matule, for Parent PAC to step up in this highly non-swing district says a lot about Trautman’s quality as a candidate. Congratulations to Diane Trautman, who joins Phillip Shinoda, Sherrie Matula, Juan Garcia, Joe Farias, Valinda Bolton, Allen Vaught, Kristi Thibaut, Ellen Cohen, and Joe Heflin on the Parent PAC endorsee list.
Again, as much as I applaud the wording of the Parent PAC organization I need to assert that if you are only endorsing candidates from one party it continues to get less newsworthy, suspenseful or dramatic.
Wouldn’t it just be a lot easier for them to have sent out one press release indicating they were endorsing all Democrats.
At some point this does get less interesting and does hurt the bi-partisan credibility of the organization I had once heard was touted.
Burt,
It would … if only they hadn’t endorsed so many Republicans during the primary season.
What makes ParentPAC’s endorsements significant is that they are seeking to be something of a counterweight to Lienenger’s efforts out of San Antonio (efforts I don’t entirely disagree with, personally). Time will tell if that pans out beyond this cycle, but it’s a pretty relevant group to track for the time being.