CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — After nearly two decades of holding the Texas House of Representatives District 34 seat, Abel Herrero (D) is stepping down, leaving the spot up for grabs this election season.
Republican candidate Denise Villalobos and Democratic candidate Solomon Ortiz Jr. are vying for the position that covers about 54 percent of Nueces County.
3NEWS asked both candidates what community issues are the at the top of their list.
For Villalobos, it is lowering property taxes and building a strong and skilled workforce.
"When you get your tax appraisals they are skyrocketed, your taxes are raising," she said. "We want to go to Austin and lower your property taxes, not temporarily, but permanently."
Ortiz said women's reproductive rights and the opposition of school vouchers are at the top of his list.
"It just doesn't make any sense; I think the community as well does not support taxpayer funded vouchers because they all know it would just cripple our public school system," he said.
One stance both agree on is support for our law enforcement.
"I strongly back our public safety officers, push Governor Abbott's agenda and CLEAT's agenda as well," Villalobos said.
"My opponent has been saying I don't support the police or defund the police, when in fact I've been endorsed by the Texas State Troopers Association, as well as the Corpus Christi Fraternal Order of Police," Ortiz said.
This race ultimately would decide whether seat 34 stays blue or turns red.
"It's not about party politics -- it's not republican or democrat -- this is about what is best for House District 34," Villalobos said.
"It's just a huge contrast between our two campaigns, and I think at the end of the day the voters will see which side the community is on and we will come out victorious at the end of this," Ortiz said.
Both candidates have a long list of endorsements that you can see on their websites and learn a little more about them before you head to the polls and make your decision.
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