LINK Houston and partners Air Alliance Houston, Bike Houston, Coalition for Environment, Equity, and Resilience (CEER), and Citizens’ Environmental Coalition (CEC) created and sent out a questionnaire on environmental health and safety concerns to the candidates in the following 2022 midterm elections races:
- County Judge
- HCP 2 & 4
- US House District 7, 9, 18 & 29
- Governor
- Lt. Governor
- Attorney General
- Railroad Commission
We encourage you to review the answers from the candidates who responded.
This questionnaire was sent to all candidates in the above races with reminders via email and phone for those whom contact information was available. We received answers from four candidates. All answers are shown as received with no editing for length, content, or grammar. If a candidate is not shown, this means they did not respond to the questionnaire.
Harris County Judge – Lina Hidalgo, Incumbent
Campaign website: linahidalgo.com
Q1: If you are elected, what will you do to address the impact of environmental quality (air, land, and water quality) on health? What does environmental justice mean to you?
I will build on our ongoing environmental justice work to address the impacts of poor environmental quality on health. Some of our efforts include:
Creating an Office of Sustainability to combat the underlying causes and disproportionate impact of climate change on marginalized communities by making community-driven improvements to air, water, and soil quality, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and expanding green spaces.
Committing over $11 million to build a state-of-the-art air monitoring network to monitor, detect, and report threats to air quality in Harris County.
Increasing the size of the pollution control department by over 50%, and adding resources for HazMat First Responders.
Hiring environmental prosecutors to hold large polluters accountable in criminal court, and pollution control investigators to inspect facilities that are not up to snuff.
Allocating over $1M for environmental health and emergency response staff.
Creating a dashboard of hazardous chemical facilities so residents can locate potential neighborhood risks.
Q2: What do you think are the most effective strategies to decrease transportation-related air pollution?
The most effective strategy for Harris County to decrease transportation-related air pollution is to fully electrify our fleet, which is currently a significant contributor to pollution. Working with trusted nonprofit partners focused on increasing vehicle electrification, we have already:
Added 22 more efficient vehicles, leading to significant fleet-wide average increase of 25% estimated city MPG and a decrease in local air pollution.
Approved the acquisition of 19 additional electric vehicles with associated charging infrastructure, building on its existing fleet electrification efforts
We are also working on investing in transit options, sidewalks and bike lanes, and leading the paradigm shift toward a more transit-friendly County.
Q3: If elected, what policies and initiatives would you support to provide access to transportation options (public transit, walk, bike, etc.)?
I have fought for better transit options and paved the way for future development of hike and bike trails. I advocated for reforming the way the County allocates transportation dollars by replacing the outmoded precinct-by-precinct system with a comprehensive county-wide approach intended to ensure better regional planning, effectiveness, and transparency. We performed the first-ever countywide mobility needs assessment to ensure future transportation development is more coordinated and multimodal. Further, we secured the rights to construct 10-foot wide hike and bike trails within utility corridors and easements to expand access to trails and green spaces.
We are exploring green alternatives such as pedestrian, bikeway, and green space options for the Hardy Toll Downtown Connector corridor, and developing detailed plans for trails along the toll road system and Emancipation Trail. Additionally, my advocacy regarding the I-45 redesign project has focused on – among other issues – dedicated transit lanes as part of the changes.
Q4: How would you work to protect public health and safety considering our region’s history of (1) industrial disasters; and (2) roadway injuries and fatalities?
I’ve ensured we’re setting ourselves up to come back stronger from these crises. After multiple chemical fires – including the ITC Deer Park incident where we set up the County’s first-ever real-time air monitoring website – we’ve made the largest investment in protecting our environment in decades, and we’re now better equipped to respond to incidents than ever. We shifted from a reactive to a proactive posture in responding to disasters including industrial accidents. That approach led us to create ongoing community air monitoring tools to track real-time data.
Commissioners Court is fully in support of Vision Zero to eliminate all roadway injuries and fatalities by 2030. Updates from Vision Zero Working Groups are periodically presented at Commissioners Court to ensure its timely implementation. I will continue to advocate for this important initiative, but the most impactful work we can do is to advocate for more transit and safer highways.
Q5: How will you address climate concerns, especially for those on the frontlines?
Harris County is ground zero for climate change. There is absolutely no path to tackling the climate crisis in the US without addressing our region’s contribution to it. In addition to that, our ability to remain the energy capital of the world depends on our ability to lead the energy transition, instead of catching up. Our jobs depend on it. All of this requires bold leadership and a commitment that I have demonstrated by proactively responding to climate change while enhancing disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. For example, despite the devastation brought by Tropical Storm Imelda, the county saved 1,178 homes because of previous work to buy out homes in flood-prone areas before the storm hit. We will continue to invest in environmental protections for the most vulnerable and learn from nationwide best practices by completing our Climate Justice Climate Action Plan, which will prioritize frontline communities.
Q6: If elected, how will you engage your constituents and ensure that impacted community members have a voice and influence in decision-making related to environmental issues?
From day one, I’ve focused on opening Harris County government to the public by initiating the County’s first-ever open transition process and prioritizing making government more accessible to constituents. I’m proud to have ensured community voices are included in the decision-making process. We have also engaged community members when designing our environmental investment package and our Community Flood Resilience Task Force, as well as working people when creating our Harris County Essential Workers Board. We’ve not only brought the community to the table, but ensured their voices shape our policies.
Going forward, it is an absolute priority for my office to continue engaging community members and re-shift priorities as necessary based on the feedback we receive. I also support diversifying the voices of our Boards and Commissions to bring in voices of those who have been directly affected by environmental issues.
Harris County Commissioner, Pct 2 – Adrian Garcia, Incumbent
Campaign website: adriangarcia.com
Q1: If you are elected, what will you do to address the impact of environmental quality (air, land, and water quality) on health? What does environmental justice mean to you?
I am working with my colleagues to protect the public from potentially deadly leaks from chemical plants by deploying real-time air quality monitors and working with HARC, our area’s leading research hub, to use that data to improve emergency response. We’re working to put the county on a path to 100% renewable energy for our facilities. We’re working with industries along the ship channel to reduce toxic emissions during shutdowns associated with extreme weather events. We are continuing to advocate for more funding for and better enforcement by TCEQ. We need to work with local industry to help these businesses transition to cleaner energy while keeping jobs in the community. Environmental justice is one of my priorities. It means treating all fair all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income and involving them in implementing the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies.
Q2: What do you think are the most effective strategies to decrease transportation-related air pollution?
We need to find more ways to encourage people to use public transportation and/or biking. That is the only way to reduce transportation-related air pollution. It is incumbent on us as elected officials to do what we can to improve these modes of transportation and then create incentives and use our bully pulpit to get people to use them.
Q3: If elected, what policies and initiatives would you support to provide access to transportation options (public transit, walk, bike, etc.)?
Harris County Transit Services provides transportation to those who live outside the Metro service area, including a curb-to-curb subsidized service at allows eligible residents and agencies to purchase transportation services at a discount and ADA Paratransit services. I would, however, like to see METRO extend its service area to all of Precinct 2 and have initiated exploratory discussions. Precinct 2 is adding hike and bike trails in many communities.
Q4: How would you work to protect public health and safety considering our region’s history of (1) industrial disasters; and (2) roadway injuries and fatalities?
We work pro-actively with local industry to reduce toxic emissions during shutdowns associated with extreme weather events or other disasters. We are deploying real-time air quality monitors and working with HARC, our area’s leading research hub, to use that data to improve emergency response. We are encouraging local industry to transition to clean energy, which will not only improve our environment but also add new jobs to our community. Precinct 2 has a number of street and traffic projects underway that will improve roadway injuries and fatalities. I will work diligently to support Harris County’s Vision Zero Action Plan, which is working to achieve zero traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030. We encourage our residents to fill out the Vision Zero Equity Survey to help us achieve a better program.
Q5: How will you address climate concerns, especially for those on the frontlines?
Climate change is, of course, real and we must deal with it sooner rather than later. Harris County is working toward 100% renewable energy for our facilities. We plan to transition all county vehicles to electric vehicles. We are requiring all new County buildings to incorporate LEED energy efficiency standards and transitioning current buildings to LED lighting. We have increased county personnel so we can inspect businesses that pollute and hold polluters accountable. We are studying best practices in other communities so we can develop our own Climate Action Plan.
Q6: If elected, how will you engage your constituents and ensure that impacted community members have a voice and influence in decision-making related to environmental issues?
Precinct 2 has active community planning projects in our communities. Local residents are the ones who know what their community needs; their opinion matters to us! We work with stakeholders in Precinct 2’s ten unincorporated areas to create short-term and long-term projects that may include mobility & transportation, housing, land use, economic development, historic and cultural resources, public health/services/safety, and sustainability. Members of the community should be appointed to formal positions and I am working to achieve that.
Harris County Commissioner, Pct 4 – Lesley Briones, Challenger
Campaign website: lesleybriones.com
Q1: If you are elected, what will you do to address the impact of environmental quality (air, land, and water quality) on health? What does environmental justice mean to you?
Unfortunately, the State of Texas often stands in our way to address environmental quality. We need to force the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to do its job of monitoring our environment and preventing daily pollution or extreme events such as explosions and fires, which endanger many residents. One example is TCEQ stationing air monitor vans in Austin; it can take hours to get them to Harris County in an emergency. They only moved three small units here because of the public outcry. The Harris County Attorney has stepped up to hold businesses accountable for pollution, but the Texas Attorney General works overtime to file his own lawsuits and keep Harris County out of court. That means any fines levied against businesses that pollute go to the state, not the area where the pollution occurred and where people are affected.
We need to ensure the County’s Health Department has the funding and tools it needs to monitor air, land and water quality and the County Attorney has the staff to continue to take offenders to court and see that they clean up pollution and pay for damage they have done.
Environmental justice means the right for ALL to have a safe, sustainable, healthy environment. It means that everyone is protected from pollution, regardless of where you live or how much money you make. It means that all people have both fair treatment and meaningful involvement in creating a better environment for their community. Unfortunately, it is often our poor neighborhoods, and communities of color, who end up with polluting industries in their communities, leading to health problems. This is unacceptable.
Q2: What do you think are the most effective strategies to decrease transportation-related air pollution?
The best way to reduce transportation-related air pollution is to get people out of their cars. That means more and better public transit, sidewalks and bikeways. We should prioritize these solutions in our County budget. I elaborate in my answer to the next question.
Q3: If elected, what policies and initiatives would you support to provide access to transportation options (public transit, walk, bike, etc.)?
I support more funding for sidewalks and bikeways, and support the Tollways to Trailways initiative. I support a multi-modal transit system that will help get people out of their cars, ease traffic congestion, and improve air quality. My district encompasses both densely populated urban areas and less densely populated suburban areas. Each has its own needs. For example, improving bus service and Bus Rapid Transit make sense in the more urban areas. Commuter rail and park & ride service make more sense in the more suburban areas.
Q4: How would you work to protect public health and safety considering our region’s history of (1) industrial disasters; and (2) roadway injuries and fatalities?
When we have an industrial disaster, we need real-time air quality monitoring so that we know what’s being put out in our air. I applaud Commissioner Adrian Garcia for deploying real-time air quality monitors to Precinct 2 and for working with HARC, our area’s leading research hub, to use that data to improve emergency response.
Harris County needs more monitoring equipment since the TCEQ is not doing its job. We need to know what chemicals are exploding, burning and/or stored at a site so firefighters are not rushing into an unknown situation where they could be injured, as has happened.
Since the State of Texas refuses to mandate that businesses report what they have on site, we should work with our local industries to encourage them to communicate this information to first responders before an incident occurs. As mentioned, we need to encourage people to get out of their cars and walk, bike or use public transit to help reduce roadway injuries and fatalities.
We also need to educate our residents about how to drive with bikers on the same roadway; too many are still hurt and killed by vehicles. More bikeways should help with that issue, and I will support increased funding for bikeways. I will actively support implementation of a Harris County Vision Zero Action Plan, and I encourage voters to support the county’s road bonds this November, which provide more funds to implement Vision Zero.
Q5: How will you address climate concerns, especially for those on the frontlines?
Climate change is real, and it is the biggest issue facing our planet today.
Here in Harris County, we have seen repeatedly that we cannot rely on the TCEQ to protect our air and water, our environment generally, and the health of our people. As mentioned, I fully support expanding our capacity for real-time monitoring and communication of pollution releases during natural extreme weather events or industrial breakdowns.
Industry must also do a better job at controlling shutdowns and startups of refineries and petrochemical plants to reduce the release of toxic chemicals into our air and water.
We need to keep our community safe and ensure the law is followed. I support the Harris County Attorney’s efforts over the past few years to hold industries responsible for the damage they do. Unfortunately, the state is trying to usurp that responsibility.
We also need to encourage green solutions to flooding—such as dual-use parks/small neighborhood detention ponds and preserving and rebuilding our natural infrastructure (planting native grasses, protecting our prairies, etc.). I fully support the development of a Harris County Climate Action Plan. The City of Houston has proven that having a well-thought-out plan can be implemented to make serious efforts to successfully deal with climate change.
Q6: If elected, how will you engage your constituents and ensure that impacted community members have a voice and influence in decision-making related to environmental issues?
I am a team player. I will value the interaction that I will have as Commissioner with all the constituents of Precinct 4. No one knows a neighborhood’s issues better than the people who live there. As their representative on Commissioners Court, I will seek their advice and input on issues that affect their communities. I will hold town hall meetings in the precinct and really listen. I will also be diligent in assuring that the community has full representation with appointments the Commissioners make.
US House District 18 – Carmen Maria Montiel, Challenger
Campaign website: carmenforcongress.com
Q1: If you are elected, what will you do to address the impact of environmental quality (air, land, and water quality) on health? What does environmental justice mean to you?
Companies and Industries should check and follow the laws and be responsible when they disposed waste into the environment. For me Enviromental Justice is not to allow waste, specially hazardous waste to be dump on low income areas, like it has happened in the east side of my District.
Q2: What do you think are the most effective strategies to decrease transportation-related air pollution?
The best way to improve air pollution faster is the use of public transportation. I believe many cities, like Houston, need to improve and provide more and better public transportation. Also, people need to be responsible in maintaining their cars, cleaners cars polluted less.
Q3: If elected, what policies and initiatives would you support to provide access to transportation options (public transit, walk, bike, etc.)?
I believe we need to improve public transportation in Houston. That is a number 1 priority.
Q4: How would you work to protect public health and safety considering our region’s history of (1) industrial disasters; and (2) roadway injuries and fatalities?
We need to work closely with local officials in order to have a plan in place to respond to disasters, injuries and fatalities in a effective and fast way, always following the regulations in place to protect the environment.
Q5: How will you address climate concerns, especially for those on the frontlines?
We need to be responsible for the next generations to come and search and research for better options that will left less or zero damaging waste on our environment and always thinking in the people that are more are risk which are the frontlines. Every day there is a new invention we should engage them into our plan.
Q6: If elected, how will you engage your constituents and ensure that impacted community members have a voice and influence in decision-making related to environmental issues?
I am already working closely with my constituents with a major environmental issue in my district a cancer cluster left by Union Pacific. I am in the are constantly listening to them, what they want and need to solve this issue and brink monetary release to the victims.
The following candidates did not respond to our questionnaire:
County Judge – Alexandra del Moral Mealer
Harris County Commissioner, Pct 2 – Jack Morman
Harris County Commissioner, Pct 4 – Jack Cagle
US House District 7 – Lizzie Fletcher and Johnny Teague
US House District 9 – Al Green, and Jimmy I. Leon
US House District 18 – Sheila Jackson Lee
US House District 29 – Sylvia Garcia, and Robert Schafranek
Governor – Greg Abbott and Beto O’Rourke
Lt. Governor – Mike Collier and Dan Patrick
Attorney General – Rochelle Garza and Ken Paxton
Railroad Commission – Wayne Christian and Luke Warford
LINK Houston | October 11, 2022