| Name | Tom Maynard |
|---|---|
| What office are you running for? | State Board of Education |
| County, District/Township | District 10 |
| Address | P.O. Box 625 Florence, Texas 76527 Map It |
| Phone | (512) 694-4331 |
| Email hidden; Javascript is required. | |
| Are you currently the officeholder and seeking re-election? | Yes |
| Is this your first time running for office? | No |
| Election Date | 05/28/2024 |
| Your Website | maynardfortexas.com |
| Copy & Paste Your Social Media Handles Here | Facebook: Maynard for Texas |
| 1. What inspired you to run for public office, and what positive changes do you hope to bring to your district/state if elected? | I grew up as a disadvantaged youth at Cal Farley's Boys Ranch near Amarillo. Education was a path up from my circumstances. My service as a teacher, school board trustee and SBOE member affords me the opportunity to help others live their American dream. I intend to continue the good work we have started with the Legislature, Governor and other leadership to protect students from woke ideologies, empower parents, grow the Texas Permanent School Fund and partner with families and school districts in providing outstanding standards and materials to facilitate a great education in both core and enrichment subject areas. |
| 2. Please identify the top three critical issues facing your state, and how do you envision solving them to benefit the communities in your state? | 1. Protecting Students. In 2023 we collaborated with the Legislature to create HB900 to establish clear library collection standards to protect students from sexually explicit materials. The legislative effort I led in 2017 created the suitability language as it relates to instructional material. We must continue to be vigilant as implementation continues. 2. High Quality Instructional Materials. We collaborated with the Legislature on HB1605 to raise the level of instructional material to facilitate excellent instruction. This bill also guarantees parental access and pushes back on the left's war against west civilization and our classic literature. Implementation of HB1605 must be completed. 3. Funding. SB 1232 established the Permanent School Fund Corporation that decoupled our $55 billion endowment fund from the bureaucracy to enable it to operate like the private sector. The growth of the fund over the long haul can alleviate tax payer burdens to fund public education. We are also working alongside our Legislature and comptroller to fight the left's war on Texas oil and gas. 4. Empowering Parents: I will continue supporting strategies to give parents as many tools as possible to educate their children. The SBOE's role in this is primarily through the charter school process and I will continue to champion high quality charter schools, especially in areas where current schools are failing. Families not only have a right to choose the most appropriate educational setting for their children, they have a parental duty to do so. |
| 3. Would you support or oppose implementing specific policies to promote fiscal responsibility and reduce government spending at the state level, while also addressing debt and ensuring a sustainable economic future for your state? | Support |
| 4. Do you support or oppose the belief that the pandemic’s negative impact on medical freedom, which emphasized the importance of safeguarding individual liberties, as well as its negative economic consequences on the people, calls for crucial lessons learned and need for both federal and state governments to avoid overregulation and overreach on small businesses while effectively preparing to handle future challenges? | Support |
| 5. In the context of the Bill of Rights, do you support or oppose safeguarding and upholding individual liberties, such as the right to bear arms and freedom of speech, when confronted with potential challenges? | Support |
| 6. Considering the ongoing debates on the environment, would you support or oppose balancing economic growth and environmental protection in your approach to environmental policies? | Support |
| 7. Do you support and advocate for religious freedom as a fundamental right for all citizens in our nation? | Yes |
| 8. Given the issues concerning open borders, border security, and drugs (like fentanyl), do you endorse the classification of Mexican cartels as a terrorist organization and recognize them as a significant national security threat to the United States? | Yes |
| 9. Do you believe the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives are important and necessary? | No |
| 10. Would you support or oppose the implementation of policies to expand school choice options, such as charter schools, vouchers, or education savings accounts, to empower parents to make the best educational decisions for their children? | Support |
| 11. Would you support or oppose passing laws to make it illegal to transition children medically or chemically under 18 years of age? | Support |
| 12. Would you support or oppose passing laws to restrict the education of students from K-12 on gender identity, homosexuality, and sexual conduct, and instead, adhere strictly to biology, science, and biological nature? | Support |
| 13. Would you support or oppose implementing classical liberal arts education standards in K-12? | Support |
| 14. Do you believe that parental rights are fundamental and hold the highest authority, and would you support prioritizing and protecting these rights in education? This includes acknowledging parents’ fundamental role in teaching, raising, and nurturing their children. Please indicate whether you support or oppose this approach. | Support |
| 15. If elected, would you support and implement the bill introduced by Moms for America Action that endorses the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Standard in schools, prohibiting obscene, indecent, and profane content, similar to the regulations for radio and TV broadcasts? | Yes |
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