KUHF – Paul Bettencourt Makes It Official, Announces Run For Senate District 7

KUHF – Former Harris County tax assessor-collector Paul Bettencourt says he wants to be the next state senator from District 7. That’s the seat now held by state Sen. Dan Patrick, who is in the crowded field challenging Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst.

Bettencourt has been out of office for awhile running a thriving property tax company, but he calls going for the seat currently held by state Sen. Dan Patrick a good fit.

“What I really enjoy about the senate possibilities is to be able to run a small business and also be involved in public policy in Austin at the same time.”

He says if elected, he’ll hit the ground running, as lawmakers will have to deal with property tax increases and school finance funding.

“As a former tax assessor and also somebody who’s really interested in property taxes, I hope to be able to apply my expertise to getting more funding into the classroom, and keep those increases down on taxpayers at the same time. I think we can do both.”

Bettencourt says he anticipates little opposition for the area that’s predominantly red.

Jared Woorfill chairs the Harris County Republican Party.

“Senate District 7 is the largest Republican senate district in the entire state of Texas.”

Hernandez: “He’s got quite a plate full of stuff that he wants to hit the ground running.”

Woodfill: “And that’s what we’re looking for, people that have a vision for the office. People that want to change the state of Texas and improve upon the state of Texas. It’s wonderful to have an elected official who’s not going there just to be called senator, but instead has a strong conservative agenda that they’re gonna take to Austin and deliver on.”

State Senate District 7 is located in the west side of town, from Interstate-10 to  Cypress, to Tomball and all the way to Interstate-59.

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