Carol Kent

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Local State House of Representatives: Texas State Representative

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League of Women Voters 2008 candidate survey

LWV: Please describe the training and experience that qualify you for this office.

Kent: Serving my second term on the Richardson ISD School Board, I am a proven community and education advocate. Growing up in Garland, I have lived in Dallas County for over 40 years. I have served numerous community and neighborhood organizations, as well as City of Dallas committees and study groups.

LWV: The Texas Legislature in 2007 overhauled business taxes to provide property tax relief for homeowners, but many small business owners in Texas now claim that their property tax decrease was far less than their business tax increase. What measures should be taken to maintain adequate state tax revenues without unduly burdening individual taxpayers or small business?

Kent: Texas ranks as the sixth most business-friendly state in America, and that is good for our economy. The franchise tax establishes a gross receipts tax on some businesses, but I believe the Legislature did not exempt enough small businesses when they created this tax. Instead of cutting taxes on big business, I support increasing the homestead exemption, as a way to deliver real property tax relief to all our families.

LWV: Texas deregulated electricity rates with the promise that competition between suppliers would lower consumers’ electric rates, yet rates in Texas remain well above the national average. What measures should be taken to ensure electric power reliability and affordability in Texas?

Kent: Deregulation of electric rates will continue to result in higher electric bills in Texas. Unlike many other commodities, electricity is a necessity for all of us. Effective utilization of renewable native energy supplies, such as wind, solar, bio-fuels, and geothermal would result in real competition to bring electric rates down. These high costs are not only hurting the average citizen, but destroying business growth. The Legislature must act to encourage alternative energy research.

LWV: According to the most recent published data of the Texas Office of Public Insurance Counsel, insurance industry losses in Texas have decreased by 85%, yet homeowners’ rates have fallen by only 4%. What reforms would you support to lower homeowners’ rates in Texas?

Kent: The insurance industry has enormous influence over the State Insurance Commission. The current laws must be rewritten to insure that rate increases be based upon verifiable need, and that no increase be permitted absent a showing that a reasonable rate of return on investment is not attainable under current rates. Finally, the Insurance Commissioners should be appointed by a bi-partisan committee established by the Legislature, thereby eliminating the influence of insurance company lobbyists.

LWV: The Texas legislature has not increased the gas tax since 1991, and also diverts millions of dollars of transportation funds to other areas of the state budget such as education and the Department of Public Safety. The public has voiced much disapproval of toll roads and public/private partnerships to build new roads. How would you fund construction of new roads and maintenance of existing roads and bridges?

Kent: Private toll roads are only being built in high volume areas, leaving large parts of the state without new roads. Increasing the state gasoline tax would further burden the citizens of our state. The best funding source is the traditional use of long term bonds paying tax free interest.

LWV: If diversions from the State’s transportation fund are stopped, how would you pay for those items that are currently funded by gas tax monies?

Kent: By diverting funds from one program to another, the Legislature is “laundering” tax revenues. Each program should be funded based upon its own merits. The other items should be paid out of the general fund, eliminating the possibility of subverting the will of the public.

LWV: Currently, sales prices of most residential property are disclosed while those of commercial property are not. Do you support public disclosure of commercial real estate sales prices so as to ensure fair and accurate appraisals?

Kent: Whenever there is a lack of transparency in government, the citizens are the ones who suffer. Currently, the value of commercial and industrial real estate in Texas exceeds $250 billion. By not publishing the sales price of commercial properties, the danger is that taxes on commercial real estate are under appraised, and the tax shortfall will be passed on to the already overburdened residential taxpayer.