By RJ Morales | TX3DNews
Democratic candidates Brittany Black and Jackie Bescherer are seeking the party’s nomination for Texas House District 61, which covers parts of Collin County. At a Feb. 13 forum, they discussed key policy issues and their reasons for running.
Black, a McKinney-based software engineer and small business owner, said she decided to run after seeing what she described as the local effects of state priorities. “When you watch three of your neighborhood schools get closed, property taxes climb … your power grid fails, and your health care rights get stripped away, at some point you stop waiting and you know you’re the one that needs to step up,” she said
Bescherer, a longtime Collin County resident, said her candidacy reflects decades of public service, including raising a family in McKinney ISD, serving in the Navy Reserve, and working as a Dallas police officer. “My life has been about service and problem solving,” Bescherer said, adding that she is running to fully fund public education and protect what she described as democratic institutions.
Education and school funding
Education was the first major topic, with both candidates criticizing school vouchers and calling for stronger support for teachers.
Black argued districts need higher per-student funding, smaller class sizes, and greater transparency in how tax dollars are spent. She pointed to school closures and rising property taxes as signs the system is failing families. “Teachers aren’t going to want to stay in a district where they have no resources and they’re not getting paid competitively,” she said.
Bescherer said repealing the voucher system would be a top legislative priority. “The first thing when I get into office would be to put in a bill to repeal the voucher system, as that just bankrupts our schools,” she said. She also criticized standardized testing, adding, “We need to stop the STAAR testing and start allowing the teachers to teach.”
Transportation, growth, and infrastructure
On transportation, Black emphasized near-term regional solutions, arguing that rapid growth in North Texas has outpaced existing infrastructure. “We are growing beyond our means,” she said, adding that expanded public transportation could reduce congestion, emissions, and long-term costs.
Bescherer also supported expanding DART but focused more on long-range planning, including high-speed rail connecting major Texas cities. Pointing to European systems as models, she said infrastructure decisions should extend beyond immediate needs. “We need to think about the big picture and not just the immediate,” she said.
In a later exchange, the candidates discussed data centers and infrastructure strain. Bescherer said large industrial users should not take priority over residents for essential resources. “Industry should come second when it comes to necessities like electricity and water,” she said. Black warned that unchecked development shifts costs onto communities, saying, “We are footing the bill while our electricity and water resources are being drained.”
Marijuana policy
Both candidates voiced support for legalizing marijuana and reducing penalties for low-level possession. Black said decriminalization would prevent lives from being “ruined by minor possession” while generating revenue for the state, noting that “other states have done this.” Bescherer said legalization would weaken illicit markets, adding that “when you take the criminal element out of it, it also stops the drug trafficking of marijuana.”
Culture-war issues and religion in schools
Several audience questions addressed religion and social issues, which both candidates said distract from legislative priorities.
Asked about Sharia law, Black said, “The Constitution already protects us,” describing the issue as “a manufactured culture war.” Bescherer agreed, calling it “the latest boogeyman” and noting that the First Amendment and separation of church and state already apply.
A question about displaying the Ten Commandments in public schools drew similar responses. Bescherer said she opposes religious mandates in classrooms, while Black criticized legislative priorities, saying lawmakers “found time to decide what goes on a classroom wall, but they couldn’t find the money to fully fund schools.”
On transgender participation in sports, both candidates said the Legislature should not set those rules. Black said lawmakers should not micromanage athletic organizations, while Bescherer described the issue as a “non-issue” affecting a small number of athletes.
Health care, reproductive rights, and voting access
Health care and reproductive freedom prompted some of the forum’s most personal exchanges. Black pointed to Texas’ uninsured rate and said her experience without coverage shaped her views. “Being a woman and not having healthcare and then getting pregnant can be a death sentence,” she said, adding that medical decisions should be made between patients and their doctors.
Bescherer likewise framed health care as an issue of personal autonomy, saying it “is between a doctor and the patient,” while criticizing the role of profit in the insurance system. “Health insurance should not be a for-profit industry,” she said.
The candidates also addressed voting access and election administration. Black argued low turnout reflects structural barriers, saying, “It’s not necessarily a red state — it’s a non-voter state.” Bescherer said voting should be made easier while also protecting election workers from harassment and intimidation.
Closing contrast
In closing remarks, Bescherer reiterated her focus on progressive priorities, including public education funding, environmental protection, and affordability issues. Black emphasized the importance of winning in November, telling voters, “We agree on just about everything. The question is who can actually win and represent this district when it matters.”
The forum concluded with both candidates encouraging voter participation ahead of the Democratic primary.