Shehla Faizi is running as the Green Party candidate for Texas comptroller in the Nov. 3 general election. Asked in our candidate questionnaire why she is seeking the office, Faizi said, "I'm a Texas mom fed up with big money donors controlling our government and harming our public schools. … I am running for office to serve Texans and bring transparency and fairness to the Comptroller's office."

Don Huffines (Republican), Sarah Eckhardt (Democratic) and V. Alonzo Echevarria-Garza (Libertarian) are also running for the seat.

Candidate information

Party: "I'm proud to be running for office with the Green Party! The Green Party doesn't take corporate PAC or lobbyist donations, and neither do I," Faizi said in our questionnaire.

Education: "I have a Master's Degree in Strategic Communication, but my best education has been as a wife and mother of two teenage boys," Faizi said.

Occupation: "I'm a podcaster, the host of 'I'm A Muslim (And That's Okay!)' My podcast covers family, culture, and politics," Faizi said.

Previous elected or appointed office: "This is my first time running for office, I am not a career politician nor a big political donor," Faizi said.

She has no prior office experience.

Family in government: "My brother is a medical administrator at a VA hospital. I don't come from a political dynasty, and I am not a political insider," Faizi said.

On the issues

Differences from opponents: Asked about critical differences between herself and the other candidates, Faizi said, "My Republican opponent used wealth from his family's car dealership to become an influential political donor, and then eventually self-funded the start of his own political career. … My Democratic opponent takes corporate PAC donations from industries like construction and consulting, which have business with the Comptroller's office. … As a Green Party candidate, I proudly refuse to take PAC donations of any kind."

Revenue estimates: "By refusing to fundraise from corporate PACs or billionaire-funded PACs, and by refusing to engage in politics as usual, I would be a truly independent Comptroller," Faizi said. "Neutral technical experts, not political insiders, should run the Comptroller's office and work on revenue estimates. … I pledge to hire only highly qualified economists and subject matter experts."

Education savings accounts: "The school voucher scam drains money from our public schools and gives handouts to private schools and education vendors," Faizi said. "… As Comptroller I would use all legal means and public pressure to end school vouchers and focus on equitable funding for our public schools."

Property taxes and school funding: "Property taxes are not the best way to fund school districts. But raising tax money in new ways is politically difficult," Faizi said. "Those who want to eliminate school district property taxes should find new sustainable revenue streams to fill that gap first, not cut taxes and hope to find new revenue later."

Economic development incentives: "Our economic development incentives must be depoliticized and reimagined to benefit Texans, not big donors," Faizi said. "For example, we must end the 100% sales tax exemption for Data Centers, which costs the state more than $1 billion per year."

Faizi said the comptroller's website "should have clear infographics and charts on budgets, revenues, spending, and debt" and that "there should be an English and a Spanish version of the website."