Sarah Eckhardt

[{"question": "Comptroller of Public Accounts", "answer_html": "<div style=\"clear:both;\"></div>", "answer_text": ""}, {"question": "Ballotpedia survey responses", "answer_html": "<p>See also: <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection</a></p>\n<div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-xs-10 col-md-6 col-xs-offset-1 col-md-offset-3\"><p><a href=\"https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\"><img align=\"middle\" alt=\"Candidate Connection\" src=\"https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/8/88/Candidate_Connection_Logo.png\" width=\"90%\"/></a></p></div></div>\n<p>Sarah Eckhardt completed <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection</a> survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Eckhardt's responses.</p>\n<p><span class=\"expand-all\">Expand all</span> | <span class=\"collapse-all\">Collapse all</span></p>\n<div aria-multiselectable=\"true\" class=\"panel-group\" id=\"accordion\" role=\"tablist\"><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-bio-389918-2026-01-28\" id=\"heading-bio-389918-2026-01-28\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse-bio-389918-2026-01-28\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-bio-389918-2026-01-28\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWho are you? Tell us about yourself.\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading-bio-389918-2026-01-28\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse-bio-389918-2026-01-28\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI'm a third-term Democratic state senator, lifelong Texan, and mom of two that believes government should be effective, efficient, fair, and minimally intrusive. I got my start in local government as an assistant county attorney, before being elected a county commissioner, and then the first woman to serve as Travis County Judge. Leading 4,000 employees across dozens of departments, I delivered balanced budgets year over year while lowering property taxes three times. In the Texas Senate, I have delivered legislation to give more Texans a fair shot at success, including the Academic Fresh Start Act and tuition exemptions for paramedics. My priorities for the office of the Comptroller are to focus on affordability, transparency, and trust. Texas is a rich state but prosperity is not evenly distributed. As keeper of the books, the Comptroller should honestly report whether, how and which Texans are benefitting from state investments. And the Comptroller can influence better investment, creating a prosperity we all experience and contribute to building on.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-key-message-389918-2026-01-28\" id=\"heading-key-message-389918-2026-01-28\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse-key-message-389918-2026-01-28\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-key-message-389918-2026-01-28\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tPlease list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading-key-message-389918-2026-01-28\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse-key-message-389918-2026-01-28\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><ul><li>Our state’s chief financial officer should be a watchdog for your money, not a lapdog for rich and powerful special interests.</li><li>In the wealthiest country on the planet, and the second wealthiest state in that country, there is no reason we shouldn't be able to meet and exceed the needs of every Texan who wants a home, healthcare, and good public schools.</li><li>I’m running as a Democrat to break one-party rule that stands up a pay-to-play system for special interests while leaving everyday Texans behind.</li></ul></span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1-389918-2026-01-28\" id=\"heading1-389918-2026-01-28\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse1-389918-2026-01-28\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1-389918-2026-01-28\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading1-389918-2026-01-28\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse1-389918-2026-01-28\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tAs Comptroller, I will be a watchdog ensuring our wealth serves our needs, not special interests. Texas has massive water infrastructure needs, with a $154B gap. We must use the $28B Rainy Day Fund to bridge this divide. Broadband is an economic necessity. While the state received $3.3B in federal funds, the administration has stalled; I will end these delays. By prioritizing infrastructure over \"sweetheart deals,\" we ensure every Texan has clean water and high-speed internet. It is time to put people over politics. I am passionate about government that is efficient, effective, and fair. Texans want leaders who take care of basics; the party in control for a generation has failed to address these challenges.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse2-389918-2026-01-28\" id=\"heading2-389918-2026-01-28\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse2-389918-2026-01-28\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse2-389918-2026-01-28\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading2-389918-2026-01-28\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse2-389918-2026-01-28\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tTexas AFL-CIO, Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus, Lloyd Doggett, Greg Casar, Gene Wu, Roland Gutierrez, Garry Mauro, Kirk Watson, Gary Bledsoe\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div></div>\n<div class=\"small\" data-nosnippet=\"\"><p><i><b>Note:</b> Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.</i></p></div>", "answer_text": "See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection\n\nSarah Eckhardt completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Eckhardt's responses.\nExpand all | Collapse all\nWho are you? Tell us about yourself. I'm a third-term Democratic state senator, lifelong Texan, and mom of two that believes government should be effective, efficient, fair, and minimally intrusive. I got my start in local government as an assistant county attorney, before being elected a county commissioner, and then the first woman to serve as Travis County Judge. Leading 4,000 employees across dozens of departments, I delivered balanced budgets year over year while lowering property taxes three times. In the Texas Senate, I have delivered legislation to give more Texans a fair shot at success, including the Academic Fresh Start Act and tuition exemptions for paramedics. My priorities for the office of the Comptroller are to focus on affordability, transparency, and trust. Texas is a rich state but prosperity is not evenly distributed. As keeper of the books, the Comptroller should honestly report whether, how and which Texans are benefitting from state investments. And the Comptroller can influence better investment, creating a prosperity we all experience and contribute to building on. Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office? Our state’s chief financial officer should be a watchdog for your money, not a lapdog for rich and powerful special interests. In the wealthiest country on the planet, and the second wealthiest state in that country, there is no reason we shouldn't be able to meet and exceed the needs of every Texan who wants a home, healthcare, and good public schools. I’m running as a Democrat to break one-party rule that stands up a pay-to-play system for special interests while leaving everyday Texans behind. What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? As Comptroller, I will be a watchdog ensuring our wealth serves our needs, not special interests. Texas has massive water infrastructure needs, with a $154B gap. We must use the $28B Rainy Day Fund to bridge this divide. Broadband is an economic necessity. While the state received $3.3B in federal funds, the administration has stalled; I will end these delays. By prioritizing infrastructure over \"sweetheart deals,\" we ensure every Texan has clean water and high-speed internet. It is time to put people over politics. I am passionate about government that is efficient, effective, and fair. Texans want leaders who take care of basics; the party in control for a generation has failed to address these challenges. What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign? Texas AFL-CIO, Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus, Lloyd Doggett, Greg Casar, Gene Wu, Roland Gutierrez, Garry Mauro, Kirk Watson, Gary Bledsoe\nNote: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it."}, {"question": "U.S. House", "answer_html": "<div style=\"clear:both;\"></div>", "answer_text": ""}, {"question": "Ballotpedia survey responses", "answer_html": "<p>See also: <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection</a></p>\n<p>Sarah Eckhardt did not complete <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection</a> survey.\n</p>\n<div style=\"clear:both;\"></div>\n<p>Sarah Eckhardt did not complete <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection</a> survey.\n</p>\n<div style=\"clear:both;\"></div>\n<div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-xs-10 col-md-6 col-xs-offset-1 col-md-offset-3\"><p><a href=\"https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\"><img align=\"middle\" alt=\"Candidate Connection\" src=\"https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/8/88/Candidate_Connection_Logo.png\" width=\"90%\"/></a></p></div></div>\n<p>Sarah Eckhardt completed <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection</a> survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Eckhardt's responses.</p>\n<p><span class=\"expand-all\">Expand all</span> | <span class=\"collapse-all\">Collapse all</span></p>\n<div aria-multiselectable=\"true\" class=\"panel-group\" id=\"accordion\" role=\"tablist\"><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-bio-104977-2022-10-12\" id=\"heading-bio-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse-bio-104977-2022-10-12\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-bio-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWho are you? Tell us about yourself.\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading-bio-104977-2022-10-12\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse-bio-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tSenator Eckhardt has deep roots in Central Texas and deep commitment to improving opportunity for all\r\n<p>Texans. After receiving an LBJ School Master of Public Affairs and law degree from the University of\r\nTexas at Austin in 1998, Eckhardt worked for eight years as an Assistant Travis County Attorney. From\r\n2006-2013 she served as Travis County Commissioner representing 300,000 people. From 2015-2020\r\nshe served as the Travis County Judge presiding over the Commissioners Court and representing 1.3\r\nmillion people.\r\n</p><p>Senator Eckhardt believes that elective office is a temporary trust bestowed by the people who elect\r\nher. She values policy above politics. And she believes that government exists to assure that opportunity\r\nis within reach of every Texan. Government should be effective, efficient, fair and minimally intrusive. \r\n</p>\n</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-key-message-104977-2022-10-12\" id=\"heading-key-message-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse-key-message-104977-2022-10-12\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-key-message-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tPlease list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading-key-message-104977-2022-10-12\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse-key-message-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><ul><li>JUSTICE - Eckhardt believes in holding people accountable when they pose a threat to society and returning them to productive civic belonging as soon as the threat has been vanquished. But across the nation and especially in Texas incarceration of people for substance use disorder and other mental health infirmities has skyrocketed. Texas incarcerates more than 800 per 10,000 people, a rate well above the national average. Black brown and poor people are disproportionately jailed. And, conditions inside Texas jails and conditions imposed on people after release are stifling. Eckhardt advocates for safe and effective mental health treatment, including substance use disorder treatment, outside of the criminal justice context. r</li><li>HEALTH - Eckhardt believes that every Texan should have access to physical and mental healthcare, including reproductive healthcare. But Texas has the lowest insurance rate in the country. Physicians are barred from providing abortions. Even finding a physician is difficult when nearly 15% of Texas counties do not have a single physician. The State ensures that every county has a jail, but nearly ¼ of Texas counties have no hospital. Eckhardt advocates for an expansion of Medicaid to insure 1M more Texans and help rural hospitals stay open to serve them, restoration of safe and legal reproductive healthcare, and deeper state investment in public health and emergency mental health care.</li><li>CLIMATE - Eckhardt believes that climate change requires rapid innovations in energy, water and infrastructure that markets cannot or will not produce without government involvement. Texas is the largest producer of energy, including renewable energy, but also the largest consumer of energy. Texas is becoming more arid as its thirsty population grows. And Texas infrastructure is battered year round by increasingly extreme drought, flood, wildfires and hurricanes. Eckhardt advocates for increases in renewable energy generation, decreases in per capita energy and water consumption, identification and conservation of our finite water sources and hardening of public infrastructure to shelter us from increasingly frequent extremes.</li></ul></span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1-104977-2022-10-12\" id=\"heading1-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse1-104977-2022-10-12\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading1-104977-2022-10-12\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse1-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tEckhardt's public service experience includes emergency response, health care, workforce and economic<br/>\n<p>development, criminal justice, water policy, and budget and finance. Some of her previous accomplishments<br/>\r\ninclude curtailing the spread of COVID-19 in Central Texas through early and decisive region-wide<br/>\r\norders, preserving more than 30,000 acres of green space, building a multi-county collaboration for the<br/>\r\npreservation of groundwater, maintaining a vibrant construction economy while raising safety standards<br/>\r\nfor workers, establishing a Travis County Public Defender's Office, and instituting jail and arrest diversion<br/>\n</p>\nprograms that support justice and public safety.<br/></span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse2-104977-2022-10-12\" id=\"heading2-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse2-104977-2022-10-12\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse2-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tIs there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading2-104977-2022-10-12\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse2-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tMartin Luther King's collected works\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse3-104977-2022-10-12\" id=\"heading3-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse3-104977-2022-10-12\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse3-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading3-104977-2022-10-12\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse3-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tSmart, honest, places policy above politics and people above power\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse4-104977-2022-10-12\" id=\"heading4-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse4-104977-2022-10-12\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse4-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading4-104977-2022-10-12\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse4-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tHealth, Education, Natural Resources, Public Infrastructure, Public Safety and Justice and how we are going to pay for all that\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse5-104977-2022-10-12\" id=\"heading5-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse5-104977-2022-10-12\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse5-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading5-104977-2022-10-12\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse5-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tThere must be a productive tension between the Executive and the the Legislature. The Executive must be allowed to act decisively for the benefit of the state but must do so within the parameters set by the Legislature in advance of necessary executive action. \t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse6-104977-2022-10-12\" id=\"heading6-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse6-104977-2022-10-12\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse6-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading6-104977-2022-10-12\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse6-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tTo bring education, health, and justice back to every Texan and protect our land and livelihoods from climate change, we must disengage from the Culture War and reengage with collaboration and compromise at the local, state and federal level.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse7-104977-2022-10-12\" id=\"heading7-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse7-104977-2022-10-12\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse7-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat are the benefits and drawbacks of a unicameral state legislature, in your opinion?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading7-104977-2022-10-12\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse7-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tThe benefits of a unicameral legislature are simplicity and speed - more bills will certainly pass faster. But, more is not necessarily better. The bicameral legislature has a finer sieve, sifting out the hastier legislation in favor of the thoroughly deliberated legislation.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse8-104977-2022-10-12\" id=\"heading8-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse8-104977-2022-10-12\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse8-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tDo you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading8-104977-2022-10-12\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse8-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tYes\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse9-104977-2022-10-12\" id=\"heading9-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse9-104977-2022-10-12\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse9-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tDo you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading9-104977-2022-10-12\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse9-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tOf course! There is no democracy without relationship. \t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse10-104977-2022-10-12\" id=\"heading10-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse10-104977-2022-10-12\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse10-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat process do you favor for redistricting?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading10-104977-2022-10-12\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse10-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tAn independent redistricting commission\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse11-104977-2022-10-12\" id=\"heading11-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse11-104977-2022-10-12\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse11-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tIf you are a current legislator, what appealed to you about your current committees?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading11-104977-2022-10-12\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse11-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI am particularly fond of my appointments to Local Government and to Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs. Both committees provide me an opportunity to build bridges between state and local levels of government, to address water issues and issues of property taxation.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse12-104977-2022-10-12\" id=\"heading12-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse12-104977-2022-10-12\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse12-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tIs there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading12-104977-2022-10-12\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse12-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tYes.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse13-104977-2022-10-12\" id=\"heading13-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse13-104977-2022-10-12\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse13-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tAre you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading13-104977-2022-10-12\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse13-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tIf my talents match the moment, I would consider it. \t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse14-104977-2022-10-12\" id=\"heading14-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse14-104977-2022-10-12\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse14-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tBoth sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading14-104977-2022-10-12\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse14-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tYes\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse15-104977-2022-10-12\" id=\"heading15-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse15-104977-2022-10-12\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse15-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tShould the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading15-104977-2022-10-12\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse15-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tThe legislature should establish the parameters for the use of emergency powers by the executive and hold the executive accountable should s/he exceed those parameters without good cause. \t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse16-104977-2022-10-12\" id=\"heading16-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse16-104977-2022-10-12\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse16-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tDo you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading16-104977-2022-10-12\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse16-104977-2022-10-12\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tYes\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div></div>\n<div class=\"small\" data-nosnippet=\"\"><p><i><b>Note:</b> Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.</i></p></div>\n<div style=\"clear:both;\"></div>\n<p>Sarah Eckhardt did not complete <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection</a> survey.\n</p>", "answer_text": "See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection\nSarah Eckhardt did not complete Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.\n\nSarah Eckhardt did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.\n\n\nSarah Eckhardt completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Eckhardt's responses.\nExpand all | Collapse all\nWho are you? Tell us about yourself. Senator Eckhardt has deep roots in Central Texas and deep commitment to improving opportunity for all Texans. After receiving an LBJ School Master of Public Affairs and law degree from the University of\r\nTexas at Austin in 1998, Eckhardt worked for eight years as an Assistant Travis County Attorney. From\r\n2006-2013 she served as Travis County Commissioner representing 300,000 people. From 2015-2020\r\nshe served as the Travis County Judge presiding over the Commissioners Court and representing 1.3\r\nmillion people. Senator Eckhardt believes that elective office is a temporary trust bestowed by the people who elect\r\nher. She values policy above politics. And she believes that government exists to assure that opportunity\r\nis within reach of every Texan. Government should be effective, efficient, fair and minimally intrusive. Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office? JUSTICE - Eckhardt believes in holding people accountable when they pose a threat to society and returning them to productive civic belonging as soon as the threat has been vanquished. But across the nation and especially in Texas incarceration of people for substance use disorder and other mental health infirmities has skyrocketed. Texas incarcerates more than 800 per 10,000 people, a rate well above the national average. Black brown and poor people are disproportionately jailed. And, conditions inside Texas jails and conditions imposed on people after release are stifling. Eckhardt advocates for safe and effective mental health treatment, including substance use disorder treatment, outside of the criminal justice context. r HEALTH - Eckhardt believes that every Texan should have access to physical and mental healthcare, including reproductive healthcare. But Texas has the lowest insurance rate in the country. Physicians are barred from providing abortions. Even finding a physician is difficult when nearly 15% of Texas counties do not have a single physician. The State ensures that every county has a jail, but nearly ¼ of Texas counties have no hospital. Eckhardt advocates for an expansion of Medicaid to insure 1M more Texans and help rural hospitals stay open to serve them, restoration of safe and legal reproductive healthcare, and deeper state investment in public health and emergency mental health care. CLIMATE - Eckhardt believes that climate change requires rapid innovations in energy, water and infrastructure that markets cannot or will not produce without government involvement. Texas is the largest producer of energy, including renewable energy, but also the largest consumer of energy. Texas is becoming more arid as its thirsty population grows. And Texas infrastructure is battered year round by increasingly extreme drought, flood, wildfires and hurricanes. Eckhardt advocates for increases in renewable energy generation, decreases in per capita energy and water consumption, identification and conservation of our finite water sources and hardening of public infrastructure to shelter us from increasingly frequent extremes. What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Eckhardt's public service experience includes emergency response, health care, workforce and economic development, criminal justice, water policy, and budget and finance. Some of her previous accomplishments include curtailing the spread of COVID-19 in Central Texas through early and decisive region-wide orders, preserving more than 30,000 acres of green space, building a multi-county collaboration for the preservation of groundwater, maintaining a vibrant construction economy while raising safety standards for workers, establishing a Travis County Public Defender's Office, and instituting jail and arrest diversion programs that support justice and public safety. Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy? Martin Luther King's collected works What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official? Smart, honest, places policy above politics and people above power What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office? Health, Education, Natural Resources, Public Infrastructure, Public Safety and Justice and how we are going to pay for all that What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature? There must be a productive tension between the Executive and the the Legislature. The Executive must be allowed to act decisively for the benefit of the state but must do so within the parameters set by the Legislature in advance of necessary executive action. What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade? To bring education, health, and justice back to every Texan and protect our land and livelihoods from climate change, we must disengage from the Culture War and reengage with collaboration and compromise at the local, state and federal level. What are the benefits and drawbacks of a unicameral state legislature, in your opinion? The benefits of a unicameral legislature are simplicity and speed - more bills will certainly pass faster. But, more is not necessarily better. The bicameral legislature has a finer sieve, sifting out the hastier legislation in favor of the thoroughly deliberated legislation. Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics? Yes Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer. Of course! There is no democracy without relationship. What process do you favor for redistricting? An independent redistricting commission If you are a current legislator, what appealed to you about your current committees? I am particularly fond of my appointments to Local Government and to Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs. Both committees provide me an opportunity to build bridges between state and local levels of government, to address water issues and issues of property taxation. Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after? Yes. Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future? If my talents match the moment, I would consider it. Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful? Yes Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers? The legislature should establish the parameters for the use of emergency powers by the executive and hold the executive accountable should s/he exceed those parameters without good cause. Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking? Yes\nNote: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.\n\nSarah Eckhardt did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey."}]