The following are the complete and unedited responses submitted by the candidate listed below to the Amarillo Pioneer’s Candidate Questionnaire.
John Smithee/Photo by Campaign
Name: John Smithee
Office Sought: State Representative, District 86
Party Affiliation: Republican
Age: 72
Educational Background: BBA. West Texas State; JD Texas Tech Law
Occupation: Attorney; businessman
If you are a business owner, please list the business or businesses that you own.
Smithee & Russell
Please list any civic boards or commissions (non-profit, government, union, religious, political, etc.) on which you have served as a board member or equivalent.
Amarillo Hope+Choice Advisory Board
Have you previously held or do you currently hold any elected office? If so, what office(s)?
State Representative District 86
If your campaign has any online campaign resources where voters can learn more about you, such as social media accounts or a website, please list them below.
vote johnsmithee.com
Why did you decide to run for this office in 2024?
To continue our efforts to effectively represent the people of the western Texas Panhandle and to help change the culture of the Texas House.
If elected, what will be your top three priorities in office?
1 Protecting the interests of the Panhandle; 2 securing the border; 3 passing conservative legislation.
What is your position on taxpayer-funded lobbying? Please explain.
Generally oppose.
How should the legislature go about delivering further property tax relief? Please explain.
Only practical approach is to increase percentage of education funding paid by the state as opposed to local taxpayers.
What is an issue you believe has gone overlooked in your race and how will you address it if elected?
Securing our border. We need more miles of both state and federal border wall.
Do you have any notable endorsements you would like to highlight for voters?
Gov. Greg Abbott; Atty. Gen. Ken Paxton; Ag. Comm. Sid Miller; Tex. Right to Life; Tex. Alliance for Life; NRA
Why are you the best candidate for voters to support for this position?
My experience and commitment in representing the people of the Texas Panhandle.