Zach Vance
Republican Candidate for Lieutenant Governor
Vance/Photo by Campaign
Question: What is your age?
Answer: 35
Q: What is your educational background? Please list any degrees or certificates earned and any institutions attended.
A: I have attended Stephen F. Austin State University, Dallas College Eastfield Campus, Collin College Spring Creek Campus, Texarkana Community College, and I finally have my BA from the University of North Texas in Media Arts.
Q: What is your occupation?
A: Retired Military
Q: If you are a business owner, please list the business or businesses that you own. (If this question is not applicable, please note that below.)
A: N/A
Q: Please list any civic boards or commissions (non-profit, government, union, political, etc.) on which you have served as a board member or equivalent.
A: None
Q: Have you previously held or do you currently hold any elected office? If so, what office(s)?
A: None
Q: 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.
@4abettertexas on Instagram and Twitter
Q: Why did you decide to run for this office in 2022?
A: Because of the division that has taken over Texas politics. I am a right of center Republican, what the true majority of Texans are, and our voices are not being heard because the far right and far left want to keep forcing their agendas onto the people of Texas. I am running to focus on issues that affect all Texans, not just 1/3rd or 1/4th of Texas. We all have wants and needs and I know that if we can come together to focus on the issues that affect all Texans we will begin to overcome this division that has consumed the legislature. The office of Lieutenant Governor is the only one that can do that. That is why Texans need someone in that office who cares about and represents everyone. Who wants to help to make everyones lives better and easier. The job of Lieutenant Governor is not a hard one, he or she just needs to be a good person who has everyone's best interests in mind and who always does the right thing. That is me!
Q: If elected, what will be your top three priorities in office?
A: 1. Property Taxes-
I will get rid of the appraisal districts. The price you purchase your home for should be the taxed value of your home for the next 20 years. I will eliminate property taxes for people who are 65 years or older AND have been in their homes for 20 years. You should only pay full property taxes on your home for 20 years. If you have been in your home for 20 years, but are not yet 65, then you should only pay maintenance and operations tax for schools. I will also get more Texans insurance therfore lowering the tax burden on homeowners that pay for uninsured visits to hospitals, which is most and a lot!
2. Education-
Paying Teachers what they deserve so that good teachers stay in the profession and the state can hire more in order to get class sizes down, as well as hire more quality substitutes. We need to focus more on education and turning out students who are more ready for life after high-school. We need to put more focus on graduating highly capable and highly motivated students that respect themselves, who want better futures for themselves, and who care about other people. And who are ready for whatever their next steps are, colleges or careers.
3. Public safety-
Public safety in Texas is in dire straits. Police, EMS, and 911 operators are all functioning at minimal capacity. They are overworked and leaving the field/retiring because of staffing levels being so low. The legislature will figure out a solution to this. Helping women get out, and stay out, of abusive relationships will also be a top priority of mine. As well as severely punishing the offender/abuser. I will also increase punishments for sex crimes, violent criminals, and criminals who use firearms to commit an offense.
Q: What is an issue you believe has gone overlooked in your race and how will you address it if elected?
A: The root cause of what is happening at the border has been overlooked. Why is Mexico the way it is and why are people fleeing the country? They are fleeing because they do not feel safe and there are no opportunities. Why is that? Because the narco-terrorists/cartels completely run the country. Why is that? Because they are rich and powerful. Why is that? Because smuggling in drugs to the United States has made them billions and billions of dollars. Why do they smuggle them into the United States? Because of the United States' war on drugs. By ending the war on drugs in Texas and focusing more on addiction treatment we can hit the cartels where is hurts the most, in their pockets. Ending the war in drugs is the first step to weakening the cartels strangle hold on the Mexican government and allow them to fix their country so people will feel safe and not want to leave. We also need to send the full force of the United States' military into Mexico and completely wipe out the cartels after we weaken them. I consider fentanyl a weapon of mass destruction and if we went into Iraq for "that", then we can sure go into Mexico. The cartels give America the same amount of deaths from overdoses as two 9/11's a week. This must end!
Q: Why are you the best candidate for voters to support for this position?
A: Because I am a Republican with compassion. A compassion for people and animals. I truly care about people and what they are going through and want to give people the tools to make their lives better. I myself have been through a lot and I will never turn my back on people who need help or need something that the legislature can help them with. I fully understand the community's needs and I have a good value system. I value bipartisanship, collaboration, and working together. I see the bigger picture and understand it, and I will only make decisions after I hear from all sides and know where they are coming from. What I lack in political experiences I more than make up for in life experiences, tenacity, drive, and a willingness to get things done. Please trust that I will get us over and through this division!