Chad Carnahan is running as a Republican for Texas House District 112, which includes portions of Garland, Richardson, Rowlett, Sachse, and Dallas.
The Dallas Express had an opportunity to speak with Carnahan about what he believes needs to change in Austin. Currently, Rep. Angie Chen Button (R-Richardson) represents the district in the lower chamber, but Carnahan is looking to claim the party’s nomination for the seat in the upcoming primary election on March 5.
For almost two decades, Carnahan has been president of AfterMark LLC. This company specializes in providing niche market industrial products such as transport refrigeration and fuel delivery. As a self-employed businessman, he has devoted his career to making his business a family venture. He said he understands the significance of effective communication, transparency, and honesty in all aspects of his professional and personal life.
Carnahan is a Richardson resident who has witnessed firsthand the effects of growth in Texas communities, particularly how a lack of awareness on the part of those tasked with serving the people has led to a struggling middle class. He said he is committed to advocating for policies that will help bridge the gap between the government and the people and improve the lives of Texans.
According to Carnahan, the current issues impacting the state of Texas seem to be increasingly less about political ideologies and more about the wealth gap and how decision-makers are dissociated from the middle class.
“We are creating an oligarchy at the top of the scale where we have these massively wealthy people and corporations creating a situation where our leadership is listening to an ever-smaller percentage of the population because that is where the power structure is and the money to get re-elected,” explained Carnahan. “We have to begin to shift this balance.”
He said the balance shift would include a redistribution of influence that would make sure “the middle class is healthy, successful, and prosperous again. And we have to make sure that young people can start real careers, build families, and afford to buy homes.”
Carnahan said he would like to see more of a focus on having “real conversations with real people” to develop more opportunities for the middle class. “It is too hard for younger folks to get a start in life now, and this needs to be a focus, both in and outside the legislature. We need to look at ways to revitalize opportunities,” he said. Hindrances to such opportunities include things like the mishandling of energy, the cost of doing business, outrageous property taxes, and the lack of transparency in government, according to the Republican candidate.
“Transparency is the only tool we have to fight the money machine,” said Carnahan. “If people know and understand the real issues that are affecting their lives, then they can begin to address them.”
Carnahan warned that censorship, the potential for election rigging, and elite ruling structures pose a threat to people getting accurate information. However, he said he believes that people instinctively know when something is not right and needs to be fixed, even if they do not fully know what that “something” is.
He went on to say that the Republican Party should be a collection of people, opinions, and ideas and must reflect balance. The elite Republicans do not want to move over to allow this to happen — they want to hold onto their power structure, which will inevitably lead to corruption, claimed Carnahan.
In a discussion about “balance,” The Dallas Express asked Carnahan about securing the southern border and school choice, two hot topics this election cycle.
Securing the borders is one way to help restore balance, Carnahan said. He posited the possibility that the border was being kept porous as a way for elites to accumulate voters, distract from other issues, and instigate divisions to counter the growing number of people who intuitively know something is wrong.
When asked about school choice, Carnahan said the multi-layered issue needs more informed attention. He asserted that the federal government should not be involved in school choice. Additionally, Carnahan said he believes that “the purpose of school choice is to save public education,” and conversations must address how to improve the public education system.
“The problem is in the public schools. The kids are not getting what they need,” said Carnahan. Delving into ways to address the issue, Carnahan spoke about what is happening in Arizona, where school choice has been implemented.
“What is happening in Arizona is you have a flow of people leaving public education and going into private education. So, what is happening in private schools is tuition is going up because they only have so many seats — the market is dictating that it is going to cost more. Folks who are privately educating their kids are now saying, ‘Whoa, this is costing too much,’” explained Carnahan. “At the same time, public education is losing students, which means the state now has to step in and fund public education at a deeper level. That doesn’t mean school choice is bad; it means we really need to understand the implications of it, and I don’t think we are doing that.”
“The question is how do we structure school choice to benefit public education? I don’t think this question has been addressed adequately,” he claimed.
Carnahan shared his closing thoughts and hopes for Texas and the country as a whole.
“We are at a critical juncture in this country, and we have to save Texas. Texas has become, in my opinion, the most significant state in the country,” he said.
With the influx of people coming to the business-friendly state, Carnahan noted that the people moving here are potentially strengthening Texas because they are fleeing from what they see as not working.
“I want to lay down a footprint and represent the people of District 112. I will listen to the pulse of the people. I want to restore a citizen legislature in Texas,” said Carnahan. “If we can regain and restore this balance, we will be okay. This is a step along the way toward restoring the America that we want to see.”