Key Issues We Face

Click here to see answers to frequently asked questions about Dr. Wooten's positions on important issues.

MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS, CHALLENGES, AND SOLUTIONS IN TEXAS(Texas Ranks Near the Bottom of all States in Access and Quality of Care)THE SCOPE OF THE NEEDS--EPIDEMIOLOGY (Texas Health Data: Mental Health): *Approximately 1 in 5 adults and 1 in 3 children have mental healthdisorders per year in Texas *Almost 4 million Texans (that we know of) experience some form ofmental illness each year *Chronic and severe forms of mental health diagnoses, called Serious Mental Illness (SMI), afflict a million Texans for years, substantially limiting the quantity and quality of their lives (Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder); some of these individuals have so impacted that they qualify as having Disabilities *Almost half of Texans report some symptoms of anxiety and depression *Suicide incidence in Texas is 4500 per year, with younger and ruralpopulations more vulnerable *Substance abuse/addiction affects around 17% of Texans aged 12 years and up, which is almost 4 million people a year *Families, loved ones, and communities are impacted by caring for those who suffer from disorders, so the effects are extremely widespreadTHE CHALLENGES IN MENTAL HEALTH CARE—INADEQUACY AND INEQUITY:*Chronic workforce shortages in public health agencies, private practice, and the legal system: -170/254 counties have zero psychiatrists; 163 have no MH NPs -143 counties have zero psychologists -91 counties have no licensed clinical social workers -84 counties have no licensed chemical dependency counselors -29 counties have no licensed professional counselors*School districts also have chronic shortages in mental health staffing: -only 25% of needed school psychologists/social workers -only 64% of needed school counselors -Texas state officials do not obtain the available Medicaid payments for in-school services* Psychiatric hospitals and long-term care and support for those with SMI and/or disabilities are woefully inadequate: -State hospitals have 1600 patients waiting for an opening -Private psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals and programs and inaccessible financially and do not have enough slots per capita -The group home/community care waiting list (CLASS list) for those with developmental and/or psychiatric disabilities is 15-20 YEARS -Social Security Disability Income and other state or federalprovisions for support are sparingly given after overcoming numerous barriers *The most vulnerable people, given the influence of poverty andmarginalization in worsening mental health outcomes, are also the least likely to be able to afford or access mental health servicesPOTENTIAL SOLUTIONS TO IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTHCARE ACCESS IN TEXAS:*Address the provider, services, and facility shortages: -increase funding for graduate degree programs and loan repayment -develop a Train in Texas, Stay in Texas grant to student loan program -increase funding for schools and state agencies to hire staff -increase Home and Community-based Services (HCS) providers*Improve affordability and access to care: -fund an increase in services across all state programs (i.e., MH/MR, TWC, CPS, public health centers, state hospitals, legal systems) -require insurance companies to provide parity of m.h./medical care -fix and then expand Medicaid to attract providers to serve indigent -incentivize private providers who accept insurance or offer a sliding-fee payment scale instead of only doing full-fee out of pocket services, so that not only the wealth can be served by the already limited number of m.h. providers -state subsidies for insurance or programs for mental health -increase funding for mental health services and special education programming in schools -establish preventative programs across schools and the state -work with large companies to expand EAP services for employees -this is not an exhaustive list of possible remedies, so more research and proposals from others will be heartily welcomedThe motivation for me to run for office came out of my knowledge from 30+ years as a clinical psychologist, that there are so many unmet mental health needs in Texas. Texas is lousy and pathetic at taking care of people, ranking around 45th out of 50 states in per capita expenditures on human services. Yet, Texas is second highest in wealth as measured by the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). So where is the money going? Not to those who need it. This must change, which is why I and 13 other Democratic candidates for the Texas House of Representatives must flip our seats and take over the State House.

Every week I hear from HD 63 families who are working hard and still falling behind on groceries, insurance, property taxes, and childcare. That shouldn't happen to people doing everything right.The Texas Democratic Party's 2026 platform puts affordability first, with proposals to lower costs through infrastructure investment, housing access, and tax relief for working families.The Texas Republican platform doesn't address affordability or inflation directly. Its main cost related proposals are tax cuts that would help some Texans while cutting the public services many families rely on.Extremist politicians have had 30 years to act on affordability and have instead focused on culture war fights that don't put money back in anyone's pocket.I will fight for affordable healthcare, childcare, housing, and human services. As your State Representative, I will:Push for property tax relief targeted at homeowners and renters, not just a talking pointSupport expanding affordable childcare so parents can work without losing a paycheck to daycareBring the same fiscal discipline I've used running a household and a private practice to how the state spends taxpayer money

As a clinical psychologist with over 30 years treating patients, I've seen firsthand what happens when people can't afford care. A manageable problem becomes a crisis.4.3 million Texans lack insurance, including over a million children.The Texas GOP platform explicitly opposes any further Medicaid expansion and calls for repealing the Affordable Care Act. Texas is one of the few states that has never expanded Medicaid, even though the federal government would cover almost all of the cost.The Democratic platform supports expanding Medicaid, building toward universal coverage with a public option, and expanding rural healthcare access and mental health funding. Affordable healthcare, including mental health treatment, should be available to everyone. I will fight for affordable healthcare, childcare, housing, and human services. As your State Representative, I will:Push to expand Medicaid to extend coverage to hundreds of thousands of uninsured TexansFight to protect and expand access to mental health treatmentWork to keep rural and community hospitals open and staffed

My family and I attended public schools.  My daughter is a special education teacher in Lewisville ISD. Most of my psychology practice clients with learning differences go to public schools and need special education services. For my part, I have taught in the public sector at the local community college. Public education from pre-kindergarten to college is the equalizer of opportunity across all income levels. Every kid in HD 63 deserves that same chance.I support public education for every student. School funding, especially funding for learning needs and teacher compensation, will be drastically reduced if school vouchers are allowed in Texas.The Republican platform supports "school choice" funding that follows students to private, charter, or home schools with no strings attached, and doesn't mention increasing public school funding.The Democratic platform instead calls for fully funding public schools, repealing the voucher scheme, raising teacher pay to competitive national levels, and providing universal prekindergarten.I will not support school vouchers that reduce opportunity for all Texas students while perpetuating systemic elitism and bigoted world views. As your State Representative, I will:Oppose voucher schemes that drain funding from public schoolsFight for competitive teacher pay and manageable class sizesSupport full funding for public education, including special education and mental health support in schools

Texas has always been shaped by immigrants — the workers, entrepreneurs, and families who help power our farms, our hospitals, our tech companies, and our construction sites. I believe in an immigration system that reflects that reality: one that is secure, orderly, and fair, and that strengthens our economy instead of undermining it.Our system is broken, and Republican policies are making it worse.Right now, immigration courts are buried under millions of pending cases, with families waiting years for a resolution. Outdated visa and guest-worker rules don't match what Texas employers actually need, and needlessly restrictive rules push people toward dangerous, illegal crossings instead of legal pathways. Rather than fixing these problems, the current administration has pursued an approach that is chaotic, cruel, and often unconstitutional — detaining U.S. citizens by mistake, deporting legal residents with no criminal record, and using force that has injured and endangered innocent people. These abuses don't make us safer. They make our communities more fearful and our country less trusted around the world.They also hurt our economy. Mass deportation efforts threaten to eliminate millions of jobs nationwide, with construction, childcare, health care, and agriculture — industries Texas depends on — hit hardest. Immigrants, including those without documentation, contribute billions in taxes every year while remaining ineligible for most of the benefits those taxes fund. An immigration policy that drives out workers and shrinks our tax base is bad economics, not just bad policy.Here's what I support instead:Real border security. No serious candidate supports open borders, and I don't either. Border security matters, and we should invest in smart infrastructure and technology while addressing the reasons people cross illegally in the first place — chiefly, a broken legal immigration and asylum process.Focused, lawful enforcement. Interior enforcement should target people who pose an actual safety risk, not sweep up long-time residents, taxpayers, and U.S. citizens in the process. Everyone in this country — citizen or not — is entitled to due process under our Constitution.An asylum system that follows the law. People fleeing genuine danger have a legal right to seek asylum here. We should meet our legal obligations, clear the backlog, and stop policies that shut the door on people with legitimate claims.Modernized guest-worker and visa programs. Texas employers need reliable, lawful ways to hire the workers they can't find domestically, with real protections against abuse for both immigrant and American workers.An earned path to legal status. For undocumented immigrants who have lived here for years, working hard and raising families, we need a realistic, earned pathway to legal status — not endless limbo.An end to for-profit detention. Immigration enforcement shouldn't be a profit center. We need transparency, oversight, and humane alternatives to incarceration. I'm encouraged that bipartisan efforts like the Dignity Act show that Republicans and Democrats can come together on real solutions that pair strong enforcement with earned legal status. That's the kind of practical, values-driven leadership I'll bring to this office — securing our border, respecting the rule of law, and building an immigration system that works for Texas families and our economy.

Let's keep our communities and children safe. No child should be terrified in their own school.Gun deaths are now the leading cause of death for children age 1 to 17. Texas gun deaths have jumped over 50% since Governor Abbott took office, from 2,848 in 2014 to 4,389 in 2024. On an average day, 12 Texans die from gun violence.Texans overwhelmingly support common sense gun laws: 89% support universal background checks, 88% support Red Flag laws, 83% support raising the purchase age to 21, and 70% support banning the sale of assault style rifles.The Republican platform supports permitless "Constitutional Carry," legalizing armor piercing ammunition, and eliminating gun free zones. The Democratic platform supports universal background checks and restricting large capacity magazines and bump stocks, while respecting the 2nd Amendment.I will fight to increase the age that assault rifles can be purchased and for the ban of high capacity magazines. I will also fight for increasing gun safety measures to keep our communities safe. As your State Representative, I will:Support raising the minimum purchase age for semi automatic rifles to 21Support banning high capacity magazinesSupport red flag and safe storage laws, while upholding law abiding Texans' 2nd Amendment rightsGUN SAFETY: SANE AND SENSIBLE SOLUTIONSWe have a gun violence epidemic In the United States, which is even worse in Texas. The gun death rate is more than 10 times that of other developedcountries. Over 4000 Texans are killed by gun violence each year, and this is the leading cause of death for children. The epidemic, though, isn’t just about deaths, but the injuries and PTSD lead to chronic problems in the victims and those around them. In Texas, gun violence has doubled since Gov. Abbott took office a decade ago. In the past 20 years, more than 100 laws have been passed by the Republican-led legislature that loosen gun regulations. Further, my opponent (Bumgarner), the incumbent for TX House District 63, co-owns a gun manufacturing company. He has twice authored legislation (HB 3580 in 2023 andHB 920 in 2025) aimed at exempting firearms from sales tax to make it moreaffordable for people to buy his guns. Corruption? Self-interest? We need him out of office, replaced with a candidate like me who cares about the well-being of people, not just profit and donors. It is past time for more safety in gun laws.All people, but especially children, deserve to be safe from gun violencethat comes from mass shootings, accidents, murders, domestic violence,and suicides. The statistics could not be clearer, that sensible gunregulation improves outcomes for people and states. Therefore, we needto:1. Increase the age limits for purchase of any gun to at least 21, but ideally to 25 for greater prefontal cortex maturation. Between 21 and 25, a comprehensive risk assessment can be completed, also requiring letters of recommendation from two or more community experts in addition to the standard criteria.2. Ban assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines, with exceptions for military and law enforcement, and at controlled gun ranges.3. Increase Red Flag Laws and mandatory reporting from more entities, including gun dealers, pawn shops, social media outlets, clergy, school personnel, and medical and mental health professionals. The “Duty to Warn” legal criteria may need to be expanded given the lethality of firearms.4. Continue universal background checks but conduct more extensive checking on those who are flagged, to assess functional stability, with review of mental health, school, employment, and legal records.5. Train specialized law enforcement personnel and/or mental healthprofessionals to conduct Risk Assessments. Protocols from forensic specialists already exist, so use them.6. End gun show loopholes that avoid regulations and repeal liability protection for gunmakers and dealers.7. Require an extensive training process to increase safer use and storage.8. Require mandatory waiting periods to reduce “heat of the moment” actions.9. Increase the legal penalties for black market sales for both sellers and buyers.10. Provide therapy and support for people and communities traumatized by gun violence, including victim assistance programs to help with the financial costs.11. As this is not an exhaustive list, other solutions and strategies can bedeveloped based on research, experience, and innovation.

Families across HD 63 are being priced out of the communities where they grew up or where they work.The Democratic platform states that all working Texans should be able to afford a decent home within a reasonable commute of their workplace, and proposes infrastructure investment to help lower housing and living costs.As your State Representative, I will:Support policies that increase housing supply and reduce barriers to building starter homesPush for property tax relief that benefits homeowners directly

These are deeply personal medical decisions that belong between a woman, her family, and her doctor, not politicians in Austin.I support women's healthcare and reproductive rights and their right to decide what to do with their own bodies. These decisions should not be left to extremist politicians who deny Texas women this basic right.The Republican platform calls for abolishing abortion outright, banning sex education, and enforcing a 150 year old federal law to block mail order abortion medication.Research shows banning abortion doesn't reduce how often it happens. It mainly determines whether it's safe, and it raises medical risk for women with dangerous pregnancy complications. Expanding access to contraception and healthcare is more effective at reducing abortion rates than bans are.As your State Representative, I will:Oppose further restrictions on reproductive healthcare, including access to contraception and IVFSupport policies that actually reduce the need for abortion, like accessible contraception, comprehensive sex education, and support for parents, rather than bans that endanger women's livesFight to restore doctors' ability to use their medical judgment without fear of prosecution

Democracy only works if people can actually participate in it. No one should have to fight harder to vote than they do to live their lives.Voting in person and by mail should be easy. Extremist politicians want to make voting difficult to try to exclude people who wouldn't vote for them.The Republican platform calls for repealing the Voting Rights Act and would require a two thirds supermajority (rather than a simple majority) to pass constitutional amendments.The Democratic platform supports eliminating barriers to voting, automatic and same day registration, and a non partisan, citizen led redistricting commission.I will fight to make voting more accessible to strengthen our democracy. As your State Representative, I will:Oppose further restrictions on mail and in person votingSupport automatic and same day voter registrationOppose gerrymandering that lets politicians pick their voters instead of the other way around

Every individual is entitled to respect and nondiscrimination.It is the responsibility of government to ensure that members of every ethnic and sexual minority group, along with those who are disabled, feel safe and protected in public, at school, and in their workplace.The Republican platform explicitly opposes same sex marriage and recognition of transgender people, and calls for barring transgender individuals from school district roles. The Democratic platform supports comprehensive non discrimination protections and marriage equality.While it would be wonderful if diversity were celebrated and valued, at minimum, people deserve safety and tolerance. As your State Representative, I will:Oppose discriminatory legislation targeting LGBTQ+ Texans and other marginalized groupsSupport nondiscrimination protections in housing, employment, and public accommodations

I want future generations, including my children and grandchildren, to inherit a livable Texas, with clean air, a stable power grid, and summers that aren't a public health emergency.Texas is the #1 emitter of CO2 in the nation.The Republican platform opposes climate action, calls for abolishing the EPA, and would repeal the Endangered Species Act. The Democratic platform supports a statewide climate action plan and continued investment in clean energy infrastructure.Do we really want more lung cancer and other breathing problems from pollution, deadly August heat waves, and grid failures?I will support policies that get us on the right track for current and future generations. As your State Representative, I will:Support continued investment in renewable energy and a more resilient power gridSupport common sense environmental protections that reduce pollution related health harms

I believe decision making should be based on unbiased research, data, science, and logic, as well as input from constituents. All of this information should then be viewed through the lens of ethics to be fair and just. Every policy I support will be made according to these principles.