This event is co-sponsored by Direct Action Texas and Empower Texans.
Join us for a social hour and informative panel discussion on a topic sure to garner much debate during the upcoming 85th legislative session; the idea of "local government control."
Some locally elected officials and government-interest groups believe entities such as cities and counties should be free to govern their own affairs, without limitation. State lawmakers seeking to enact a variety of pro-taxpayer reforms disagree. Our panel will address the following questions:
Which state-level reforms proposed by lawmakers are facing the most opposition from local officials?
What new limits, if any, should state lawmakers place on the power of local governments?
Should cities be governed by unfettered "majority-rule" democracy?
Is there any area of agreement between state and local officials, such as public-sector pensions or statewide ethics reform?
Our featured panelists are elected officials from the Dallas/Fort Worth Region: State Sen. Konni Burton (R-Colleyville), Sen. Van Taylor (R-Plano), Rep. Matt Rinaldi (R-Irving), Carrollton Mayor Pro Tem Anthony Wilder, and Denton City Councilwoman Sara Bagheri.
*The availability of state lawmakers on our panel is subject to change due to unforeseen legislative responsibilities.
The discussion will be moderated by Art Martinez de Vara, a local policy expert who has also served as both a mayor and legislative staffer. A practicing attorney, Martinez de Vara holds an MA in both History and Theology, and is an adjunct professor of business law at Our Lady of the Lake University.
Event Schedule:
Social Hour: 5:30pm - 6:45pm
Panel Discussion: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Come early and join us in the hotel bar for Happy Hour from 5:30 - 6:45. Meet, mingle, and get to know activists and elected officials from all over the DFW area. Event ticketholders will receive a complementary drink from Empower Texans.
Parking at the hotel is $17 valet only, however the metered street parking and a few garages offer free parking after 5:30 PM. Visit http://www.fortworthparking.com/Places/Downtown for a parking map.
