Candidate Profile: Bridget Wade For Houston ISD Position 7

Editor's note: Some responses have been edited for clarity.

HOUSTON, TX — Harris County voters will soon make their decision on local races in the Nov. 2 election.

Bridget Wade, who is running for Houston ISD Board of Trustees Position 7, shared with Patch why she should be elected to represent the Houston ISD community.

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Profile: Bridget Wade

Age (as of Election Day): 53

Position Sought

Houston ISD Board Position 7

Party Affiliation

Republican

Family

Husband, three adult children and a daughter-in-law.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

B.A. in Arts, University Of Oklahoma.

Occupation

Homemaker, volunteer and civic leader.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None

Campaign website

bridgetforthekids.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am seeking the HISD Trustee position of District 7 because I believe the current and former HISD leadership is failing at every level. I am a native Houstonian and love my city. I have common sense approaches to problem solving and feel the district is lacking in that area. It is time to renew pride in public school. I have felt called to serve in this capacity since our children attended HISD schools, and I lead our school as PTO President, rebuilt our school and actively worked with the neighborhood and community to upgrade our school playground. I have the time and the knowledge needed to lead.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Lack of transparent understanding of the needs of students, families and the city. The Board of Trustees and the Texas Board of Education have forgotten how to talk to the citizens.

We must stop assuming that we know better than the parents. I plan to find effective ways to educate the public and stop using terms, acronyms and abbreviations that create a learning boundary for our community. This is a start!

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I am a believer in God-given agency. I would like to see the family have more opportunity and
engagement. The trustee role is to encourage, respect and lead by actively engaging with an open ear to the needs of our citizens. I have common sense, good ears and high expectations.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

The incumbent has failed in many ways over her eight-plus years as a trustee. Anne Sung has undermined her role as a trustee for violating the Texas Open Meetings Act, led while FBI investigations have taken place and worked to undermine a sitting leader.

Editor's check: The HISD board voted to remove interim superintendent Grenita Lathan and replace her with former superintendent Abe Saavedra before backtracking and reinstating her in 2018. An FBI investigation into former HISD COO Brian Busby was conducted in 2020. The investigation did not appear to involve the Board of Trustees.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

I am dissatisfied with the transparency and the willingness to close schools. I would expect our leadership to inform the pubic on the metrics and plan for future removal of the forced mandates.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I believe in parental choice in education, vouchers for special needs families and getting back to an improved feeder school pattern.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have served in leadership roles on advisory boards in education, higher education, arts, church, hospital and civic institutions. I have been a mother, wife, a PTO president and a good citizen.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Raise your children like you have eight! Give them responsibility and agency, and do not over hover.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I love God, my family, my country and my city.