Paul earned his bachelor's degree in industrial distribution from Texas A&M. He and his wife, Susan, are members of Saint John Vianney Catholic Church.

LinkedIn

Paul is the president and chief executive office of Bettencourt Tax Advisors.

The Texas State Senate, Senator Paul Bettencourt: District 7

Paul Bettencourt currently serves as Texas State Senator for District 7. He was first elected in 2014 and is serving his third term. He is the chair of the Senate committee on local government. He previously served as the Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector from 1998 to 2008. 

Opposes the Harris County universal basic income program that will award low-income family winners $500 a month for 18 months and believes "there is 1 lucky winner for every 40 losers."

As state senator, supported the Texas Property Tax Reform and Transparency Act of 2019, which lowered tax rates.

- Opposes the Harris County universal basic income program that will award low-income family winners $500 a month for 18 months and believes "there is 1 lucky winner for every 40 losers."
- As state senator, supported the Texas Property Tax Reform and Transparency Act of 2019, which lowered tax rates.

Economy

Wants to address squatting, the unauthorized stay on someone's property, stating, "We are going to make it easy for homeowners and business owners to 'Come and Take it Back' from squatters.”

- Wants to address squatting, the unauthorized stay on someone's property, stating, "We are going to make it easy for homeowners and business owners to 'Come and Take it Back' from squatters.”

Public Safety

Candidate website

Supports adult stem cell therapies and reducing government regulation to improve patient quality of life.

Supports adult stem cell therapies and reducing government regulation to improve treatments for terminally and chronically ill patients.  

- Supports adult stem cell therapies and reducing government regulation to improve treatments for terminally and chronically ill patients.  

Healthcare

Facebook

Supports Senate Bill 1365, which gives school districts A through F rating to point out low performing schools that would need to create a model for improvement.

- Supports Senate Bill 1365, which gives school districts A through F rating to point out low performing schools that would need to create a model for improvement.

Education

Believes US energy independence will lower energy costs, which would lower inflation, increase jobs, and improve national security.

Co-sponsored Senate Bill 2627, which creates a low-interest loan and grant program for natural gas, coal, and nuclear production.

- Believes US energy independence will lower energy costs, which would lower inflation, increase jobs, and improve national security.
- Co-sponsored Senate Bill 2627, which creates a low-interest loan and grant program for natural gas, coal, and nuclear production.

Energy & the Environment

Supports having the county clerk and tax assessor-collector managing elections.

Believes mailing voter registration applications to addresses without current voter registrations would "undoubtedly result in registering non-citizens to vote."

- Supports having the county clerk and tax assessor-collector managing elections.
- Believes mailing voter registration applications to addresses without current voter registrations would "undoubtedly result in registering non-citizens to vote."

Voting & Elections

Instagram

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Paul Bettencourt

Michelle lives in Houston. She serves as a volunteer deputy voter registrar.

Ballotpedia, Michelle Gwinn

Michelle Gwinn's campaign for State Senator in State Senate District 7 in Texas is her first run for public office. 

Believes flooding damages property, utilities, emergency services, transportation, and overall economic well-being.

- Believes flooding damages property, utilities, emergency services, transportation, and overall economic well-being.

Plans to collaborate with mental health advocates to secure more funding for mental health needs.

Plans to work with mental health advocates to secure more funding for mental health needs.

Plans to address substance abuse and Fentanyl-related issues.

Wants to address substance abuse and Fentanyl-related issues.

Believes judicial accountability is important and needs close examination.

Believes judicial accountability is important and needs to be looked at further.

Opposes judges who grant PR bonds to repeat offenders.

Opposes personal recognizance bonds for repeat offenders.

Plans to work with law enforcement and social services to help crime victims and advocate for stronger victims' rights legislation.

Plans to work with law enforcement and social services to advocate for stronger victims' rights legislation.

Believes the Biden administration and Homeland Security should take action to secure all U.S. borders, including the Northern border with Canada.

Believes Homeland Security should take action to secure all borders, including the Northern border with Canada, to reduce undocumented immigration. 

- Plans to work with mental health advocates to secure more funding for mental health needs.
- Wants to address substance abuse and Fentanyl-related issues.
- Believes judicial accountability is important and needs to be looked at further.
- Opposes personal recognizance bonds for repeat offenders.
- Plans to work with law enforcement and social services to advocate for stronger victims' rights legislation.
- Believes Homeland Security should take action to secure all borders, including the Northern border with Canada, to reduce undocumented immigration. 

Supports universal healthcare to lower prescription and out-of-pocket costs and improve access to mental health services.

Believes doctors should treat patients and receive proper insurance reimbursement without "rules and regulation."

Believes doctors should receive proper insurance reimbursement without "all the rules and regulation."

- Supports abortion access.
- Supports universal healthcare to lower prescription and out-of-pocket costs and improve access to mental health services.
- Believes doctors should receive proper insurance reimbursement without "all the rules and regulation."

Plans to reallocate funds from the Texas Rainy Day Project for school budgets to provide pay raises for educators and money for special education programs.

Plans to reallocate funds from the Texas Rainy Day Project for school budgets for pay raises for educators and special education programs.

Plans to collaborate with community partners and mental health agencies to provide support for teachers and children after "stressful events."

Wants to work with community partners and mental health agencies to provide support for teachers and children after stressful events.

Plans to allocate funds to help schools hire more security officers without making budget cuts.

Advocates for more school security officers without making budget cuts.

Said, "Supporting our teachers and public school system is my first priority. Children are the future of Texas and they need a quality education."

- Plans to reallocate funds from the Texas Rainy Day Project for school budgets for pay raises for educators and special education programs.
- Wants to work with community partners and mental health agencies to provide support for teachers and children after stressful events.
- Advocates for more school security officers without making budget cuts.
- Said, "Supporting our teachers and public school system is my first priority. Children are the future of Texas and they need a quality education."

Wants to create legislation to mitigate flooding.

Plans to address the flooding issue in the district. 

Promises to advocate for funds to upgrade infrastructure and promote a cleaner environment.

Advocates for funds to upgrade infrastructure to promote a cleaner environment.

- Plans to address the flooding issue in the district. 
- Advocates for funds to upgrade infrastructure to promote a cleaner environment.

Believes policies should aim to increase civic participation.

Said, "Elected officials in a democratic society should create policies that increase civic participation rather than undermine them."

- Said, "Elected officials in a democratic society should create policies that increase civic participation rather than undermine them."

Michelle Gwinn

- Your state senator represents the interests of your district in the Texas State Senate. The State Senate, along with the State House of Representatives, makes up your state lawmaking body: the Texas Legislature.
- Your state senator can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws after going through the legislative process.
- There are 31 Texas state senators, each representing a single district with a constituency of around 1 million.
- State senators are elected to 4-year terms and one 2-year term per decade, and there are no term limits.
- They are paid a salary of $7,200/year and a per diem of $221/day.