We Recommend Linda Koop in the Republican Primary for State House District 102

Republican Linda Koop has demonstrated smarts, nuanced thinking and conservative ideals in her two terms representing District 102, making her a clear choice to head back to Austin over two challengers in the GOP primary.The 67-year-old former Dallas City Council member showed thoughtful leadership during the last session on creative solutions to improve public schools, displaying a keen knowledge of what's important to constituents in her northwest Dallas- and Richardson-based district.For example, she supported a bill that encourages school districts to partner with top-notch charter schools to provide education resources at district campuses. And she was the House sponsor of a bill that creates a new certification for teachers of pre-K through third grade.Neither of the other two candidates, newcomers Chad Carnahan or Scott Kilgore, measures up.Carnahan, 66, is a Richardson wholesale distributor whose campaign can be summed up by his opposition to House Speaker Joe Straus' leadership and his belief that Straus supporters — like Koop — are insufficiently conservative. Yet he came up short on how he'd implement different policies and displayed a disturbing unfamiliarity with issues ranging from Koop's signature legislation and education reform to the planned bullet train linking Dallas to Houston and open-government laws. He refused to disclose, despite repeated requests, how he would vote on a bathroom bill if it were reintroduced. Koop opposes such legislation; Kilgore favors it.Kilgore, 23, seems similarly thin on substance. The Dallas network engineer believes Texas gun rights come from God. And though he believes many issues in Austin can be fixed, he's open to Texas seceding from the Union — a position his father has spearheaded.The winner faces a Democratic challenger in November.This is one in a series of Dallas Morning News recommendations for the March 6 primary elections.Last day to register to vote: Feb. 5Early voting starts: Feb. 20 Election Day: March 6 For more information: Collin County 1-800-687-8546 co.collin.tx.us/electionsDallas County 214-819-6300 dallascountyvotes.orgDenton County 940-349-3200 votedenton.comKaufman County 972-932-0298 kaufmancounty.org/electionsTarrant County 817-831-8683 access.tarrantcounty.com/en/elections.htmlFor more help, including how to check your registration status, contact the Texas secretary of state at 1-800-252-8683 or visit votetexas.gov.What's your view?Got an opinion about this issue? Send a letter to the editor, and you just might get published.  Continue reading...