State Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, an Austin Democrat, is running for Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts in the Nov. 3 general election.

Asked why she is seeking the office, Eckhardt said in our candidate questionnaire: "Texans are paying more for gas, groceries, and housing than ever before—even as our state boasts one of the largest, strongest economies in the country. … It is time to ask hard questions so Texans get honest answers about where their tax dollars go."

She said she would "audit the $1 billion private school voucher program under this office's oversight, stand up for our public schools, stop no-bid contracts to wealthy donors, investigate tax breaks for data centers, and open the state budget to the public …"

Don Huffines (Republican), Shehla Faizi (Green) and V. Alonzo Echevarria-Garza (Libertarian) are also in the race.

Candidate information

Occupation: "Attorney and public official."

Party: "Lifelong Democrat, but I am running in this race to serve Texans regardless of party."

Education: "Double Longhorn: LBJ School of Public Affairs and UT Law."

Eckhardt holds a bachelor's in theater from New York University (1986), a master's in public affairs and a juris doctor from the University of Texas at Austin (1998).

Family: "I am the youngest of seven, the parent of two, and owner of a couple of fur babies."

Family in politics: "Among my immediate family, I am the odd-one-out in my family as the only one who pursued public office like my dad, the late Congressman Bob Eckhardt. My two children have so far served in routine civilian roles in the federal government."

Experience and public service

Previous offices: "Currently the state senator for District 14, comprising Austin and surrounding areas; previously, the Travis County Judge, Travis County Commissioner for Precinct 2, and Assistant County Attorney for Travis County."

Eckhardt said on her campaign website that she was the first woman elected as Travis County judge.

Accomplishments: "As the chief executive over Travis County, the 5th largest in the state, I cut taxes 3 times in 5 years, balanced the budget 3 times, built infrastructure on time and on budget, and oversaw a massive increase in good-paying jobs," Eckhardt said. She added: "… I managed more than 4,000 employees; there are 3,000 in the Comptroller's office, and I am prepared to let them loose doing the honest work of telling Texans where their money is going."

On the issues

Revenue estimates: Asked how she would keep the comptroller's revenue estimate accurate, Eckhardt said: "It involves analyzing macroeconomics, historical trends, and projecting based on the best available information about commodity pricing, … This process requires steadiness and maturity to ensure that the Legislature's ultimate budget is fiscally sound. This is not an opportunity to inject political grandstanding."

Education savings accounts: On the state's new voucher program, Eckhardt said: "Although I did not vote for this program in my capacity as a state senator, as Comptroller my responsibility is well laid out in the law. I will very carefully and aggressively manage the program to ensure that contractors are complying with their obligations to the state."

Property taxes: Asked about proposals to eliminate school district property taxes, Eckhardt said: "… Funding property tax buydowns relies on temporary budget surpluses. Assuming these boom conditions will last indefinitely is fiscally reckless." She added that "… Texas relies heavily on regressive property and sales taxes, which fall hardest on lower-income residents."

Tax exemptions: "The state abates a tremendous amount of potential revenue through a myriad of sales tax exemptions," Eckhardt said. "As Comptroller I would analyze all of the tax exemptions and submit a report to the Legislature on their effectiveness going forward."

Contrast with opponent: "There is a serious question of judgement with my opponent, who secretly purchased Jeffrey Epstein's infamous Zorro Ranch in New Mexico, …" Eckhardt said. She added: "I've answered to Texas taxpayers for more than twenty years, working my way up from being a family violence prosecutor to serving as the state senator over our state's Capitol."

Huffines's response to that claim does not appear in records reviewed for this profile.

The general election will determine the next Texas comptroller.