Where they stand on data centers
On concerns about hyperscale data centers
Strain on infrastructure and higher utility bills: These massive facilities use enormous amounts of electricity and water for cooling. Citizens fear this could drive up power rates for everyday families and farms, overload our grid, and require costly upgrades that ratepayers end up subsidizing. Water usage: In a state where water is precious for agriculture and communities, hyperscale centers can consume hundreds of thousands to millions of gallons daily. There's legitimate concern about competing with farms, ranches, and local needs, especially during dry periods. Loss of productive farmland and community character: District 23 is built on agriculture. People don't want family land converted into industrial sites, which could raise land prices, discourage young farmers, and change the rural identity we value. Lack of transparency and local control: Too often, deals happen behind closed doors with nondisclosure agreements, leaving residents and local governments out of the loop on real impacts. Noise, traffic, and long-term costs vs. benefits: Limited local jobs after construction, potential environmental impacts, and questions about whether promised economic gains actually stay in our small towns.
How they’d address those concerns
Build on Senate Bill 135 (2026) — the “Data Center Bill of Rights for Citizens” — which protects residents from higher utility costs/utility shortages and clarifies local governments’ authority to regulate or prohibit data centers. I will look for ways to fully enforce and strengthen it: require 100% infrastructure cost coverage by developers (no subsidies or burdens on families/farms), preserve local control for District 23 counties, and defend property rights with no eminent domain for private gain.
Other candidates in this race
State House · District 23
