My name is Gabriel Ortiz. I moved to Cibolo in 2006 and graduated from Byron P. Steele High School in 2011. After high school, I served six years in the Texas Army National Guard and earned my commission as a Second Lieutenant through the New Mexico Military Institute, later continuing my education at Texas A&M University. In 2021, I opened and operate a Daiquiris To-Go business in Live Oak, giving me firsthand experience with the challenges small business owners face. I’m running to bring practical, accountable leadership focused on infrastructure, workforce development, energy reliability, and public education.
Q&A Responses
1. Workforce development and local employers
Q: How will you support job training, career and technical education, and partnerships with local schools so employers in House District 44 have access to a skilled and reliable workforce?
A: I’ll advocate at the state level for what each community in District 44 actually needs to get programs off the ground, especially in our public schools. Historically, young people learned trades early through apprenticeships, and that approach built skilled workers long before college was the default path. There’s no reason we can’t take lessons from that today.
School choice should be about giving parents real options, whether that’s a college-focused path, a trade focused path, or a mix of both. Public schools should be able to offer strong academics while also introducing students early to skilled trades, certifications, and hands-on learning that lead directly to good careers.
That doesn’t take college off the table. It gives students more than one path forward. High school should not just be a pipe that leads directly to college. By aligning state funding and policy with local workforce needs, we can prepare students for college, trades, or both, and make sure our education system works for the real world Texans are stepping into.
2. Transportation and infrastructure capacity
Q: How will you advocate for state funding and policy that improves roads, bridges, broadband, and infrastructure so businesses in House District 44 can operate and expand efficiently?
A: I will advocate for state funding by pushing TxDOT and the Legislature to prioritize maintenance and local road improvements, not just major highway expansions. Most businesses rely on city and county roads every day, and those roads need a larger and more reliable share of state funding. I will support updating state funding formulas so local road usage, safety, and drainage needs carry more weight. I will also push for policies that require road maintenance during major construction projects, not years after the damage is done.
For bridges, I will support regular inspections and early repairs to prevent costly failures and disruptions. Preventive maintenance is cheaper and safer than emergency fixes. On broadband, I will push for better coordination between the state, local governments, and utility providers so infrastructure projects are not delayed by utility relocation or permitting issues. Businesses need reliable connectivity, and state policy should help remove obstacles instead of creating them.
Reliable roads, bridges, and broadband are essential for business growth, public safety, and economic stability. I will stay engaged with agencies and providers to make sure projects move forward and deliver results.
3. Regulatory clarity and economic growth
Q: How will you work to provide clear, predictable state regulations and targeted support so small businesses, agriculture, manufacturing, and other key sectors in House District 44 can plan, invest, and grow?
A: I will work to make state regulations predictable by pushing for fewer surprises and more accountability. Businesses need to know the rules ahead of time so they can plan, invest, and grow without worrying that the state will suddenly change the landscape. A good example of what not to do is Senate Bill 3. That bill created massive uncertainty by effectively wiping out a legally operating hemp industry overnight. Businesses that followed the law, invested money, hired workers, and played by the rules were put at risk with little warning.
That kind of instability makes it impossible for any industry to plan long term. I will push for policies that require agencies and lawmakers to clearly justify new regulations, explain their economic impact, and involve affected industries before changes are made. I will also support regular reviews of existing regulations, so outdated or unnecessary rules are fixed instead of stacking new ones on top.
For targeted support, I will focus on reducing delays tied to permitting, utilities, workforce access, and infrastructure. When businesses want to expand, the state should help coordinate solutions instead of creating new obstacles. If regulations or agency decisions are hurting businesses in District 44, I will press those agencies directly and keep pressing until there is a clear answer or a fix. My goal is simple: stable rules, clear expectations, and a state government that doesn’t pull the rug out from under the people it regulates.