Lani Popp
Republican | Texas
Candidate Profile*
Conservative
*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Lani Popp
Party
Republican
Election Year
2020
Election
General
Race
State Bd. of Educ., Dist. 5
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Baylor University, Waco, Texas, BS Ed, 1979
Baylor University, Waco, Texas, MS, 1980
WORK & MILITARY
HISD, Speech-Language Pathologist, 4
United Cerebral Palsy Utica, New York, Speech-Language Pathologist, 3
Castle Hills First Baptist School, Speech-Language Pathologist/Music educator, 11
NISD, Speech-Language Pathologist, 13
AFFILIATIONS
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, member, Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association
member, Hill Country Conservative Network, Founder, member
San Antonio Republican women, member, Oak Hills Church Singers
Choir member, Special Reach, volunteer
Project Red, contributor
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Precinct Chair, 7
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
Previous Races
ENDORSEMENTS*
*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
CONSERVATIVE (18)
Barbara Cargill
Central Texas Republican Assembly
Chip Roy
Concerned Parents of Texas
Donna Campbell
OTHER (3)
Greg Abbott
Matt Robinson
Texas Alliance for Life PAC (TAL)
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (6)
Governor Greg Abbott
Governor Rick Perry
Congressman Chip Roy
Wayne Christian
All Republican members of the State Board of Ed
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (7)
Chip Roy (2020)
Donald Trump (2016)
Greg Abbott (2018)
Ken Mercer (2016)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2020)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (2)
Republican Women's Organizations (2020)
Texas Tea Party groups (2020)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
Association of Texas Professional Educators (2019)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Strongly Agree
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
In cases such as my sister who was three months pregnant, and her placenta was separating. She was hemorrhaging and bleeding to death. The doctors told her she was going to die. She had two living children and she chose to live, but she mourned the death of her child.
ECONOMY
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.
Disagree
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Governments should not discriminate against individuals, organizations or small businesses because of their belief that marriage is only a union of one man and one woman.
Strongly Agree
Governments should define marriage as between one man and one woman; no other definition of marriage should be legalized or supported with taxpayer or public funds.
Agree
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Strongly Agree
The Ten Commandments should not be displayed in public school buildings or court houses.
Strongly Disagree
I promise to protect the freedom of Christians to share the Gospel and to practice Biblical principles.
Yes
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
The State does not have the right to restrict the religious practices or penalize the religious beliefs of a person. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Strongly Agree
EDUCATION
The federal government should mandate standards and requirements (such as Common Core) for local schools.
Strongly Disagree
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
No Answer
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
I support adding sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression as protected classes in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Disagree
Promotion of the LGBT agenda in public schools, including teaching of “sexual orientation” and “gender identity”, is completely inappropriate and should be opposed at the state and local level.
Strongly Agree
I support allowing public high school students to participate in athletic competition based on the gender with which they identify instead of biological sex.
Strongly Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a Christian. Jesus is my Savior and Lord. I base my values on my belief system. I try to live by the Golden Rule, to treat others as I would have them treat me. I believe we should be selfless and servant-leaders.
ABOUT YOU
I voted in these primaries and general elections:
2012 Republican Primary, 2012 General Election, 2014 Republican Primary, 2014 General Election, 2016 Republican Primary, 2016 General Election, 2018 Republican Primary, 2018 General Election
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and immigration, which of the following best describes you overall?
Very Conservative
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
I believe conservative means limiting government control of one's life. The government should respect the rights and liberties of their citizens.
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
I hold a BS in Education and an MS in Speech Pathology and Audiology from Baylor University. I have been an educator for over 27 years. I have worked with students who are preschool through high school. I have been a cheerleading coach, Show Choir director and classical guitar sponsor. I speak statewide and nationally on autism and social communication. I understand IDEA law. I have been in a school lockdown with an active shooter outside my school. These real-life experiences give me a perspective that will help me as a State Board of Education member.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
no
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
II did not answer question 15, because I feel a teacher should have to complete a School Marshall training before carrying a gun on campus and a basic concealed carry license is not sufficient. If the teacher is sufficiently trained and the district allows this, then there could be armed educators on campus. I also did not answer question 11 because public school was left off as a choice for parents. For many parents, public school is their choice. Many people choose to move to communities based on the rating of their public-school system. I also believe parents should be able to choose other educational choices and the government should not mandate only public school. I am a passionate educator, I want the best for all Texas students, I respect parental rights and it is my experience that Texas teachers are hardworking and sacrificial people. When education is done well, it is a beautiful thing!
2ND AMENDMENT
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
No Answer
