Will Hickman
Republican | Texas
Candidate Profile*
Leans Conservative
*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Will Hickman
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
General
Race
State Bd. of Educ., Dist. 6
Incumbent
Yes
Links
EDUCATION
University of Houston, Houston, BA, 2018
UH Law Center, Houston, JD, LLM, 2001
Texas A&M, College Station, BS, BS, 1997
WORK & MILITARY
Shell Oil Company, Senior Legal Counsel, 2004-2020
Haynes & Boone, Associate, 2002-2004
AFFILIATIONS
Tallowood Baptist Church, Deacon & 7th grade sunday school teacher, Houston Rodeo
International Committee Captain, Harris County Republican Party, General Counsel
SBMSA, Basketball Coach, Rummel Creek Elementary PTA
Legislative Liason, Memorial Middle PTA, Legislative Liason
Congressional District 7, 2016 Electoral College, Senate District 17
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Bellaire City Councilman, 2005-2011
Texas State Board of Education, 2021-Present
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
ENDORSEMENTS*
*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
CONSERVATIVE (13)
*TeaParty911.com
Greg Abbott
Conservative Coalition of Harris County TX
Barbara Cargill
Donna Bahorich
OTHER (5)
C Club of Houston
Texas Alliance for Life PAC (TAL)
Matt Robinson
HRBC, Houston's Premier Business Coalition
Kevin Ellis
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (10)
Honorable Keven Ellis – Chair, State Board of Education
Honorable Donna Bahorich – Former Chair, State Board of Education
Honorable Barbara Cargill – Former Chair, State Board of Education
Honorable Matt Fuller – Montgomery ISD Board President
Honorable Pastor Scott Moore – Conroe ISD, First VP
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (5)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2022)
Mitt Romney (2013)
Republican Women's Organizations (2022)
Rick Perry (2006)
Ted Cruz (2016)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (5)
Donna Bahorich (2021)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2020)
Mayes Middleton (2020)
Republican Women's Organizations (2020)
Texas Public Charter Schools Association (2022)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Association of Texas Professional Educators (2022)
OTHER INFORMATION*
*Additional information was received after the evaluation was assigned and was not considered in the Panel Evaluations, therefore it is for additional educational purposes only.
Hickman opposed "far-left climate rhetoric in Texas science curriculum and advocated against a series of radical gender ideology textbooks."
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not be a resource for instruction or services in the school.
Strongly Agree
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not be a resource for instruction or services in the school.
Strongly Agree
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Rape or incest, unviable pregnancy
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Rape or incest, unviable pregnancy
ECONOMY
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.
Strongly Disagree
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.
Strongly Disagree
What is your position on government funding of public education from Pre-K through college?
I agree with funding for Pre-K to 12th grade
What is your position on government funding of public education from Pre-K through college?
I agree with funding for Pre-K to 12th grade
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
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.
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.
Strongly Agree
The Ten Commandments should not be displayed in public school buildings or court houses.
Strongly Disagree
The Ten Commandments should not be displayed in public school buildings or court houses.
Strongly Disagree
At school, students should be able to speak freely and civilly about matters of conscience and faith, including Christianity.
Strongly Agree
At school, students should be able to speak freely and civilly about matters of conscience and faith, including Christianity.
Strongly Agree
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Strongly Agree
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Strongly Agree
EDUCATION
Every state should mandate K-12 standardized tests and the use of teaching software which aligns with Common Core standards.
Strongly Disagree
I am in favor of accountabililty and assessments. I am strongly opposed to common core.
Every state should mandate K-12 standardized tests and the use of teaching software which aligns with Common Core standards.
Strongly Disagree
I am in favor of accountabililty and assessments. I am strongly opposed to common core.
Parents are the ultimate authority in their child’s education and should be able to freely pursue whatever educational options they deem best for their child.
Strongly Agree
Parents are the ultimate authority in their child’s education and should be able to freely pursue whatever educational options they deem best for their child.
Strongly Agree
Before students are taught courses such as Comprehensive Sex Ed (CSE) or Social Emotional Learning (SEL), they must opt-in with written parental permission.
Strongly Agree
Before students are taught courses such as Comprehensive Sex Ed (CSE) or Social Emotional Learning (SEL), they must opt-in with written parental permission.
Strongly Agree
I support the teaching of curricula (such as the 1619 Project, No Place for Hate, Second Step, etc.) that emphasizes slavery and racism as the foundation of American history.
Strongly Disagree
I support the teaching of curricula (such as the 1619 Project, No Place for Hate, Second Step, etc.) that emphasizes slavery and racism as the foundation of American history.
Strongly Disagree
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality that is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality that is necessary for our system of limited government.
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
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.
Southern Baptist Deacon
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
Southern Baptist Deacon
No healthcare diagnosis or treatment, whether mental, reproductive, or otherwise, should be given to a child without first receiving written consent from the parent.
Strongly Agree
No healthcare diagnosis or treatment, whether mental, reproductive, or otherwise, should be given to a child without first receiving written consent from the parent.
Strongly Agree
ABOUT YOU
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Very Conservative
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Very Conservative
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
Search google for my record and my opponents'
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
Search google for my record and my opponents'
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No
What books have had the most profound impact on your view of life?
Bible
What books have had the most profound impact on your view of life?
Bible
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
My passion is for a "Flight Plan" for every student. Unfortunately, Texas currently has an “F”, with only 54% of our graduating students being prepared for career, college, or military, while 46% are not. As a parent, I am troubled about what the future holds for the 46%, and as a taxpayer, I wonder whether this $28 billion is being spent in the best way. It is time for a change! I believe in the American Dream and that education can be used to achieve our dreams. Since each student has a different dream, high school should be personalized and customized so each student can achieve their own dreams. Each student will have their own “Flight Plan” for their future. Will Hickman is chairing the ad-hoc Flight Plan Committee with SBOE colleagues from North, East, and West Texas. This committee is looking around the state for how different ISD’s implement the requirements of TEC 28.016, for college and career exploration in middle school, and deciding what the best options are for the existing SBOE career and college classes. The goal for this committee is to develop a new class that will include a process for students to learn about many different career options, to be tested to identify their interests and aptitudes, and then to work with their counselors to build a personalized, customized individual high school plan that positions each student to achieve his or her dreams. Many ISD’s are already doing parts of this, and best practices across the state can be utilized and incorporated into a state-wide SBOE option. This is just one example of how we can improve our educational system. For more thoughts, please visit my website at willhickmancampaign.com.
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
My passion is for a "Flight Plan" for every student. Unfortunately, Texas currently has an “F”, with only 54% of our graduating students being prepared for career, college, or military, while 46% are not. As a parent, I am troubled about what the future holds for the 46%, and as a taxpayer, I wonder whether this $28 billion is being spent in the best way. It is time for a change! I believe in the American Dream and that education can be used to achieve our dreams. Since each student has a different dream, high school should be personalized and customized so each student can achieve their own dreams. Each student will have their own “Flight Plan” for their future. Will Hickman is chairing the ad-hoc Flight Plan Committee with SBOE colleagues from North, East, and West Texas. This committee is looking around the state for how different ISD’s implement the requirements of TEC 28.016, for college and career exploration in middle school, and deciding what the best options are for the existing SBOE career and college classes. The goal for this committee is to develop a new class that will include a process for students to learn about many different career options, to be tested to identify their interests and aptitudes, and then to work with their counselors to build a personalized, customized individual high school plan that positions each student to achieve his or her dreams. Many ISD’s are already doing parts of this, and best practices across the state can be utilized and incorporated into a state-wide SBOE option. This is just one example of how we can improve our educational system. For more thoughts, please visit my website at willhickmancampaign.com.
2ND AMENDMENT
Teachers who are licensed to carry should be allowed to carry guns at school.
Strongly Agree
Teachers who are licensed to carry should be allowed to carry guns at school.
Strongly Agree
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Do you support mandatory vaccinations for children attending public school?
no
Do you support mandatory vaccinations for children attending public school?
no
I support mask mandates.
Strongly Disagree
I am against mask and vaccine mandates, and school closures. The decision whether to wear a mask or get a vaccine should be made by each family.
I support mask mandates.
Strongly Disagree
I am against mask and vaccine mandates, and school closures. The decision whether to wear a mask or get a vaccine should be made by each family.
