Lydia Ortega
Non-Partisan | 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
Lydia Ortega
Party
Non-Partisan
Election Year
2023
Election
School Board
Race
Plano ISD Board of Trustees - Place 4
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
George Mason Univerity, Fairfax, PhD., 1986
Loyola Marymount University, Santa Monica, B.S., 1980
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Hispanic Women's Club - Treasurer / Board Member, Executive Committee for Hispanic Charity Ball Fundraiser, Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley
Co-founder and Board member, MACLA - Arts Foundation, Board Member Finance
Goodwill Silicon Valley, Board Member, Conservative Forum of Silicon Valley
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
None
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Lt Gov - California upon invitation of GOP and Mayor, Plano, 2018 and 2021
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 (3)
Collin County (Texas) Conservative Republicans
Collin County Republican Party
*Texans for Educational Freedom
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Plano Citizen's Coalition
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (7)
Colin Strong (2020)
Eric Bowlin (2022)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2022)
Republican Women's Organizations (2021)
Samuel C. Smith (2020)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Robert Howell (2018)
OTHER INFORMATION
- Election Voting History for Lydia Ortega from the Collin County Elections Department during the time of residence in district and/or at current address:
- 2022 Primary election: Republican
- 2020 Primary election: Republican
- Voted in four General elections 2019 - 2022
**Voter history is not considered during panel evaluations.**
Please note: This information was received by iVoterGuide after panel evaluations occurred and is for additional educational purposes only.
Please note: This information was received by iVoterGuide after panel evaluations occurred and is for additional educational purposes only.
- YouTube video "Lydia Ortega For Mayor of Plano: About the Candidate & Policy Priorities" (2022)
- Local Profile: "Plano Mayor Candidate Lydia Ortega Discusses Candidacy, Economics Background" (2021)
- Plano Moms Podcast: "Get to know the Mayoral Candidates for Plano City Council for the 2021 Election" (2021)
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should be a resource for instruction or services in the school.
Strongly Disagree
Each child is a unique bundle of potential. Parents have the ultimate responsibility and authority over their child. Parents identify individual proclivities, attributes and dreams. They know when the child is so caught up in the moment that they lose track of time -- they are in their groove. Educators also work in the area of identifying strengths and sharing that info with parents. Together they identify higher goals than the child ever imagined. Dream for your Child.
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Strongly Agree
This is a serious statement, which I unequivocally stand by. A deeper discussion would cover the value of LIFE not just for the unborn but for every living person. How we view LIFE reverberates throughout our society.
ECONOMY
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
If you don't have enforceable property rights you have nothing to exchange. Property rights make it possible to pursue and obtain self-directed goals and ambitions. Without property rights, survival depends on "getting along" with "managers" who tell you what to do. Ambition is constrained to becoming one of the "managers." In the extreme, you do not have property rights over your own body.
School districts should be able to use taxpayer money for lobbying the state legislature.
Strongly Disagree
It is unethical. As Chair of the Department of Economics at San Jose State University, I had to make budget decisions over simple things, like replacing antiquated furniture or an old copier, but I made EVERY decision with my family and my students in mind. Our funding came from their TAXES.
What is your position on government funding of public education from Pre-K through college?
Government funding creates beautiful schools that are failing to educate children. One problem with government funding is that schools are not nimble; they cannot adapt to change. Another problem is lack of external measures (other than test scores) of student learning. If you buy a class from a government subsidized college and realize that you didn't learn anything in that class - can you get your tuition back? What if at the end of 4th grade your child cannot read? Is there a refund? Funding for tutorial support? What happens to your child's dreams and ambitions if they cannot read? The damage lasts a lifetime.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
At school, students should be able to speak freely and civilly about matters of conscience and faith, including Christianity.
Strongly Agree
We are educating individuals. These individuals have different attributes, ideas, ambitions, talents and tenacity. Through open conversations they may learn about career paths they would never have otherwise considered.
School districts 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
Publicly provided education should not discriminate. Private schools that accept public funding or have students who use public funding should not discriminate. There should be no litmus test for school admission or employment on the belief that marriage is between one man and one woman.
EDUCATION
What is the function of the local school board?
School Board hires, directs, oversees, and audits the Superintendent (CEO). The School Board has a fiduciary responsibility to parents and taxpayers. They are elected to reflect the values and objectives of the electorate.
Who should have the authority to set curriculum and determine resources used in those curricula?
The Board takes a big picture view of school direction, focus, educational attainment, resources, and facilities. Such decisions indirectly impacts curriculum. The Board can also review curriculum, books, or online sites for material that is offensive, misdirected, or not allowed. The Board should investigate and report back to Parents who have concerns about curriculum. Such a review would be conducted with the involvement of the Superintendent.
When should parents be restricted from speaking in school board meetings?
This is an odd question. I cannot think of any circumstances under which the School Board would not want to hear from the Parents. Remember - the Board is responsible to the Parents and Taxpayers.
Please list in order the following priorities in relation to the role of a K-12 public school (omitting any that do not apply): Mathematics, Information Technology, Science, Political Activism, Personal Finances, Gender Identity, Physical Fitness, American History, Critical Race Theory, Language Arts, Art & Music, Vocational Learning, Sexuality, Foreign Language, Social Emotional Learning
Although standards have been lowered, students are not meeting these lower standards. This is an emergency situation. Students must focus on Reading, Writing and Comprehension, Math (this is a foundational subject -- college courses build on the math learned in prior years). American History. Science. For students doing well in these core courses than add Art and Music or Personal Finances or Vocational Learning. The goal is for students to have the core skills needed to pursue their dreams. The goal is NOT to put enough facts into short-term memory just to pass a test and then forget. THAT is NOT learning.
Which more closely matches your view of America's founding principles? A) Liberty and equality. B) Slavery and racism.
Liberty and Equality. Pilgrims risked everything for religious liberty. They came without slaves.
What does "equity in education" mean to you?
'Equity' sounds like such a noble word but it has nefarious repercussions. Applying equity because of skin color, height, or gender implies that an individual is incapable of succeeding on their merits. On the surface, equity looks like it fixed a problem - "...and made the world right." But many do not realize that equity is a slow acting toxin that strips the equity-recipient of self-worth and agency.
Written parental consent (opt-in) must be obtained before students are taught courses such as Comprehensive Sex Ed (CSE) or Social Emotional Learning (SEL).
Strongly Agree
Parents have the responsibility and authority of the child and should therefore have the right to review a curriculum plan, opt-in, and/or attend the class.
The loss of local control in education is too high a price to pay in exchange for federal dollars.
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
Definitely. One size education DOES NOT fit all.
School boards are accountable to parents and taxpayers.
Strongly Agree
It is not a matter of agreeing or not agreeing. The Board of Trustee is required to be accountable to parents and taxpayers.
Do you believe students should have access to materials that graphically depict and describe sexual acts?
No
The teachers have their hands full bringing the students up to academic standards. The students do not need distractions from their job of acquiring the skills they will need to pursue their goals. Let the teachers do what they are trained to do - teach. Let the parents do what they are readily capable of doing -- raising mature, sexually responsible young adults who value and respect relationship.
All print and digital material available or presented to students should be easily accessible for public review.
Strongly Agree
Why not? Parents deserve transparency and need the information to make informed decisions regarding the social, emotional, thinking progress and welfare of their child.
VALUES
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I share my beliefs and values in person as opportunities present. This questionnaire is too impersonal to present spiritual beliefs. Regarding values, I want each child to be seen as a unique creation with much to offer their family, their community, our world. Their dreams and goals must be respected and encouraged. They should graduate feeling empowered and capable. This is a part of education that is sadly missing.
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 am a power-lifter and have been training for two years to resume competition. A recent decision however, now requires USA Power-lifting to allow transgender athletes to compete. That pretty much ends my competition aspirations. Perhaps we need a third competitive category - Female, Male, and All other Genders.
No school official should be involved in the sexual transitioning of a student, including the use of alternative names and pronouns.
Strongly Agree
Clearly if a school official has time to be involved in sexual transitioning, pronouns etc. they are not doing the job of educating students. Furthermore It is an abuse of their position of authority over a minor.
No healthcare diagnosis or treatment, whether mental, reproductive, or otherwise, should be given to a child without first receiving written consent from the parent.
Choose not to answer
The question assumes that schools are responsible for healthcare. They are not in the healthcare business.
Who is responsible for teaching sexual education to children, and what is the appropriate age when it should be taught?
Parents are responsible and should provide the info as they assess their child's readiness. This allows for a better fit of the information to the child's developmental readiness. There are plenty of resources to help parents provide this information as needed, including on topics such as fetal development, contraception etc.
If you support the teaching of Sex Ed, please answer the following question: Sexual education should include these topics (list all that apply and add your own, if needed) -- Physical and emotional health outcomes; contraceptive methods; consent; abstinence; sexual orientation and gender identity; human anatomy/the reproductive system; abortion methods and side effects; stages of pregnancy and fetal development; sex acts and pleasures of sex
There is a difference between Human Biology and Sexual Education. It is pointless to list topics that should be included and those that should be excluded because there is little oversight over what actually transpires in the classroom. One question from a student can derail the teaching plan and open the door to discussion of issues that were to be excluded.
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality that is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
When the people are peasants working for a King, then only the King's morality is all that matters (e.g. King Henry VIII). When the King is constrained by limited government, then people must agree upon and hold themselves accountable to a predictable moral standard of behavior.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
Why is this question relevant? Who doesn't have photo identification? What are the obstacles to obtaining photo id?
ABOUT YOU
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
A candidate's personal moral values are relevant when considering a candidacy for elective office.
Strongly Agree
If a candidate cheats in business transactions, what would stop the candidate from cheating constituents once elected?
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?
Choose not to answer
The labels have become muddied so I provide my own classification. I am trained in Classical Liberal Economics. I adhere to the primacy of (1) the rule of law, (2) property rights and (3) individual choice. These three factors tame humanity's brutish, self-centered, inner Hulk by facilitating voluntary trade. Our human nature changes when we realize that cooperation is mutually beneficial.
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
Hasn't been updated in a while but you can look at https://www.linkedin.com/in/lydiaortega2021/
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
I am retired. I should be enjoying social activities, studying apologetics, being more involved in my church etc. But I can't. I know I will not enjoy retirement if I don't help these students. We all have to help otherwise we are facing a dystopian future. I never thought I would say this, but right now the PISD Board needs an Economist to navigate challenges like declining birthrates and increasing charter and home schools. I have the skill set - Board of Director experience, Education experience to know the learning obstacles, and an economist's love of competition - to drive innovation. I am excited to see public schools adapting, growing stronger and opening new doors, new opportunities for students.
2ND AMENDMENT
Teachers who are licensed to carry should be allowed to carry guns at school.
Strongly Agree
We have to provide safety to those in our care. Teachers may have to regularly train and qualify for a Teachers Carry License.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Under what circumstances (if any) should schools be allowed to require vaccinations?
I would like to see a moratorium on all but a few of the most "old school" vaccinations. With new vaccines, pharmaceutical companies can tap a financial windfall if their vaccine becomes required for school admission. There is a clear disconnect between the amount of risk of disease compared to the amount of risk of serious harm from a vaccine that the Parent is willing to accept compared to what a Pharmaceutical company is willing to accept. We need more research on possible connections between vaccinations and growing problems such as attention deficit disorder, etc.
I support mask mandates.
Strongly Disagree
Recent studies show zero benefit from masks but identifies positive harm related to masking particularly for children.
All official open meetings should be live streamed, recorded, and have transcripts available online for public access.
Strongly Agree
Parents should have a convenient way of staying abreast of school issues to be able to make informed, responsible decisions for their child's development,
All votes should be roll call votes and recorded in meeting minutes.
Agree
Excluding personnel issues, All Votes should be roll call votes and recorded in minutes.
