The Latest from Lorena on Facebook:
Texans are strong, there is no doubt. We proudly talk about our great state, far and wide. Texans are compassionate, resilient, and stand up for what’s right. During difficult times like these, when we are hard hit by a worldwide pandemic, Texans don’t back down: we immediately stand up and ask “How can we help?”
We are quick to take action, and we lead by example. We love our home sweet home, Texas, the greatest of all 50 states. We will do what it takes to make our state stronger, to lift up our neighbors and improve our neighborhoods.
We have made progress, but there is still important work to do. Texas ranks 40th in the country in terms of child poverty, 42nd in childhood immunization rates, 45th in the ratio of primary care doctors per person. And we rank dead last among states in the percentage of our citizens who have health insurance.
About Lorena
Lorena Perez McGill is a dynamic lawyer, wife and mother with decades of experience bringing people together to help those who need help most. She is a fiscally conservative, moderate Democrat who believes that our democracy serves citizens best when voters have a choice at the polls, and checks and balances in place at the Capitol. Lorena wants to advocate for District 15 residents and make our state a better place for ALL Texans by focusing on real business and infrastructure challenges, improving opportunities in schools, and working with our communities on common-sense reforms.
Professionally, Lorena has considerable deal-making and dispute resolution experience. Before moving her family to The Woodlands, she was in the Department of Legal Services at the Organization of American States (a public inter-governmental organization, and a regional agency of the U.N. in the Western Hemisphere); and previously, at Baker Botts LLP, with their litigation, corporate, and environmental groups in Washington, D.C. She currently has an immigration practice that focuses on representation of victims of crimes and domestic violence, asylum-seekers, and employment and family petitions. She also volunteers various with local nonprofits, offering pro bono representation on immigration matters.
Lorena holds a Master of Laws from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. and a J.D. equivalent from Pontificia Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra in Santiago, Dominican Republic. She teaches at American University Washington College of Law, and has taught at University of Houston Law Center and Georgetown University Law Center. Lorena and her husband Brian moved to The Woodlands almost five years ago with ExxonMobil, and have fallen in love with their new hometown. They have two children who attend public schools. They are active members of Trinity Episcopal Church where they are participants in several community outreach missions.
The Platform:
Public Education:
Additionally, the law compresses the property taxes inequitably, causing some districts to tax at lower rates than others. The law did not address and fix the appraisal of commercial or industrial property. Our state’s future depends on quality public education; now more than ever, we must make sure that all the money for education stays in education and that it is not used to fund pet projects in other districts.
Redistricting:
Gerrymandering has no place in our country’s modern day history. The 2020 census will cause redistricting of political boundaries; therefore, it is imperative that we do not allow our state legislature to redraw arbitrary lines that favor one area over another. These boundaries have been drawn before to allow the powerful to ensure their political power, and to keep it that way. Described a couple of years ago as “discriminatory at its heart” by a U.S. District Court, our current districts don’t fully represent every Texans’ voice. And that is wrong. All Texans have a voice. I vow to protect this Texan value.
Access to Healthcare:
We must take a look at our populations to drive better health outcomes. I know that Texans help Texans and we will do better.
Incorporation:
Gun Sense:
So what do we do? We must enforce the laws that exist. I support common sense ideas like imposing a 24 hour waiting period. I support increased background checks. I support a Texas that allows guns to be used responsibly and keeps them out of the hands of those who cannot handle this responsibility.