The Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch asked our two candidates for State Representative District 45, Carrie Isaac and Erin Zwiener. Carrie Isaac did not respond to the questionnaire.
Erin Zwiener
State Rep. #45
Q: How would you rate the state’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis?
A: The state’s handling of COVID-19 has been chaotic, inconsistent, and has led to unnecessary deaths and strain on our communities. Leadership has failed to offer clear guidelines and recommendations to the people of Texas, businesses, and institutions. The delay in a statewide mask order and blocking of local mask orders is a good example. By late April, public health experts were recommending universal mask-wearing to slow the spread of COVID-19, but the governor both refused to require mask-wearing and blocked local officials from requiring masks. After a dramatic spike in COVID-19 cases in June (including locally), the governor required masks statewide at the beginning of July, over two months after the public health guidance was clear. The state has consistently only prepared for the best-case scenario, and thus was ill-prepared to manage the summer spike in cases, leading to more Texans suffering. Meanwhile, we still don’t have reliable contact tracing.
