Recent Texas Tech graduate and Littlefield native, Brittney Smith, is running as an independent candidate for the District 83 seat in the Texas House of Representatives.
She said despite the fact that independent candidates are few and far in between in Texas, she is ready for the challenge and hopes her campaign will influence more young adults to advocate for the things that are important to them.
“I think that more can be accomplished if we meet in the middle, but today you just don’t see people meeting in the middle,” said Smith. “I’m kind of seen as ‘undecided,’ ”too young’ and ‘not having enough experience’ and things like that, and I’m just ready to walk through the fire.”
Smith graduated from Texas Tech in August. On December 11, the 24-year-old filed to run for the position. Inspired by her younger brother’s strength, who has epilepsy and cerebral palsy, Smith originally attended Tech as a bio pre-med major, but said the current political climate influenced her to create change.
“There’s just a lot of hate and hostility and I feel like nothing can get done because of the party loyalties, and that’s why I’m running as an independent,” said Smith.
Smith is running up against Democratic challenger, Drew Landry, and Republican incumbent Dustin Burrows, who has held the position since 2014.
“I’m not running against Dustin because I feel he’s inadequate or not doing a good enough job. I think he’s been great and awesome, and I think he’s done a great job for our district, but I feel like it’s time for change and when I say that, with me being non-partisan, I think that’s what we need more of right now.”
Currently, Smith works as the rural family advocate at the Children’s Advocacy Center. Smith said that working with families and the criminal justice system has always been something that has hit home for her, especially after having grown up with a mother who was incarcerated.
“I had to grow up really fast,” said Smith. Her stepfather, an area rancher and pastor, helped raise her and little brother, instilling a strong sense of faith, family, and farming.
Smith said because of her background, there are a lot of issues unique to the region that she intends to incorporate into her platform.
“Growing up in a rural area, I really feel like we’re overlooked as not having as many issues as urban areas, but we do have those same issues, but we also have issues unique to us. Our water supply is a huge deal and our property taxes,” said Smith. “Education is another thing that I really want to focus on, and of course immigration, being in Texas that’s something that is a very sensitive subject. I stand firmly in a non-partisan way in saying that we need to reform immigration in the best interest of the people, the state, and the country.”
Because Smith is running as independent, there are couple of more steps she has to take in order to get on the ballot. After the primary elections are over, she has to have collected at least 500 signatures from registered voters who did not vote in the primaries. If she is able to get those signatures, she can turn in her petition in June, and be on the November ballot.
The last day to register to vote in the primaries is Monday, February 5. To learn more about voter registration, visit votelubbock.org by clicking here.
