Don't Vote Until You See What These Candidates Actually Did

Don't Vote Until You See What These Candidates Actually Did

By Chandler Crouch

 

Sources

 

 

When I got into the office, I had a ton of messages from people asking me the same question:

“Chandler, who should I vote for?”

Most of the questions were about the 2026 Tarrant Appraisal District Board of Directors election, but I've also had people asking about the Tarrant County Judge race, Texas House races, the Keller ISD school board election, and several others.

I've personally worked with quite a few of these candidates over the years.

So, I want to tell you what I've seen, what these people have actually done, and why I appreciate some of the decisions they've made.

But first, there's something I need to make very clear.

I'm Not Interested in Playing Political Games

I have absolutely no interest in becoming a politician.

Politics disgusts me.

But here's the problem. We can't afford to ignore politics because the people we elect make decisions that affect our property taxes, our schools, our homes, and our communities.

We have to stay involved. We have to hold people accountable.

What I'm NOT going to do is play the political game where I pretend to love everything about a candidate just because they're a Republican or a Democrat.

I don't care what team you're on.

If you're in office, you're in a position to make decisions that affect people I care about. And if you're willing to work with me to help those people, I'm going to work with you.

Does that mean I'll vote for you?

Not necessarily.

Does that mean I'm endorsing your entire political platform?

Absolutely not.

But when somebody does something good, I believe they deserve credit for it.

The way I was raised, when somebody opens the door for you, you say thank you.

And that's really what this article is about.

There are two issues I've spent a tremendous amount of time fighting for publicly:

1. Property tax reform and accountability at the Tarrant Appraisal District.
2. The proposed Keller ISD split and the impact it could have on taxpayers, students, and our community.

I'm going to focus on what these candidates have actually done on those issues.

Not campaign promises. Not fancy endorsements.

Actual actions.

The 2026 Tarrant Appraisal District Board Election: There's a Big Problem Voters Need to Understand

Let's start with the race I've received the most questions about.

On November 3, 2026, Tarrant County voters will elect three members of the Tarrant Appraisal District (TAD) Board of Directors.

These are nonpartisan elections, which means candidates don't appear on the ballot as Republicans or Democrats.

And normally, if you're somebody who votes along party lines, you might try to figure out who's on Team Red and who's on Team Blue.

Unfortunately, that doesn't solve the problem here.

There's one extremely important policy issue that's divided people who would ordinarily be on the same political side.

How often should the appraisal district reappraise your property?

Why Less Frequent Property Appraisals Can Actually Hurt Taxpayers

On the surface, reappraising homes less frequently sounds like a great idea.

Who wouldn't want the government messing with their property value less often?

But there's something a lot of people are missing.

Imagine the appraisal district values your house at $400,000.

Then the real estate market drops, and your house is actually worth $350,000.

If the appraisal district doesn't update your value, you could be stuck with an appraisal that is higher than what your house is actually worth.

You're potentially paying taxes based on an outdated value.

That's not fair.

Of course, your actual tax bill also depends on exemptions, tax rates, and other factors. But the basic issue is that freezing appraisal values doesn't necessarily mean you're getting a fair valuation.

I believe annual reappraisals are the better policy because property values need to reflect current market conditions, whether they're going up OR down.

I've explained this issue in much greater detail in my previous article, Texas Property Tax Exposed: Why the Current System Violates the State Constitution.

Here's why this matters for the election.

The local Republican Party has supported less frequent reappraisals, but some candidates who would typically identify with the Republican side actually support annual reappraisals.

Other candidates who would typically be on the Democratic side also support annual reappraisals.

So now you have a dilemma.

Do you vote for somebody because they're on your political team, even if you disagree with them on one of the most consequential issues the board will face?

Or do you consider somebody from the other side who agrees with you on that specific issue?

That's a decision each voter needs to make.

Where the Tarrant Appraisal District Candidates Stand

I wish I could tell you I've interviewed every single candidate and researched every position in detail.

I haven't.

This year has been extraordinary for me personally. My wife and I welcomed our baby boy, Oliver, who arrived prematurely. I also had a pretty significant leg injury, and we've just wrapped up an enormous property tax protest season.

Thankfully, everybody is doing great, but I simply haven't had the time to do everything I wanted to do.

I intend to work with whoever wins these elections, and I don't want to pretend I know more about every candidate than I actually do.

Here's what I can share based on my conversations and understanding of their positions.

TAD Board of Directors — Place 1

Rebecca Hardy: I've spoken with Rebecca, and I really like her. We disagree about less frequent reappraisals, which is a consequential issue to me. But she strikes me as somebody who's willing to listen, learn, and potentially reconsider her position when presented with new information. I genuinely appreciate that quality.

Byron Haynes and Phyllis Grissom: Both support annual reappraisals, which aligns with what I believe is the more fiscally responsible and fair approach for taxpayers.

Sayeda Bilqees Syed: Sayeda also supports annual reappraisals. She's somebody who would typically identify more with the Republican side, but she hasn't received the same party support as some other candidates. I think that's worth noting.

TAD Board of Directors — Place 2

Ambika Sharma: Ambika supports annual reappraisals and would typically be associated more with the Democratic side.

Paul Stockard: Paul is somebody who would typically be associated with the Republican side, but he also supports annual reappraisals.

Cary Cheshire: I've attempted to reach Cary by phone and text but haven't been able to connect. It's entirely possible I have outdated contact information. I've spoken with him in the past, but I don't have enough recent information to offer a meaningful assessment.

Marshall Hobbs: I've interacted with Marshall a little online. He seems like a nice guy, but I don't know enough about him to give you a detailed opinion.

TAD Board of Directors — Place 3

John Adams: I've spoken with John. He strikes me as a smart guy, and I appreciated our conversation.

Matt Bryant: Matt is the only incumbent running for one of these three elected positions.

I really like Matt, even though we strongly disagree about the reappraisal policy.

And here's what I appreciate about him.

He's willing to sit down with me, go toe-to-toe, and argue about these issues.

We might completely disagree.

But afterward, we can shake hands and hopefully find other things we can work together on to help taxpayers.

I value that.

At the same time, because Matt has already served on the board, I hold him to a different level of accountability for the policy decisions he's supported.

That's the dilemma with this election.

I'm not handing you a list of people to vote for. I'm giving you some information about the issues and my personal experiences so you can make your own decision.

And I encourage you to research these candidates for yourself.

Armin Mizani: The First Domino in Tarrant Appraisal District Reform

Now I want to talk about some of the candidates running in other elections, starting with Armin Mizani, who's running for Texas House District 98.

Armin did something for taxpayers that I will never forget.

Before a lot of other politicians were even paying attention to the problems at the Tarrant Appraisal District, Armin picked up the phone and called me.

Out of the blue.

He told me he'd been watching what I was doing to help taxpayers and said that if there was ever anything he could do to help, I should call him.

No big campaign pitch. No request for anything in return.

Just an offer to help.

Later, as serious controversy developed at the appraisal district, I became concerned about allegations of wrongdoing that weren't being properly addressed by the board.

I remembered Armin's offer.

So I called him.

He listened, asked questions, researched the situation, and helped lead the effort through the City of Keller to recall the appraisal district's board chair.

That action was HUGE.

In my opinion, it was the first domino that made many of the reforms that followed possible.

Without that initial action, I don't believe the county commissioners and other officials would have been in the same position to move forward.

Armin didn't just tell me he supported taxpayers.

He took action.

And for that, I want to publicly thank him.

Tim O'Hare and Alisa Simmons: Two Opposing Candidates Who Both Helped Taxpayers

The Tarrant County Judge race is a pretty heated one.

Incumbent Judge Tim O'Hare is running against County Commissioner Alisa Simmons.

There are plenty of people who have strong opinions about both candidates.

I'm not going to get into all the negative campaign material.

Instead, I want to tell you something positive about BOTH of them.

Judge Tim O'Hare Helped Move the Appraisal District Recall Forward

After the City of Keller took action regarding the Tarrant Appraisal District board chair, Judge Tim O'Hare took the time to sit down with me.

He heard my concerns, did his own research, and took a leadership role in the county's recall process.

There were legal questions surrounding that process, and Judge O'Hare helped move those issues forward for review by the district attorney.

Ultimately, the recall process moved ahead.

I believe his involvement was instrumental in making that happen.

And beyond that specific issue, he's consistently been willing to pick up the phone and discuss issues with me, whether we agree or disagree.

That means a lot to me.

Thank you, Judge O'Hare.

Alisa Simmons Has Consistently Supported Property Tax Education

Now let's talk about Alisa Simmons.

Before she was even elected to the Tarrant County Commissioners Court, Alisa reached out to me.

She told me she wanted to learn more about property taxes and the work I was doing to help taxpayers.

At the time, I didn't really know her.

We had a great first meeting, and we've had many productive conversations since.

But what I especially appreciate is something she's done repeatedly over the years.

She's organized community events and invited me to teach residents how to protest their property taxes on their own.

She's done this almost every year.

That's a very practical way to help people.

Instead of just talking about property tax relief, she's helped create opportunities for citizens to learn how to advocate for themselves.

I genuinely cherish that support.

Thank you, Alisa.

Now, these two candidates are running against each other.

And I've just told you positive things about BOTH of them.

That's intentional.

I'm not going to pretend that because I appreciate somebody's actions, I automatically agree with their entire political platform.

Both have supported work I've done to help taxpayers, and both deserve recognition for that.

Manny Ramirez: Willing to Listen and Take Action

Manny Ramirez is currently serving on the Tarrant County Commissioners Court and is running for reelection.

Manny has been supportive of my efforts over the years, and I'm grateful for that.

Every time I've requested a meeting, he's been willing to sit down, listen to my concerns, review the information, and engage in a conversation.

When I brought issues involving the appraisal district to him, he was willing to consider the facts and support measures I was advocating for.

He was also one of the commissioners who voted to support recalling the appraisal district board chair.

That mattered.

I appreciate elected officials who will make time to listen to ordinary citizens and take their concerns seriously.

Thank you, Manny.

Geramie Parrish: A Fighter for Taxpayers and Keller ISD Families

Here's a candidate you might not know much about.

Geramie Parrish is running for Keller ISD Board of Trustees, Place 4.

But I've known Geramie for a long time.

In fact, he's been one of my strongest supporters in the work I've done at the Tarrant Appraisal District.

When things were going badly at the appraisal district, Geramie repeatedly showed up at public meetings.

He stood in front of the board, spoke his mind, and demanded accountability.

He wasn't afraid to confront problems.

But what impressed me most was that he didn't just complain.

He was willing to do something about it.

At one point, we were concerned about security issues involving the appraisal district and the services being provided through the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office.

Geramie helped arrange a meeting with leadership at the sheriff's department.

We went together.

I watched him respectfully but firmly explain what was working, what wasn't working, and what needed to improve.

He wasn't rude. He wasn't playing games.

He was standing up for citizens and trying to get a problem solved.

And the sheriff's department, to its credit, was willing to listen.

Geramie Also Pushed Me to Get Involved in the Keller ISD Split

When the proposed Keller ISD split became a major issue in our community, Geramie was actually one of the people who encouraged me to get involved.

We both opposed the proposed split.

I believed there were serious problems involving fiscal responsibility, transparency, and whether the people affected by the decision had been given a meaningful voice.

Geramie wasn't willing to sit around and wait to see which position would become popular.

He got involved.

We worked shoulder to shoulder, supported community members who were speaking out, and even shared some pizza with the folks who showed up to make their voices heard.

It was a small moment, but it reminded me why community involvement matters.

I appreciate people who are willing to stand up for their neighbors when it would be easier to stay home.

Geramie has done that repeatedly.

Thank you, Geramie.

David Lowe, Alisa Simmons, and Alan Blaylock Spoke Up Against the Keller ISD Split

I also want to acknowledge three candidates for taking a public position on the proposed Keller ISD split.

David Lowe, Alisa Simmons, and Alan Blaylock.

None of them were in a position where they could simply cast a vote to stop the proposed split.

But they were willing to use their voices.

David Lowe was the first of these three to publicly stand up against the proposal.

He didn't wait around to see whether opposing it would be politically popular.

He believed the proposal raised serious concerns about fiscal responsibility, transparency, government accountability, and the consent of the governed.

So he spoke up.

Alisa Simmons and Alan Blaylock also made their opposition known.

I appreciate that.

We need leaders who are willing to stand on their principles, even when those principles might put them at odds with political allies.

If you want to read more about the investigation I conducted into the proposed Keller ISD split, you can find it here:

The Keller ISD Split: A Deep Dive into the Truth, the Questions, and the Consequences.

David Lowe: Working With Me on Texas Property Tax Reform

David Lowe is the incumbent running for Texas House District 91.

I've already mentioned his willingness to speak up about the Keller ISD split, but there's another reason I want to thank him.

We're currently working together on property tax reform policy.

This is an extraordinary privilege for me.

For years, I've been fighting to make the property tax system more fair for ordinary Texans.

I've seen problems firsthand. I've researched them. I've fought them at the appraisal district.

But identifying problems is one thing.

Actually changing state law is another.

David has been willing to sit down with me and work on ideas that could lead to meaningful property tax reform.

He's also consistently been willing to answer my calls and discuss issues affecting taxpayers in our district.

I don't know whether we'll succeed in getting every bill passed that we're working on.

But I genuinely appreciate having somebody in the Legislature who's willing to work with me on these issues.

Thank you, David.

Alan Blaylock: A Supporter Long Before He Entered Politics

Alan Blaylock is running for Texas House District 93.

Alan previously served on the Tarrant Appraisal District Board of Directors and the Fort Worth City Council.

But I've known him since before he held those positions.

He was a resident in the Heritage subdivision, the community where my office is located.

He supported my efforts long before he ever became a politician.

And that support continued after he entered public office.

Every time I've reached out to Alan for a meeting, he's been willing to sit down and talk.

We've discussed numerous policy issues, and he's helped support efforts I've been involved with over the years.

One of the things I admire most about Alan is his willingness to vote according to his conscience and principles, even when doing so might not be popular among his political peers.

That takes courage.

And I think it's an important quality in anyone holding public office.

Thank you, Alan.

Judge Mike Hrabal: An Opportunity to Serve and Learn

I also want to thank Judge Mike Hrabal, who is running unopposed for Tarrant County Court at Law No. 3.

This one's a little different.

Judge Hrabal appointed me to serve as a special commissioner in proceedings involving eminent domain and easements.

It's given me an opportunity to participate in hearings, learn more about the process, and serve the community in a capacity I hadn't previously experienced.

I've already learned a tremendous amount.

I appreciate the opportunity, the trust he's shown me, and his willingness to serve.

Thank you, Judge Hrabal.

Appreciation Is NOT the Same as an Endorsement

There's something I want to make absolutely clear before I wrap this up.

I've publicly thanked several candidates who are running for office.

Some are Republicans. Some are Democrats. Some are running in nonpartisan races.

Some are even running against each other.

And that's okay.

I'm not saying these people are perfect.

I'm not saying I agree with everything they believe, every vote they've cast, or every decision they've made.

I'm telling you what they've done that I personally appreciate.

There's a difference.

The political system runs on votes. Candidates need votes to get elected.

But I want to encourage politicians to EARN those votes by doing things that actually help the people they represent.

I don't want them to think they can earn my support by making promises, taking me to dinner, or being part of the right political group.

I want to recognize actual work.

When politicians make good decisions, I want them to know somebody noticed.

When they make bad decisions, I reserve the right to speak up about those too.

And I absolutely will.

But today, I wanted to focus on saying thank you.

What I Hope You'll Consider Before Voting

As you prepare to vote in the 2026 Tarrant County elections, I hope you'll look beyond campaign signs, political advertisements, and party affiliations.

Take some time to learn what the candidates have actually done.

Look at their records. Understand their policy positions. Ask questions.

And remember that somebody can disagree with you politically and still do something that deserves recognition.

I haven't investigated every candidate or every issue in these races, so please don't treat this article as a complete voter guide.

It's simply my personal experience working with some of the people seeking your vote.

Early voting runs October 19–30, 2026. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

You can find official election and candidate information through the Tarrant County Elections Office.

No matter who wins, my goal doesn't change.

I'm going to keep working with anyone willing to help us make property taxes fairer, government more accountable, and our communities better.

To the candidates and elected officials who've helped me help taxpayers over the years, thank you.

And to everybody willing to step up and serve their community, I appreciate your willingness to do so.

Let's keep moving forward.

Chandler Crouch
Broker/Owner, Chandler Crouch Realtors

Watch the full video: Don't Vote Until You See What These Candidates Actually Did