Houston Chronicle Editorial: We recommend Danielle Keys Bess in Democratic runoff for Texas House District 147

Not sure voting matters? Just take a look at Texas House District 147, where every single voter has the power to tip the tight runoff in the Democrat primary for the seat held by Rep. Garnet Coleman until his resignation for health reasons earlier this year. The margin of victory was thin in the May 7 special election that decided who would serve the district through the end of this year. Jolanda Jones, 56, beat Danielle Keys Bess, 38, by just 202 votes. (It was so close that Bess has requested an audit.) To keep the seat for a full term, Jones will need to win in November. And that means she’ll need to win the May 24 runoff, where she faces Bess once more.

We recommend Bess because Texans deserve representatives in Austin who are committed to a constructive and deliberative legislative process. There are few better models than Coleman, who has been a passionate defender of Democratic priorities such as health care for women and children but also a statesman who wasn’t afraid to work with his most conservative colleagues to get things done for ordinary Texans. Democrats may be tempted to replace him with a strident fighter such as Jones after Republicans’ targeting last year of voting rights, access to abortion and health care for transgender children. The day-to-day work of a representative, however, requires earning the respect of their colleagues, including those in the opposing party. Even in these times of division — especially in these times — we need leaders who can build trust. Of the two candidates, only Jones has won elected office. She served on Houston City Council and the Houston ISD board. She’s smart and passionate but in both roles, she earned a reputation for stoking division and grandstanding. On the fractious school board, she contributed to bitter tensions among members, leaving students, teachers and taxpayers without the kind of leadership they needed. Nonetheless she has her supporters. After initially saying he would not make an endorsement, Coleman ultimately backed Jones.