US Vote Smart

Home » 2018-03-06 Republican primary » Montgomery County » County Treasurer » Stephanne Davenport

Stephanne Davenport
Party Republican
Website http://bit.ly/2jXXAp9
Born
Education Lone Star College
Occupation Montgomery County Treasurer
Religion Christian
Marital Married

Stephanne Davenport

declared

Campaign Finance Reports Source

Submitted by kenneth vaughn on 2018-02-28 23:01:35

 

             2017                                   2018

                                                                  

   Jan - Jun      Jul - Dec *                  30 Day Report     8 Day Report

*Phonoscope’s Lee Cook sole contributor to County Treasurer Davenport

 

MCTP PAC Rating of: 66 Source

Submitted by john wertz on 2018-02-18 05:31:29

 

Pros

  • Confident in own abilities; speaks authoritatively. Speaks knowledgeably
  • Claimed she has worked from day one to upgrade and streamline department
  • Wants to bring statutory requirements from auditor to treasurers dept.
  • Says she has reduced budget by 7% and her staff (by 1, down to 6)
  • Co-chairing (w/auditor Phyllis Martin) replacement of 20+ yr old finance software system
  • Worked in tax office for 6 years before becoming treasurer
  • Very involved in community organizations; 
  • Accepting attitude toward Constitutional Carry
  • Favors shifting tax burden away from property tax
  • Accepting attitude toward gun-free zones as currently codified in Texas
  • Favors shifting tax burden to commercial. (Not sure she recognize that all business taxes get passed along to consumers).

Cons

  • Not an accountant by trade.
  • She and her "political boss" husband Marc are often targets of the...  More

Video Interview Source

Submitted by john wertz on 2018-01-16 05:45:47

 

Questionnaire

General

Do you promise, if elected, to abide by the RPT platform? And if not, please enumerate what problems you have. 

Yes.

Please list County Treasurer functions that should moved to another county department and/or be privatized and why?

None. Statutorily, these duties belong in the County Treasurers office. Efficiencies and training I have implemented  have made them most economically placed in as an in-house process.

What are your three biggest concerns about the County Treasurers Office?

  1. Community understanding the importance of what the office does, the checks and balances that the office provides.

  2. Maintaining ourselves as a 365 resource to all county departments.

  3. Bridging departments, overcoming organizational silos. 

How do you propose to make the Treasurers's Office more efficient?

Continued forward thinking and an effort to always search for ways to streamline. This is an ongoing project that started when I took office.


The new finance system will increase efficiencies for payroll. Automated time cards, improved work flow. Reporting capabilities and analysis.    

 

What are the three main reasons you are running for this office? Do you see any potential conflicts of interest?

Servant's Heart

Effective Leader

Staunch Republican

No conflicts.

What privacy issues between Texans and the federal government does the Treasurers office deal with and where is the line of balance between safety and privacy?

Our office protects the privacy of all our employees, at both the local and state level.

What 2 things about your opponent do the voters need to know?

God-fearing Christian, like me.

Wife, mother, business minded, like me.

 

Please describe your views on gambling as a funding source for education and other budget items, and whether gambling should be expanded or reduced. Why?

It is an option, the lottery has made an impact. My issue is more with the government owning and operating of casino’s and the lottery. The government should not be dictating personal freedoms and the free market would determine if it was a profitable, therefore a taxable enterprise.  It is obvious that a large number of Texans would engage.
 

List all civic, political or union organizations or individuals to whom you have contributed time or money in the last five years.

Board Positions

Conroe Noon Lions Club, Board Member

MCABW (Montgomery County Association of Business Women), Founding Board Member

New Danville, Treasurer/Secretary

The Woodlands Republican Women, Treasurer

Hope's Path, Advisory Board

The Woodlands Charities, Advisory Board

Montgomery County Women of Distinction, Advisory Board

 

Financial Support

Community Youth Outreach (MCYS)

Angel Reach

Crisis Assistance Center

Montgomery County Food Bank

Breast Cancer Charities of America

FAITH Fighting Cancer

The Woodlands-Conroe Hispanic Chamber

Conroe Chamber

The Woodlands Chamber

Montgomery County Right to Life

Locals Supporting Locals

Will Herndon Foundation

MCYS Women Who Rock

Red Onion Company - Thanksgiving Initiative

WISE Conference, committee member since inception, former panelist

Family Promise of Montgomery County

MCABW

Americans Stand United

The Woodlands Charities

New Danville

Conroe Noon Lions Club

Montgomery County Women of Distinction

 

Contributed Time

Community Youth Outreach (MCYS) - Participate in their Employment Boot camp Program. Conduct mock interviews, help build resumes, teach life skills to at-risk teens.

MCABW Mentor Program - Lead the mentoring program to help business professionals.

MCABW Scholarship Foundation - Serve on committee each year for our annual scholarship fundraiser.

Angel Reach - mentor program participants

Crisis Assistance Center - regularly  serve on their July 4th duck race committee.

FAITH Fighting Cancer - Assist with social media PR, Committee Chair

The Woodlands Charities - Assist with social media PR, Committee Chair

Montgomery County Right to Life - Serve as judge for their annual scholarship contest

Salvation Army, kettle counter

CNLC, Outstanding Youth Contest. Serve as chair for an annual scholarship program for Conroe High School seniors.

Aviators Helping South Texas - Led initiative to bring in supplies for Hurricane Harvey victims via CXO.

Local Republican Women's groups: Regularly serve on fundraising committees.

 

Party Involvement

Montgomery County Republican Party

Montgomery County Republican Women

North Shore Republican Women

Lake Conroe Area Republican Women

Magnolia Area Republican Women

The Woodlands Republican Women, Treasurer

East Montgomery County Republican Women, Helped Found

I am a regular attendee for the MCRP Executive Committee meetings.

 

Contributed to Political Campaigns

Rand Henderson, Sheriff

Rowdy Hayden, Constable

Jim Clark, Commissioner

James Metts, JP

Tammy McRae, Tax-Assessor Collector

Craig Doyal, County Judge

Charlie Riley, Commissioner

Ryan Gable, Constable

Phil Grant, Judge

 

Made numerous individual contributions to local residents based on needs (medical issues, funeral expenses, etc)

Made numerous individual contributions to local residents impacted by Hurricane Harvey.

 

Budget

Please describe your plan for balancing the county budget. What budget items need to be cut and what taxes and fees need to be increased?

I believe you lead by example. I believe in small government and reduced budget. This is reflected in my record. I believe that as long as our county continues to grow our challenges will be to continue to reduce the tax rate and spending. Mobility and law enforcement will be those areas that will need to grow with the population increase.
 

Taxes

Do you support or oppose Increasing and Broadening the Sales Tax to reduce property taxes?  Why?

I would support a consumption or sales tax , we need to move away from the burden created on homeowners from increased appraisals.    
 

What is the best "mix" of taxing methods for state and local government? Why is that "mix" the best and how do we get there?

A mix of sales or consumption tax, capital gains, ad valorem tax would be best. Although it's not the current law, I think the most equitable way is to shift taxing on commercial interest, that have income producing capability. Taxing residential property based increase appraisals is unfair. Taxable value should be established at the time of purchase or construction and tax could be based on capital gains at the time of sale.

Texas is one of 7 states that do not have an income tax, I think in order for that not to change a recognition of Texas’s vast resources and as the 12th largest economy in the world.    

Please fully describe what methods of funding roads in Texas you will support and oppose, and give your reasoning. Please discuss all revenue sources, tax diversions, tolls, and debt.

Fuel or Gasoline Sales Tax is the most equitable method. Voters have a right to vote on debt they are responsible for, so road or revenue bonds should have voter approval.
 

2nd Amendment - guns

What firearm and carry restrictions should Texas government require of citizens? Why?

I think Constitutional Carry will be the next step in the process for Texas. It is a right and also a privilege that can be lost. So for that reason, time, place and manner restrictions as Texas has now, seem reasonable. Restrictions for IDD (Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities) or on convicted felons seem reasonable.          
 

Economy

Do you support or oppose creation of Improvement Districts and Economic Development Districts? Why or why not?

I think they have a role, quality of life is important and I believe EDDs help ensure the economic well-being of a district. They work to increase the commercial tax base which lessens the burden on the homeowner.        
 

Education

If you were able to fix how public education was funded, how would you do it and why?

I would find a way to assess the commercial and industrial property as the equalizer between districts. The legislature needs to make education a priority and as a priority devote resources from all revenue sources to education.
 

Ethics

Is there anything in your background of an embarrassing nature that should be explained before your election? Arrests/Convictions? Bankruptcys?

No.

What are your plans for improving transparency as it relates to the office you're pursuing?

Montgomery County participates in Open Gov, a platform which displays all transactions.    My office responds to all requests for financial information in a timely manner, often going above and beyond to create reports when the information is not normally kept in that format.     
 

List all clients you have represented or lobbied for on behalf of any governmental entity during the past five years.

None.

Other

Do you support or oppose English being the state language? Why?

Support.

Who are your large donors and what is their relationship to you?

Bob Milner, local business owner and community leader

 

Eric Yollick

 

Participants in the I Love Being MoCo Republican cooperative:

Rand Henderson

Wayne Mack

Craig Doyal

Charlie Riley

James Metts

Rowdy Hayden

Ryan Gable

David Hill