Geren runs on record of property tax relief against challenger in Fort Worth Texas House race

The race for the Texas House 99 seat features the 12-time Republican Rep. Charlie Geren and Democrat Michelle Winder, a 31-year railroad employee and former member of the U.S. Army National Guard.

The district covers much of Fort Worth. Early voting is Oct. 19-30 and Election Day is Nov. 3 

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During the last legislative session, Geren left his longstanding opposition to using public dollars for private education in exchange for what he called safeguards. The Legislature created a voucherlike education savings account program that parents can use for their child’s private schooling.

“This package was going to pass no matter what,” he said of vouchers in a letter to constituents after Gov. Greg Abbott signed them into law. “I could’ve walked away, made a speech and gone home feeling righteous. But that’s not who I am.”

Geren, owner of Railhead Smokehouse, won reelection in 2024 with 63% of the vote. He did not respond to multiple requests for comment or complete a candidate questionnaire for publication in the Report. Read Winder’s candidate questionnaire here.

Winder said Geren — long supportive of youth, community and public schools — broke his word and should be turned out of office. 

“Mr. Barbecue Man said he would never vote for vouchers, and he did,” Winder said. “He could have stood up and said, ‘No, I’m not going to do that.’ Instead, he caved in.” 

Winder wants to eliminate the education savings account program and direct all of the state’s proceeds from lottery ticket sales into public education. The lottery was not intended to fully fund education.

“Everybody has the right to an education,” Winder said.

Abbott has said he will prioritize property tax relief when the Legislature meets in 2027. Among his proposals is the elimination of school district property taxes and requiring two-thirds approval for all tax rate increases.

Winder called Abbott’s proposal impractical.

“Where are you going to get the money for our services?” she said. “They’re going to take it out of us somehow. We’re not going to tax the billionaires. We’re going to tax the working people.”

Geren has touted on Facebook the GOP-led Legislature’s accomplishments during the 2025 session.

He spotlighted major property tax relief initiatives such as raising the homestead property tax exemption to $140,000 from $100,000 and raising the exemptions for seniors and people with disabilities.

“When I ran for office, I made you a promise: to fight to lower your property taxes and let you keep more of what you’ve earned,” Geren said in a Sept. 14 post.

Winder objected to Abbott’s five-year property tax reappraisal proposal. She is concerned about the impact of neighborhood real estate sales on the property tax valuations of homes.

“So, the homes sell on the next street,” she said. “That’s no reason to raise my taxes. Let’s (reappraise) every two years.”

The Tarrant Appraisal District board in September reaffirmed its biennial reappraisal policy on residential properties. 

Scott Nishimura is senior editor for local government accountability and a Fort Worth City Hall reporter at the Fort Worth Report. Reach him at [email protected].

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