Josh Wallenstein

Josh Wallenstein was born in Austin, Texas. He earned a bachelor's degree from Southern Methodist University in 1997, and a law degree from Stanford Law School in 2002. Wallenstein’s career experience includes working as a compliance and ethics attorney.[1]

As of 2024, Wallenstein was affiliated with the following organizations:

Member, The New York Bar (20 years)

Member, The District of Columbia Bar (17 years)

Member, Emmanuel Episcopal Church (10 years)

Member, The Texas Bar (8 years)

Parliamentarian, West Houston Democrats (8 years)

Member, Texas Freedom Network (8 years)

Board Director, TRACE Foundation (6 years)

Director, Harris County Democratic Lawyers Association (5 years)

Member, Leadership Now (3 years)

Fellow, Leadership Houston (1 year)

Member, The U.S. Supreme Court Bar (1 year)[2]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Josh Wallenstein is a husband, father, and native Texan who knows what our working families are facing. After losing his father at age seven, he was raised by a single mother, and Texas public schools gave him the chance to build a better life. As a lawyer, he's spent his career rooting out corruption and holding powerful interests accountable. Now Wallenstein is running for the state house to lower costs, restore funding to our public schools, and root out corruption.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

The rising cost of living is one of the most important issues facing families in Josh Wallenstein’s district, and corruption in Austin is making it worse. When powerful special interests influence policy, they win favorable rules, contracts, and protections while families pay more in property taxes, insurance premiums, healthcare, housing, and everyday expenses. Josh has spent more than twenty years fighting fraud and corruption. In the Legislature, he will expose sweetheart deals, strengthen oversight, increase transparency, and make sure government decisions lower costs for Texas families instead of rewarding well-connected insiders.Public education is a top priority for Josh Wallenstein because corruption in Austin is draining resources from neighborhood schools. Powerful special interests pushed through a voucher scheme that takes taxpayer dollars away from public schools and turns them into another handout for billionaires and the wealthy, while districts like Spring Branch are forced to cut programs and close campuses. Josh will fight to fully fund public schools, raise teacher pay, strengthen accountability, and stop a corrupt system that rewards the powerful while neighborhood schools are left with less.Healthcare access is another critical issue because corruption in Austin has kept Texas from expanding Medicaid and left working families to pay the price. State leaders have refused billions in federal healthcare dollars while powerful insurance, pharmaceutical, and other special interests protect their profits. The result is higher costs, more uninsured Texans, and greater pressure on hospitals and local taxpayers. Josh will fight to expand Medicaid, lower prescription drug and insurance costs, strengthen community health centers, and put patients ahead of the powerful interests that have too much influence in Austin.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Josh Wallenstein is most passionate about rooting out corruption and making government accountable to the people it serves. As an anti-corruption lawyer, he has spent more than twenty years following the money, fighting fraud, and holding powerful interests accountable. He sees corruption as a thread connecting many of Texas’ biggest challenges, from rising costs and underfunded public schools to limited healthcare access. In Austin, Josh will bring that same approach to government: expose self-dealing, strengthen transparency and oversight, and make sure taxpayer dollars and public policy serve Texas families, not wealthy special interests.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

The endorsements include Community Voices for Public Education (CVPE), Secular Houston, Texas AFL-CIO COPE, HBAD, Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence Action, Center for Freethought Equality PAC, Planned Parenthood, The Oath of Office, LiUNA, TSTA-PAC (Texas State Teachers Association), NDRC (the National Democratic Redistricting Committee), and the Working Families Party.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a product of public schools; as the son of a single mother, I know its transformational power first-hand. My family is also invested in public education: my spouse and brothers work in public schools and my son is a proud HISD student. They prove, daily, that education empowers each of us to reach our full potential.

Unfortunately, our public schools are critically underfunded. The HCDE fills the gap between state funding and community needs: it provides crucial assistance to public schools, public school children, and adult learners, all while saving taxpayers money.

To maximize its positive impact, the HCDE needs quality leadership. I am the most qualified candidate in this race. An elected Trustee’s primary job is to comprehensively review contracts. As the only attorney in the race, and with decades of experience, I will do the job well, day one. Additionally, as a compliance attorney, I will design policies and systems to enforce transparency and fair dealing. I will also advocate to expand services to areas of greatest current need: (1) vocational training and certifications and (2) mental health resources.

The incumbent, after a six-year term, has done none of this. Instead, he used the seat to run for higher office (and lost). The HCDE must not be a consolation prize for a lost election; instead, our community deserves a candidate with a almost a decade of proven dedication to the institution and a serious commitment to its future.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Demonstrated Commitment: I am an anti-corruption attorney. Eight years ago, I and spent 18 months publicly protesting corruption and cronyism at the HCDE Board – we made good trouble and effected real, positive change! Now that schools and teachers are under attack, it is more important than ever that education-focused offices are not mere stepping stones to higher office; officeholders must instead demonstrate their dedication to serve the county for a full six-year term.Focus on Greatest Needs: I will expand the HCDE's vocational training programs (for adults) and its Head Start opportunities (for kids), as well as provide mental health resources (for students). I will also l increase funding for the Tools for Teachers program (which provides free school materials to teachers that otherwise have to pay out of their own pocket.)Tireless Advocacy and Transparency: I will fight to retain and improve the HCDE. Because the HCDE is partially funded by taxes, there is constant legislative pressure to eliminate it. Any suggestion of unfair dealing and conflicts of interests threaten its survival. To avoid even the perception of impropriety, I will institute a strong, department-wide conflict of interest policy and whistleblower hotline.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

HCDE Trustees are public servants focused on education.

I am a strong proponent of public schools, particularly in counties like Harris where public schools cater to a significant proportion of at-risk students. The public interest is for all of our children to be well-educated and empowered to reach their full potential. This is a public trust, a moral obligation, and a Texas constitutional mandate.

Unfortunately, Texas consistently ranks at the bottom of US states for per-pupil education spending and hasn’t increased school funding since 2019. In Houston, I until recently served as District VI's representative to HISD's Capital Planning Steering Committee to try to focus attention on areas of greatest investment need.

The HCDE is, bar none, the best investment our residents can make. It multiples every tax dollar by almost 500% (through external grants and economies of scale). Simply put, it is the cheapest way to help our cash-strapped public schools and our most vulnerable public school children, as well as those in our community who want to earn a degree or learn a trade.

Beyond education: the Democratic Party aligns with my values, and I have been a member or officer in multiple local clubs and organizations.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I wish to leave a legacy like I leave a campsite: better, cleaner and safer than when I arrived.

Despite the tragic early death of my father, I was given wonderful opportunities early in life. I am not the type of person to pull up the ladder behind me. Instead, I am willing to sacrifice to ensure that all children are given the opportunity to succeed that all adults are given the support they deserve.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Outside of lemonade stands and the occasional lawnmowing job, my first full-time position was at a Texaco gas station in Austin, TX. To this day, I remain grateful to its owner Neil Newberry, who refused to fix my '73 Nova; instead, he gave me a rag and showed me how to fix it myself. From that day on, I would work at the Texaco every summer as a low-level grease monkey while continually learning about cars and car repair.

More broadly, I learned about life. This local Texaco was a community treasure: for decades, elderly residents came to get "full service" from personnel who had been working there for decades. In fact, it seemed like every week we received fresh baked goods from a happy local customer.

I learned so many skills and values, among them: the value of a dollar (and the impact of taxes on a paycheck); the value of hard work and education; the importance of keeping your word; persistence until the puzzle was solved; the customer is always right; the value of a smile of kindness; and how invaluable it is simply to demonstrate a willingness to help.

I also learned how crucial it is in today's world to have a job...and adequate transportation to get to it.

My local Texaco became a second family and part of my identity. One summer, a girl from high school even engraved my tire pressure gauge for me. I was proud of who that station helped me become.

I worked at that gas station every summer throughout high school and college. I would also return every year to see my former colleagues and customers at the annual Dec. 24 Christmas party. Among the things of which I am the most proud: I still fit in my flame-retardant collared shirt from over 30 years ago.

What is the primary job of a school board member in your view?

At the HCDE, the primary job of elected Trustees is to comprehensively review the many contracts presented for approval each month. I am an attorney with decades of experience in contracts. I fact, I am the only candidate running for this position (from either party) with substantial experience in contract analysis. I am committed to good governance, fiscal responsibility, and fairness; I will ensure that the HCDE uses taxpayer funds wisely and avoids costly liabilities.

In what areas would you like to expand curriculum? For example, do you see a need for advanced technical training or apprenticeships? What sort of innovative programming would you advance if given the opportunity?

The HCDE offers working adults the opportunity to gain the skills needed to take advantage of better job opportunities or move into higher education. This includes certain limited workforce training. These invaluable opportunities should be promoted and expanded within the HCDE’s programs.

I will propose that the HCDE work with unions and other organizations to introduce adult learners to these opportunities. As an example of why: unions present opportunities for paid apprenticeships (with health care) so that folks can pay the bills while learning a trade.

How might you support the mental health needs of students/faculty/staff?

My wife is a public school crisis counselor; her stories of student challenges routinely blow my mind. However, the HCDE is currently able to offer physical, occupational, and music therapy to around 7000 kids. (To put this in perspective, the HISD alone serves almost 200,000 kids.) Every child deserves full access to therapeutic support, and the HCDE is the most cost-effective provider. It must dramatically expand mental health services so that school districts can provide critical support to their most challenged youth.

What existing district policies would you like to change, or what new policies would you like to implement?

The HCDE Board needs to demonstrate transparency and avoid even the perception of impropriety. Unfortunately, its conflicts of interest policy is inadequate and disclosures have not been forthcoming. (For reference, only 1 disclosure was made in each of 2020 and 2021, and no disclosures since.) There is also no publicly available whistleblower hotline. As a compliance attorney, I am an expert at (a) setting up programs and mechanisms (such as hotlines to detect discrimination or conflicts of interest disclosure procedures) and (b) training personnel on acceptable and unacceptable practices.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

As of the date of publication, organizations have not yet published endorsements. Individuals include:

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Dr. Diane Trautman (former County Clerk; former HCDE Trustee Position 3 At Large)

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Obes Nwabara (former candidate, HCDE Trustee Position 7, At Large)

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Marilyn Burgess (Harris County District Clerk)

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Brian Alcott Joe Cone – Candidate for US Congress (NJ-3)

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Holly María Flynn Villaseca (former HISD Trustee)

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Ryan C. Irving, Jr. (Candidate, CFISD, Pos 3, Pos 6)

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Kimberly Dang (President, Harris County Democratic Lawyers Association)

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Jeff Hilton (President, West Houston Democrats)

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Dr. Bill and Randy Race

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Alec Zorich

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Niko Zorich

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Lauren M. Strickland

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Ximena Magaña

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Ricardo Martinez

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Dr. Trisha Ruiz

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Dr. LaKeshia Barbee

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Leif and Elsie Hatlen

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Yasmeen Belal

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Chartenya Cleveland

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Catherine Flowers

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Craig Howard

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June Liu

•

Hope Pamplin

•

Russell Richard

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Priya Sharma

•

Ken Smiley

•

Quynh Tran

•

Aby Whitmire

•

Lee Wong

What would be your top three priorities, if elected?

1) Preventing the elimination of the Harris County Department of Education

2) Ensuring accountability and transparency

3) Increasing workforce training efforts[4][5]

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Why?

Public education is necessary public infrastructure. It’s also a constitutional mandate in Texas. We don’t do it well- and we do a tremendous disservice to our kids thereby. I will work hard to promote fiscally prudent solutions to our problems with public education.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many[5]

[the profile publisher] also asked the candidate a series of optional questions. Josh Wallenstein answered the following:

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

This government entity is the best use of our tax dollars that no one has ever heard about. It supports our public schools and public school children, and helps out adult learners, too- all in a very cost-efficient manner. Were it to be eliminated, our taxes would go up, necessary services would be eliminated...and our cash-strapped school districts would have even less money to provide their essential services. We must fight to keep it around![5]

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

Contracting expertise Compliance expertise Demonstrated commitment[5]