Lupe Valdez: Increase minimum wage, open to tax increase Former Dallas County sheriff is in the running for Democratic gubernatorial nomination

Recently-resigned Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez announces that she will seek the Democratic nomination for Texas Governor at a news conference in Austin, Texas on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017. Valdez, who is stepping down as sheriff after 12 years to launch her campaign, starts out as an underdog. Texas hasn't elected a Democratic governor since 1990 and Abbott coasted to a 20-point win just three years ago against Wendy Davis, whose defense of abortion rights catapulted her to national political stardom.(Louis DeLuca/The Dallas Morning News via AP) less Recently-resigned Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez announces that she will seek the Democratic nomination for Texas Governor at a news conference in Austin, Texas on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017. Valdez, who is ... more Photo: Louis DeLuca, MBR Photo: Louis DeLuca, MBR Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Lupe Valdez: Increase minimum wage, open to tax increase 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

AUSTIN -- Former Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez, campaigning to best eight other Democrats for the chance to challenge incumbent Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in the fall, called Thursday to raise the minimum wage to between $12 and $15 an hour.

Valdez said she would be open to a tax hike to generate more state revenue, though she gave no specifics, though she said she supported closing loopholes in existing tax laws.

Hours later, though, she walked back her comments about supporting a tax hike.

"I don't enjoy paying big taxes, but I also know that some things are necessary for the future of Texas. I often run into people who say if it's for education, we're okay with it, even though we don't have any children, because that's the future skills of Texas," the 70-year-old retired law enforcement officer said during a forum with Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith.

During a separate appearance later in the day on a Spectrum News cable show in Austin, Valdez said she does favor increasing taxes.

Valdez also said she opposes a plan proposed Tuesday by Abbott to cap property-tax revenue growth at 2.5 percent per year, saying she supports letting local officials going higher without a vote of the people.

In a forum with Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith, the 70-year-old retired law enforcement officer said the state should "start out with a livable wage" -- suggesting "somewhere between $12 and $15" per hour. The minimum wage in Texas is now $7.25 an hour.

Asked how she would pay for expanding state programs, she said she was would consider a tax increase "if necessary" to raise state revenues more state revenue — but she made it clear she would not support a state income tax. She gave no details on whether she would advocate for other tax increases.

Joining several other Democratic gubernatorial candidates, Valdez also said she supports abolishing the death penalty in Texas, which has long led the nation in executions. She also agreed with a rival, Houston entrepreneur Andrew White, that a loophole needs to be closed instate law that benefits commercial property owners by about $5 billion a year.

White has said that he would use that $5 billion in savings to give teachers a pay raise. Valdez said she supports additional funding for education, as well.

On immigration, Valdez -- a native of San Antonio and the daughter of migrant farm workers -- suggested that undocumented immigrants who commit new crimes should face deportation, and expressed sympathy for those who come to Texas seeking a better life.

"People who murder, steal, rape, abuse — that's not giving you a better quality of life," Valdez said. "So those — I have no problem sending them somewhere else."

She reiterated her support for repealing the state law banning sanctuary cities, and said she opposes the controversial bathroom bill, which did not pass the legislature.

Though she said she supports the Second Amendment, Valdez said she opposes open-carry and campus-carry laws -- but supports Texas' longstanding concealed-carry law.

Like White, Valdez said she supports trimming back on the state's current spending level of $800 million every two years on border security. "I call it boys and their toys versus sensible laws," she said, referring to Texas' use of gun boats to patrol the Rio Grande River.

Despite her agreement with White on several issues, Valdez insisted she was the better candidate.

"I have more experience than he does,' she said, noting her experience as a federal law enforcement officer and as sheriff in charge of a large urban department for 13 years. "I have don't have to beat up a person to beat them."

Valdez and White are considered the early front-runners among the nine candidates in the Democratic primary for governor, although Dallas businessman Jeffrey Payne is running close behind -- and has raised more in campaign funds that Valdez. White has raised the most so far -- more than $200,000.

She dismissed political pundits who have said her campaign is raising to little to be competitive against Abbott, who has more than $43.3 million in the bank.

"That says someone's buying that position," she said, noting has campaign is bring in$3-500 a day in small contributions. "I'm not indebted to anyone for that position."

The primary is March 6. Early voting begins Feb. 20.