Majority of Texans believe that the issue of border security and immigration top the list of problems the state is facing. According to Wiernicki, most Texans felt that the government of US should restrict immigration and undocumented immigrants should be sent away from the US. Approximately, 52% of Texans agreed to Trump's idea of barrier construction between U.S and Mexico while 53% supported the idea of Muslim non-U.S citizens to be banned from entering the US.
Texans voted for me because they felt that there was an urgent need for restricting the national government dominance. Texans believe that individual liberty and initiative is key to development. Therefore, families, entrepreneurs, and every person deserve opportunities which would make them succeed without the interference of the state. Restricting powers of the national government reduces mischief hence minimised expenditure (Allen, Carrie, and Donald 327). Additionally, it gives citizens room to make decisions on various issues connected to national policies.
Texans in the past stated that death penalty was not being applied fairly. Some believe that innocent citizens are killed as a result of incompetent lawyers, false witnesses, and confessions from the mentally ill. Also, some Texans think that death penalty is given from racial, socioeconomic, and geographical discrimination. Therefore, when I promised to ensure that death penalty is applied fairly, Texans felt the need of voting for me.
Education is an essential component of a nation's development. K-12 education has not been doing well in the past. Texans understand that improving K-12 education means better lifestyle and opportunities for their children (Ball et al. 1056). Therefore, they felt the need of voting me in office for the betterment of the future generation and development in Texas.
Formal and Informal Power
Formal power is a power which is conferred to a person based on the position he holds whereas informal power refers to one's ability to lead, achieve or direct without necessarily holding any leadership title. The governor of Texas has a formal power to sign or veto bills passed by the legislature and appoint qualified Texans to state offices. Also, he is to account for public monies that he has received and paid out and recommend a 2-year budget. According to Beyle (543), the governor grants the reprieve of punishments and pardons when communicated by Board of Pardons and can revoke conditional pardons.
Informally, the governor of Texas should be persuasive and convincing to earn the trust of the supporters. The governor should be organised and have negotiation skills to be able to exchange with other governments. Bernick (661) state that the governor should act as a public relations representative by addressing issues in the media. Additionally, persistence and intelligence would enable a governor to discuss sensitive issues in the state.
Formal Power
My veto power on bills would enable me to limit the dominance of national government and control immigration from Mexico. I would reprieve death penalties that do not seem fair to ensure that it is applied fairly. I would use my power of accounting for state monies to facilitate the k-12 education project.
Informal Power
To control immigration from Mexico and limit the power of national government, I would persuasively address the importance of handling these problems on media to reach many people so that the public may demand the same. I would convince the state and legislature on the importance of improving K-12 education so that they may support the course. Also, I would negotiate with the lawmakers on the administration of death penalty so that it is fairly applied.
Texans believe that the governor can solve their state problems using his formal and informal powers.
Works Cited
Allen, Mahalley D., Carrie Pettus, And Donald P. Haider-Markel. "Making the National Local: Specifying The Conditions For National Government Influence On State Policymaking." State Politics " Policy Quarterly 4.3 (2004): 318-344.
Ball, Deborah Loewenberg, et al. "Reaching For Common Ground in K-12 Mathematics Education." Notices of The Ams52.9 (2005): 1055-1058.
Bernick, E. Lee. "Gubernatorial Tools: Formal Vs Informal." The Journal of Politics 41.2 (1979): 656-664.
Beyle, Thad L. "The Governor's Formal Powers: A View from The Governor's Chair." Public Administration Review (1968): 540-545.
Wiernicki, Anna. Texans Top Concern Is Immigration And Border Security: Big Country (2016). Retrieved from http://www.bigcountryhomepage.com/news/main-news/texans-top-concern-is-immigration-and-border-security-new-poll-says/495013499