State candidates address data centers, water, education in Nacogdoches forum

State candidates for Texas House and Senate seats participated in a forum in Nacogdoches, where they addressed key issues including data centers, water usage, and education. The event, hosted by the Nacogdoches Chamber of Commerce, featured Republican Trent Ashby and Democrat Bobby Tillman, both running for State Senate District 3.

Bobby Tillman voiced strong opposition to data centers, stating, "We got to say no. We got to protect the future, guys. Texas doesn't belong to your... it belongs to our children. We got to protect it. And first, you're going to have to give me a good reason why we need these data centers." Conversely, Trent Ashby supported data center development but called for more regulation, asserting, "We deserve an opportunity to have a say and put some guard rails and safeguards around responsible development of data centers in this case and I would submit industrial development in general."

Both candidates agreed on the importance of protecting East Texas water resources. Ashby emphasized, "Protecting our lakes and streams to make sure that we're not exporting our water to serve the more populous areas and regions of the state. And I'm proud that since I've been a member of the Texas House that we haven't given an inch, not an inch, on the shipment or exportation of East Texas surface." Tillman echoed this sentiment, declaring, "The water belongs to us. It doesn't belong to whoever's had the big straw... It's past time to reform the... capture. We have to go in there and reform it." Other candidates, including Democrat Roxanne Lathan and Republican Joanne Shofner for the Texas House, also participated, discussing education and private school vouchers.