Significant progress made on the RESTORE Act.

What happened to me and my family during my 2024 campaign for Eanes ISD Board of Trustees should be the last time it ever happens to anyone. And that’s what I have been working on at our State Capital with the RESTORE Act: Restoring Ethical Standards, Transparency, and Open, Responsible Elections.

The RESTORE ACT seeks to modernize the Code of Fair Campaign Practices (CFCP), a crucial framework that protects candidates and voters from unethical campaign practices. The problem is that the CFCP has not been updated since 1997. The out-dated code fails to address the unique challenges posed by today’s digital landscape, which has fostered a culture of defamation, slander, and personal attacks against candidates (and their voters and donors) using anonymous and cowardly websites and social media accounts. As a result, many qualified individuals are deterred from running for school board positions, while there may not be a time in Texas’ history that we need them more. Texas school boards manage billions of taxpayer dollars each year and are dealing with significant challenges across the state. 

The RESTORE ACT is not just about fostering a more productive dialogue about issues and ensuring good people can stand up and serve, but protecting the investment that our great State and communities invest in our public schools.

My team and I have met with many lawmakers - Senators and Representatives, Republicans and Democrats alike. I am happy to report that there is significant interest in what we are trying to accomplish. 

One Senator affirmed that “...this is happening all across Texas.  We send Billions to school districts and we need more qualified business-minded parents in these seats so we can be sure the money is being spent on educational outcomes only.  Texas must create a safe, cancel-culture free experience for mothers and fathers that are amateur politicians just trying to do the right thing.”

In particular, Chairman Matt Sheehan (HD66) and Senator Mayes Middleton (SD11), among many others, have both shown a lot of interest in supporting the key provisions of our bill. But we could still use your help.

My wife and I have hired the professional help we need from a hard-hitting and sophisticated lobbyist who knows the process, the people, and tactics it takes to get things done at the state house, so if you can donate, that’s of course appreciated (I match all donations up to $50k!).

DONATE NOW!

Writing to your lawmaker is a low cost way you can help. Here is a boilerplate email that you can use:

Dear ________,

I am your constituent in ___(your city)___, and I am writing to you today to encourage you to support the RESTORE Act.

We need to update the Code of Fair Campaign Practices to protect good people who want to serve their community, especially at the School Board level. Our public schools need leaders with the acumen and knowhow to turn our situation around, and the RESTORE Act is an excellent place to start.

Texans need a mechanism like the RESTORE Act to protect against digital smear campaigns that defame and slander, destroying reputations and tearing families apart.

Thank you,

(Your Name)

As always, thank you for your support. I truly believe that together we can get the RESTORE Act passed, and from there elect a board that can right the Eanes ship.

Thank you,

Aaron Silva