Philip earned a bachelor's degree in political science and a master's degree in public administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a doctorate in educational administration/leadership from the University of Texas at Austin. He lives in San Antonio with his wife, Debbie, and their child.

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Philip previously worked as a financial advisor and marketing/public relations director. He served for 20 years in the U.S. Air Force and retired as a staff sergeant.

Philip Cortez is a state representative in State House District 117. He has served 5 terms, first from 2013-2015 and since 2017.

Candidate website

Rep. Cortez, Philip - District 117

As a legislator, sponsored legislation to prevent small businesses from losing billions in federal funding and supported Port San Antonio.

Sponsored legislation to stop small businesses from losing federal funding.

Supports providing comprehensive support for veterans in employment, funding, and tax relief.

Supported increasing funding for the Texas Veterans Commission and amending the state constitution to lower property taxes for veterans.

Co-authored legislation that would legalize sports betting.

- Sponsored legislation to stop small businesses from losing federal funding.
- Supported increasing funding for the Texas Veterans Commission and amending the state constitution to lower property taxes for veterans.
- Co-authored legislation that would legalize sports betting.

Economy

Co-authored legislation that would create criminal penalties for creating or supplying drugs that caused serious injury to someone.

- Co-authored legislation that would create criminal penalties for creating or supplying drugs that caused serious injury to someone.

Public Safety

Supports legislation to reduce burdens on seniors receiving Medicaid and prevent abuse in home health care.

Authored legislation that would require health insurance plans to cover telehealth services from out-of-state providers.

- Supports legislation to reduce burdens on seniors receiving Medicaid and prevent abuse in home health care.
- Authored legislation that would require health insurance plans to cover telehealth services from out-of-state providers.

Healthcare

Supports providing resources for teachers and creating successful classrooms for students.

Supported legislation to restore public school funding that had been cut.

- Supported legislation to restore public school funding that had been cut.

Education

As of September 7, 2024, Philip Cortez’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Energy & the Environment

Authored legislation that would require runoff election ballots to be sent to people voting by mail.

- Authored legislation that would require runoff election ballots to be sent to people voting by mail.

Voting & Elections

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Philip Cortez

Ben earned an associate’s degree from Cochise College, and a bachelor’s degree in intelligence studies and a master’s degree in political science from the University of Arizona. He lives in San Antonio.

Ben currently works as a realtor in San Antonio. He has owned several businesses and served as an executive for numerous companies. He has also worked as a certified master instructor for the Department of Defense and taught at the collegiate level. He formerly worked as a print model, an actor on stage and screen, and as a standup comedian.

Ballotpedia: Ben Mostyn

Ben Mostyn's campaign for state representative is his first run for public office. 

Believes in decreasing the capital gains tax.

Supports decreasing the capital gains tax.

Supports prioritizing small businesses over "special interests and foreign governments."

Supports increasing small business tax incentives and tax relief.

Supports "tort reform" to protect companies from frivolous lawsuits.

Supports investing in infrastructure to ensure the long-term safety and attractiveness of San Antonio.

Believes in "fixing the supply chain to get goods on the shelf and on tables."

Supports "fixing the supply chain to get goods on the shelf and on tables."

- Supports decreasing the capital gains tax.
- Supports prioritizing small businesses over "special interests and foreign governments."
- Supports increasing small business tax incentives and tax relief.
- Supports "tort reform" to protect companies from frivolous lawsuits.
- Supports investing in infrastructure to ensure the long-term safety and attractiveness of San Antonio.
- Supports "fixing the supply chain to get goods on the shelf and on tables."

Supports providing the San Antonio Police Department with tools and training to enforce laws and enhance community safety.

Supports "tough on crime" legislation that targets street gangs.

Believes drug cartels and their allies should be designated as terrorist organizations to allow the military to defend the nation.

Believes drug cartels and their allies should be designated as terrorist organizations to allow the military to engage them.

- Opposes cashless bail policies.
- Supports providing the San Antonio Police Department with tools and training to enforce laws and enhance community safety.
- Supports "tough on crime" legislation that targets street gangs.
- Believes drug cartels and their allies should be designated as terrorist organizations to allow the military to engage them.

Opposes allowing transgender women in women's bathrooms.

- Opposes allowing transgender women in women's bathrooms.

Believes families need educational options due to the failures of underfunded public schools.

Supports increasing salaries for "high achieving teachers."

Believes schools need enhanced security measures and students require greater access to mental health resources.

Believes affordable education should be available for everyone and plans to "curtail the greed and high costs of Universities."

Believes the $32 billion surplus allows for "historic assistance to Texas educators."

Opposes allowing transgender women to compete in women's sports.

- Believes families need educational options due to the failures of underfunded public schools.
- Supports increasing salaries for "high achieving teachers."
- Believes schools need enhanced security measures and students require greater access to mental health resources.
- Believes affordable education should be available for everyone and plans to "curtail the greed and high costs of Universities."
- Believes the $32 billion surplus allows for "historic assistance to Texas educators."
- Opposes allowing transgender women to compete in women's sports.

Believes in drilling to reduce fuel costs.

Believes in increased drilling to reduce fuel costs.

Opposes policies related to the Green New Deal and climate change.

- Believes in increased drilling to reduce fuel costs.
- Opposes policies related to the Green New Deal and climate change.

As of September 7, 2024, Ben Mostyn’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Ben Mostyn

- Your state representative represents the interests of your local district in the Texas House of Representatives. The State House of Representatives, along with the State Senate, makes up your state lawmaking body: the Texas State Legislature
- Your state representative can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws. 
- There are 150 members of the Texas House of Representatives, each representing a single district. Representatives must be at least 21 years old and reside in the state for at least two years before their election. 
- State representatives are elected to two-year terms during even-numbered years. There are no term limits. 
- State representatives make $7,200 annually in addition to a $221 payment per day during legislative sessions and mileage reimbursements.