2026 Texas General Election

Candidate Information

Denise currently works as a business consultant.

Denise Dick

Denise's campaign for board member of the Harris County Department of Education is her first run for public office.

As of July 22, 2026, Denise Dick did not have a website or any information online.

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Buket Urgen

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Silky Joshi Malik has a dual bachelor's degree in sociology and psychology from the University of Houston and a master's in business administration from West Texas A&M.  She lives with her husband. 

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Silky previously worked as a book author for Terrier Publishing, as vice president of strategy at Owlfa, LLC, as an associate teacher for Houston ISD, and as charity events coordinator for the Association of British Women in Malaysia.

Silky Joshi Malik is currently a trustee for the Harris County Department of Education, Position 7 At-Large. She was appointed by the HCDE Board of Trustees in April 2025 and is serving the remainder of the term through December 2026.

Silky Joshi Malik Sworn In as Board Trustee, Begins Duties with ...

Silky Joshi-Malik

Silky is currently a trustee for the Harris County Department of Education, Position 7 At-Large. She was appointed by the HCDE Board of Trustees in April 2025 and is serving her 1st term. Previously, she ran for U.S. Congress in Texas's 2nd Congressional District in 2018, but did not win.

Supports investing in classrooms, staff, and training to prepare children for kindergarten.

Supports evidence-based educational supports, such as behavioral therapy, occupational therapy, and life-skills programming.

- Supports investing in classrooms, staff, and training to prepare children for kindergarten.
- Supports evidence-based educational supports, such as behavioral therapy, occupational therapy, and life-skills programming.

Wants to "maintain strong oversight of HCDE’s budget and financial practices."

Wants to ensure spending aligns with community needs and long-term planning.

- Wants to "maintain strong oversight of HCDE’s budget and financial practices."
- Wants to ensure spending aligns with community needs and long-term planning.

As of July 22, 2026, Silky Joshi Malik’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports expanding Head Start and Early Head Start classrooms.

Plans to prioritize outreach to families who have been historically excluded from early education systems.

Wants to protect and expand after-school and enrichment programming across Harris County.

Supports prioritizing enrichment opportunities that foster academic success and social-emotional development.

Supports prioritizing enrichment opportunities that "foster academic success and social-emotional development."

Wants to ensure educational programs are safe, affordable, and accessible.

- Supports expanding Head Start and Early Head Start classrooms.
- Plans to prioritize outreach to families who have been historically excluded from early education systems.
- Wants to protect and expand after-school and enrichment programming across Harris County.
- Supports prioritizing enrichment opportunities that "foster academic success and social-emotional development."
- Wants to ensure educational programs are safe, affordable, and accessible.

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Silky Joshi Malik

- Votes on various issues, including funding, tax rates, new construction projects, educational programming. They also hire the county superintendent for day-to-day operations.
- Works to equalize educational opportunity for emotionally disturbed or disabled students, students expelled from home campuses, and students recovering from substance abuse or dependency. Also provides adult education and after-school programming.
- Provides county with purchasing cooperative to streamline vendor obtainment process for government entities, including construction, school supplies, education technology, and food.
- Supports educators and school staff with school safety and emergency preparedness training and alternative certifications.
- Are elected in a partisan election for six-year terms. Candidates must be registered to vote in county and precinct (if running for a particular one), cannot be connected to public schools of any district, be at least 18 years old, cannot be a convicted felon, and must have lived continuously in Texas for at least a year and six months in the county.
- Board is paid through tax rate of 0.48%, grants, fees charged for additional services provided, and purchasing cooperative run by board. Members get paid $6 for every meeting they hold.

Establishes policies and provides services to local alternative schools.

Harris County Department of Education Board Member, Post 7

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