Scott Firsing
Scott Firsing (Republican Party) ran for election to the Texas House of Representatives to represent District 47. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Firsing completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Scott Firsing was born in Edison, New Jersey. Firsing earned a bachelor's degree from Rutgers University in 2003, a graduate degree from American Public University in 2006, and a Ph.D. from the University of South Africa in 2011. His career experience includes working as a business owner. Firsing has been affiliated with the National Flight Training Alliance and the University Aviation Association.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: Texas House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Texas House of Representatives District 47
Incumbent Vikki Goodwin defeated Scott Firsing in the general election for Texas House of Representatives District 47 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Vikki Goodwin (D) | 59.5 | 55,555 |
 | Scott Firsing (R)  | 40.5 | 37,782 | |
| Total votes: 93,337 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 47
Incumbent Vikki Goodwin advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 47 on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Vikki Goodwin | 100.0 | 12,108 |
| Total votes: 12,108 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 47
Scott Firsing advanced from the Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 47 on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Scott Firsing | 100.0 | 8,416 |
| Total votes: 8,416 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign finance
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Firsing in this election.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Scott Firsing completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Firsing's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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A father, husband and a problem solver, I am a center leaning conservative who is tired of political fighting. It’s dividing our great state and our great nation. As a former professor and now small business owner, I have extensive international, leadership and multi-cultural experience. It’s time for real results, and I'm not afraid to work across the aisle to get the right things done.
- It’s time for positive change. I’m an outsider to Texas politics with no affiliations. I’m not beholden to particular people or factions, and I want to stay above them. As an outsider with vast experience working with a very diverse group of people, I will bring a different, refreshing perspective to the issues that matter the most to Texans.
- I pride myself in being an analytical and big picture thinker. I believe this will be a positive attribute for the Texas Legislature. So many of the issues we face like cost of living, education and health, are intertwined.
- I believe in common decency and honesty. Politicians should not be calling people names, bullying. Lets focus on what is best for our people.
International Relations and Economic Development, Business and Industry, Higher Education and Public Education, Transportation, Defense and Veteran Affairs, Energy Resources.
A strong work ethic and strong moral character. You really need someone who can communicate with all walks of life. Networking and building relationships, even with people you may disagree with, is important to get the right things done. It’s also important to be a good listener, as well as a good communicator. Last and certainty not least, this person should be passionate about making a difference.
What a thought provoking and insightful question. The world is so fast in present times, with so much noise, I haven’t really thought about it. I guess getting involved in politics, this campaign has a legacy component to it. I feel it’s my generation’s time, American men and women in their 40s, to start slowly taking the reins, to provide leadership and make an impact.
I always enjoyed the interactive component of teaching, and the positive impact it can have on individual lives. I might return to teaching one day. However, right now, politics to me is like teaching but on a broader scale. As a good politician, you have an ability to enact change for the better, and helping people is a great legacy to leave.
Again, when I think of legacy I think of the absolute giants from previous generations from where there is no real comparison. I’ve been fortunate enough to meet, and sometimes work with some of these individuals. If I were to achieve even a smidgen of what someone like South Africa’s Desmond Tutu achieved, I’d be a happy man. When the Archbishop passed away in December 2021, I told the news agency Al Jazerra that: “He was South Africa’s moral compass, a thorn in the side of the apartheid government for its gross inequalities, and, likewise, the post-apartheid government, which he railed against for corruption and cosying up to China…Tutu was an outspoken idealist, always on the side of justice, no matter how difficult that could be. He, with Nelson Mandela, was a giant during decades of tumultuous change. Now they are gone, it’s hard to see where South Africa will turn for a guiding voice.”
It’s not yet known who America’s guiding voice in the coming years and decades will be. I’d be happy if I can somehow be a part of this group.
It was January 1986 and something so unaccepted happened that it shocked America. The Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, killing all seven crew members aboard. As a very young student, also with an older brother in elementary school, it was huge deal that a civilian teacher was on board and lost her life. After years of launches with no incident, it was almost incomprehensible.
This event is probably partly the reason why I’m so interested in space activities and will be an avid learner in this field until the day I die. I was also a huge fan, like many Americans, of Star Wars and cartoons associated with space like Transformers. My mother, a Registered Nurse, who passed away many years was obsessed with Star Trek. I have many fond memories of watching of watching the show with her. I’m thrilled we are finally going back to the Moon and beyond.
I had a best friend growing up in central New Jersey in the 1980s. He and his family loved JRR Tolkien, and they converted me at a young age. We lived not too far from the woods and had adventures in the trees like it was Middle Earth. Kids unfortunately don’t do much of this anymore.
I could write a long eloquent analysis of why the Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings reign supreme. However, for the person reading this, I’ll just say, come on. Tolkien created his own species and even wrote his own language. The books have the morality of good and evil, light and darkness. You have Gandalf! You have characters traveling around on epic adventures. Traveling around the world is still one of my favorite things to do, if not my most favorite thing. Some of the great stories and elements of Christianity are present too. Tolkien was raised a Catholic like I was.
I was truly worried when they announced they were making the books into movies, especially as I am a very “visual” person. However, kudos to Peter Jackson and the entire team. It opened up a whole new world for so many people. Others like Game of Thrones have tried and come close, but for me, there’s still nothing like the LOTR.
There are numerous major challenges, and this is a large part of the reason why I decided to run now for my first public office.
Texas’ cost of living is too high, especially around some of Texas’ larger and growing cities. Taxpayers should and will welcome any form of tax relief. Texas ranks 6th among states for the highest property taxes paid as a percentage of owner-occupied housing value in 2020 at 1.66%.
Speaking based on the main role of a Texas Representative, the proper utilization of our tax money for basic services like education, healthcare and keeping our families and businesses safe are significant issues. If you live in Austin, you know crime is up. I lived in South Africa where crime, corruption, and power cuts came to dominate our day to day lives. I don’t want to see this here.
Other major issues include the invasion of our border and our sovereignty. I don’t need to go into detail here. Our energy infrastructure is also aging. Furthermore, Texas and our planet as a whole is warming. Droughts are affecting more people across Texas and it's a huge concern. For example. Lake Travis outside of Austin has been low for years with no signs of relief coming soon.
Taking care of our children: One of the biggest issues facing America is our food and obesity. If we can take this issue more seriously and tackle it, it will have a positive impact on our healthcare system and other sectors. More importantly, what I do know from personal experience and research is that there is a direct link between one’s health and the economy. This has been proven for decades. Healthy people show up for work, work harder, learn more, create businesses and want to better themselves, their family and their community.
I believe being an outsider has its advantages. Not having any political “debts” is definitely an advantage. Having a new or different perspective from that outside the Texas Capitol is beneficial.
With this said, I’m concerned about corruption and big government when you have politicians in office for decades. I recently signed a term limit pledge to this effect. To expand, I lived in Africa for 10 years and traveled around the world for the last 20. I have seen pure authoritarian governments that control the media, control the military, steal all the tax money and destroy citizens lives and their chances at prosperity. Hence the worry.
However, with all this said, it is beneficial to have a good team around you, people who have had experience and/or are subject matter experts. Moreover, it is beneficial to have different opinions or perspectives within your team, and to build relationships with other legislators.
There are many committees that interest me. The first is International Relations and Economic Development. A large part of my career has been in bilateral or multilateral relations. I would be a honor to assist with relations between the State of Texas and other nations, and also that of the federal government. Education is another interest of mine so Higher Education and/or Public Education committees. As a former teacher, K-12 Principal and University Professor, education is a very important issue to me. I have started and run private schools, one called the Aerospace Leadership Academy. Moreover, I’m a father of 5 children ages 11-18. Parents know each of their kids are unique with different strengths and weaknesses. There is so much to talk about here ranging from curriculum to school choice. Nevertheless, there are ways for the American youths to grow via charter schools and other specific opportunities so they can be excited about learning and ready to contribute to the Texas and American economy.
Due to previous roles, I can also contribute to Business and Industry, Transportation, Defense and Veteran Affairs and Energy Resources.
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Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
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Candidate Texas House of Representatives District 47 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on December 25, 2023
