Josh Wallenstein

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Josh Wallenstein

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

March 5, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

Southern Methodist University, 1997

Law

Stanford Law School, 2002

Personal

Birthplace

Austin, Texas

Religion

Episcopalian

Profession

Attorney, Small Business Owner

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

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Personal LinkedIn

Josh Wallenstein (Democratic Party) ran for election for an at-large seat of the Harris County Department of Education Board of Trustees in Texas. He lost in the Democratic primary on March 5, 2024.

Wallenstein completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Josh Wallenstein was born in Austin, Texas. He earned a bachelor's degree from Southern Methodist University in 1997, and a law degree from Stanford Law School in 2002. Wallenstein’s career experience includes working as a compliance and ethics attorney.

As of 2024, Wallenstein was affiliated with the following organizations:

• Member, The New York Bar (20 years)
• Member, The District of Columbia Bar (17 years)
• Member, Emmanuel Episcopal Church (10 years)
• Member, The Texas Bar (8 years)
• Parliamentarian, West Houston Democrats (8 years)
• Member, Texas Freedom Network (8 years)
• Board Director, TRACE Foundation (6 years)
• Director, Harris County Democratic Lawyers Association (5 years)
• Member, Leadership Now (3 years)
• Fellow, Leadership Houston (1 year)
• Member, The U.S. Supreme Court Bar (1 year)

Elections

2024

See also: Municipal elections in Harris County, Texas (2024)

General election

General election for Harris County Department of Education Board of Trustees Position 3, At-Large

Incumbent Richard Cantu defeated Danielle Dick in the general election for Harris County Department of Education Board of Trustees Position 3, At-Large on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Richard Cantu (D)	52.5	766,273
	Submit photo	Danielle Dick (R)	47.5	692,614

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,458,887
= 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 Harris County Department of Education Board of Trustees Position 3, At-Large

Incumbent Richard Cantu defeated Josh Wallenstein in the Democratic primary for Harris County Department of Education Board of Trustees Position 3, At-Large on March 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Richard Cantu	63.8	95,227
		Josh Wallenstein	36.2	53,983

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 149,210
= 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.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Harris County Department of Education Board of Trustees Position 3, At-Large

Danielle Dick advanced from the Republican primary for Harris County Department of Education Board of Trustees Position 3, At-Large on March 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Danielle Dick	100.0	141,307

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 141,307
= 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.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Wallenstein in this election.

2020

See also: Texas House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for Texas House of Representatives District 138

Lacey Hull defeated Akilah Bacy in the general election for Texas House of Representatives District 138 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Lacey Hull (R)	51.6	33,081
		Akilah Bacy (D)	48.4	30,982

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 64,063
= 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.

Democratic primary runoff election

Democratic primary runoff for Texas House of Representatives District 138

Akilah Bacy defeated Jenifer Rene Pool in the Democratic primary runoff for Texas House of Representatives District 138 on July 14, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Akilah Bacy	79.3	4,061
		Jenifer Rene Pool	20.7	1,063

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 5,124
= 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.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 138

Akilah Bacy and Jenifer Rene Pool advanced to a runoff. They defeated Josh Wallenstein in the Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 138 on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Akilah Bacy	46.8	4,416
✔		Jenifer Rene Pool	29.2	2,757
		Josh Wallenstein	24.0	2,268

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 9,441
= 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.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 138

Lacey Hull defeated Josh Flynn and Claver Kamau-Imani in the Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 138 on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Lacey Hull	59.3	5,437
		Josh Flynn	32.3	2,962
	Submit photo	Claver Kamau-Imani	8.4	767

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 9,166
= 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.

2018

See also: Municipal elections in Harris County, Texas (2018)

General election

General election for Harris County Department of Education Board of Trustees Position 3, At-Large

Richard Cantu defeated Marc Cowart in the general election for Harris County Department of Education Board of Trustees Position 3, At-Large on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Richard Cantu (D)	56.7	670,827
	Submit photo	Marc Cowart (R)	43.3	512,094

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,182,921
= 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.

Democratic primary runoff election

Democratic primary runoff for Harris County Department of Education Board of Trustees Position 3, At-Large

Richard Cantu defeated Josh Wallenstein in the Democratic primary runoff for Harris County Department of Education Board of Trustees Position 3, At-Large on May 22, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Richard Cantu	50.3	26,041
		Josh Wallenstein	49.7	25,780

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 51,821
= 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.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Harris County Department of Education Board of Trustees Position 3, At-Large

Richard Cantu and Josh Wallenstein advanced to a runoff. They defeated Elvonte Patton in the Democratic primary for Harris County Department of Education Board of Trustees Position 3, At-Large on March 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Richard Cantu	39.0	53,792
✔		Josh Wallenstein	30.8	42,425
		Elvonte Patton	30.2	41,630

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 137,847
= 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.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Harris County Department of Education Board of Trustees Position 3, At-Large

Marc Cowart advanced from the Republican primary for Harris County Department of Education Board of Trustees Position 3, At-Large on March 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Marc Cowart	100.0	110,287

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 110,287
= 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 themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Josh Wallenstein completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Wallenstein's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a product of public schools; as the son of a single mother, I know its transformational power first-hand. My family is also invested in public education: my spouse and brothers work in public schools and my son is a proud HISD student. They prove, daily, that education empowers each of us to reach our full potential.

Unfortunately, our public schools are critically underfunded. The HCDE fills the gap between state funding and community needs: it provides crucial assistance to public schools, public school children, and adult learners, all while saving taxpayers money.

To maximize its positive impact, the HCDE needs quality leadership. I am the most qualified candidate in this race. An elected Trustee’s primary job is to comprehensively review contracts. As the only attorney in the race, and with decades of experience, I will do the job well, day one. Additionally, as a compliance attorney, I will design policies and systems to enforce transparency and fair dealing. I will also advocate to expand services to areas of greatest current need: (1) vocational training and certifications and (2) mental health resources.

The incumbent, after a six-year term, has done none of this. Instead, he used the seat to run for higher office (and lost). The HCDE must not be a consolation prize for a lost election; instead, our community deserves a candidate with a almost a decade of proven dedication to the institution and a serious commitment to its future.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Demonstrated Commitment: I am an anti-corruption attorney. Eight years ago, I and spent 18 months publicly protesting corruption and cronyism at the HCDE Board – we made good trouble and effected real, positive change! Now that schools and teachers are under attack, it is more important than ever that education-focused offices are not mere stepping stones to higher office; officeholders must instead demonstrate their dedication to serve the county for a full six-year term.
• Focus on Greatest Needs: I will expand the HCDE's vocational training programs (for adults) and its Head Start opportunities (for kids), as well as provide mental health resources (for students). I will also l increase funding for the Tools for Teachers program (which provides free school materials to teachers that otherwise have to pay out of their own pocket.)
• Tireless Advocacy and Transparency: I will fight to retain and improve the HCDE. Because the HCDE is partially funded by taxes, there is constant legislative pressure to eliminate it. Any suggestion of unfair dealing and conflicts of interests threaten its survival. To avoid even the perception of impropriety, I will institute a strong, department-wide conflict of interest policy and whistleblower hotline.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

HCDE Trustees are public servants focused on education.

I am a strong proponent of public schools, particularly in counties like Harris where public schools cater to a significant proportion of at-risk students. The public interest is for all of our children to be well-educated and empowered to reach their full potential. This is a public trust, a moral obligation, and a Texas constitutional mandate.

Unfortunately, Texas consistently ranks at the bottom of US states for per-pupil education spending and hasn’t increased school funding since 2019. In Houston, I until recently served as District VI's representative to HISD's Capital Planning Steering Committee to try to focus attention on areas of greatest investment need.

The HCDE is, bar none, the best investment our residents can make. It multiples every tax dollar by almost 500% (through external grants and economies of scale). Simply put, it is the cheapest way to help our cash-strapped public schools and our most vulnerable public school children, as well as those in our community who want to earn a degree or learn a trade.

Beyond education: the Democratic Party aligns with my values, and I have been a member or officer in multiple local clubs and organizations.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I wish to leave a legacy like I leave a campsite: better, cleaner and safer than when I arrived.

Despite the tragic early death of my father, I was given wonderful opportunities early in life. I am not the type of person to pull up the ladder behind me. Instead, I am willing to sacrifice to ensure that all children are given the opportunity to succeed that all adults are given the support they deserve.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Outside of lemonade stands and the occasional lawnmowing job, my first full-time position was at a Texaco gas station in Austin, TX. To this day, I remain grateful to its owner Neil Newberry, who refused to fix my '73 Nova; instead, he gave me a rag and showed me how to fix it myself. From that day on, I would work at the Texaco every summer as a low-level grease monkey while continually learning about cars and car repair.

More broadly, I learned about life. This local Texaco was a community treasure: for decades, elderly residents came to get "full service" from personnel who had been working there for decades. In fact, it seemed like every week we received fresh baked goods from a happy local customer.

I learned so many skills and values, among them: the value of a dollar (and the impact of taxes on a paycheck); the value of hard work and education; the importance of keeping your word; persistence until the puzzle was solved; the customer is always right; the value of a smile of kindness; and how invaluable it is simply to demonstrate a willingness to help.

I also learned how crucial it is in today's world to have a job...and adequate transportation to get to it.
My local Texaco became a second family and part of my identity. One summer, a girl from high school even engraved my tire pressure gauge for me. I was proud of who that station helped me become.

I worked at that gas station every summer throughout high school and college. I would also return every year to see my former colleagues and customers at the annual Dec. 24 Christmas party. Among the things of which I am the most proud: I still fit in my flame-retardant collared shirt from over 30 years ago.

What is the primary job of a school board member in your view?

At the HCDE, the primary job of elected Trustees is to comprehensively review the many contracts presented for approval each month. I am an attorney with decades of experience in contracts. I fact, I am the only candidate running for this position (from either party) with substantial experience in contract analysis. I am committed to good governance, fiscal responsibility, and fairness; I will ensure that the HCDE uses taxpayer funds wisely and avoids costly liabilities.

In what areas would you like to expand curriculum? For example, do you see a need for advanced technical training or apprenticeships? What sort of innovative programming would you advance if given the opportunity?

The HCDE offers working adults the opportunity to gain the skills needed to take advantage of better job opportunities or move into higher education. This includes certain limited workforce training. These invaluable opportunities should be promoted and expanded within the HCDE’s programs.

I will propose that the HCDE work with unions and other organizations to introduce adult learners to these opportunities. As an example of why: unions present opportunities for paid apprenticeships (with health care) so that folks can pay the bills while learning a trade.

How might you support the mental health needs of students/faculty/staff?

My wife is a public school crisis counselor; her stories of student challenges routinely blow my mind. However, the HCDE is currently able to offer physical, occupational, and music therapy to around 7000 kids. (To put this in perspective, the HISD alone serves almost 200,000 kids.) Every child deserves full access to therapeutic support, and the HCDE is the most cost-effective provider. It must dramatically expand mental health services so that school districts can provide critical support to their most challenged youth.

What existing district policies would you like to change, or what new policies would you like to implement?

The HCDE Board needs to demonstrate transparency and avoid even the perception of impropriety. Unfortunately, its conflicts of interest policy is inadequate and disclosures have not been forthcoming. (For reference, only 1 disclosure was made in each of 2020 and 2021, and no disclosures since.) There is also no publicly available whistleblower hotline. As a compliance attorney, I am an expert at (a) setting up programs and mechanisms (such as hotlines to detect discrimination or conflicts of interest disclosure procedures) and (b) training personnel on acceptable and unacceptable practices.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

As of the date of publication, organizations have not yet published endorsements. Individuals include:

• Dr. Diane Trautman (former County Clerk; former HCDE Trustee Position 3 At Large)
• Obes Nwabara (former candidate, HCDE Trustee Position 7, At Large)
• Marilyn Burgess (Harris County District Clerk)
• Brian Alcott Joe Cone – Candidate for US Congress (NJ-3)
• Holly María Flynn Villaseca (former HISD Trustee)
• Ryan C. Irving, Jr. (Candidate, CFISD, Pos 3, Pos 6)
• Kimberly Dang (President, Harris County Democratic Lawyers Association)
• Jeff Hilton (President, West Houston Democrats)
• Dr. Bill and Randy Race
• Alec Zorich
• Niko Zorich
• Lauren M. Strickland
• Ximena Magaña
• Ricardo Martinez
• Dr. Trisha Ruiz
• Dr. LaKeshia Barbee
• Leif and Elsie Hatlen
• Yasmeen Belal
• Chartenya Cleveland
• Catherine Flowers
• Craig Howard
• June Liu
• Hope Pamplin
• Russell Richard
• Priya Sharma
• Ken Smiley
• Quynh Tran
• Aby Whitmire

• Lee Wong

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2018

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's candidate surveys

Josh Wallenstein participated in Ballotpedia's candidate survey on April 7, 2018. The survey questions appear in bold, and Josh Wallenstein's responses follow below.

What would be your top three priorities, if elected?

“

1) Preventing the elimination of the Harris County Department of Education 2) Ensuring accountability and transparency 3) Increasing workforce training efforts

”

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Why?

“

Public education is necessary public infrastructure. It’s also a constitutional mandate in Texas. We don’t do it well- and we do a tremendous disservice to our kids thereby. I will work hard to promote fiscally prudent solutions to our problems with public education.

”

Ballotpedia also asked the candidate a series of optional questions. Josh Wallenstein answered the following:

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

“

This government entity is the best use of our tax dollars that no one has ever heard about. It supports our public schools and public school children, and helps out adult learners, too- all in a very cost-efficient manner. Were it to be eliminated, our taxes would go up, necessary services would be eliminated...and our cash-strapped school districts would have even less money to provide their essential services. We must fight to keep it around!

”

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

“

Contracting expertise Compliance expertise Demonstrated commitment

”

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