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By Scott Shaffer
Ask 10 Texas voters “Who do you want for your next Agriculture Commissioner?” and chances are most wouldn't have an answer.
But every Texan should have an answer. The Texas Agriculture Commission
protects our food, water, air and even operates the state's children's nutrition program.
The choices on Nov. 7 are between Democrat Hank Gilbert, Republican Todd Staples and Libertarian Clay Woolam.
Gilbert visited Laredo last week after more than 130,000 miles of campaigning across Texas in his 2002 Chevy Suburban, Resistol cowboy hat and Lucchese boots.
If you eat, if you use gas in your car, if you wear clothes, literally if you breathe the air or drink the water in Texas, you should care about the election for Agriculture Commissioner,” Gilbert said.
Gilbert is from Troup, about 50 miles south of Tyler, he makes his living in agriculture but wants to make a change in Austin.
While in Laredo, Gilbert aggressively challenged Staples' votes in the Texas Senate in support of the Trans-Texas Corridor and the provisions that would affect water availability for Texas agriculture.
“My opponent passed a bill that would allow water to be moved from water-rich areas of the state through water lines that will be built in the TTC and then denied,” Gilbert said.
Gilbert is strongly opposed to the corridor.
“If the TTC were allowed to pull water out of east or central Texas and send it to Mexico, we would just about be put out of business in the fruit and vegetable industry because they can produce earlier than we can,” Gilbert said.
The NAIS plan adopted by the state “without the statue to do so,” according to Gilbert, provided for $1,000 per day fines and criminal penalties for any farmer or rancher who could not account for all their animals, even if a stray got out through an unlocked gate.”
“Staples voted for it (NAIS) three times (in the Senate during the recent legislative session) and now comes out against it and the TTC,” Gilbert added.
Gilbert also discussed water and food issues that would be the commissioner's responsibility.
“I'm president of a 3,000-member water co-op and I know what it costs to buy water today. I'm all for water harvesting and desalination,” he said.
Pierre de Wet is president of Tyler-based Agtoprof, a developer and manager of small and large income producing farmlands.
De Wet, who described himself as a “heart and soul” Republican knows Gilbert and Staples.
“The thing about Hank that intrigued me is that he is not a politican. Hank is a realist in agriculture and understands more than most people our need to open markets and become competitive as state,” De Wet said.
“I know Todd very well. He is an outstanding politician, but Hank is truly in it for agriculture and no other reason,” De Wet added.
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Independent Texans, which is seeking recognition for the state's 4.2 million independent voters, today announced its endorsement of Hank Gilbert for Texas Agriculture Commissioner. Gilbert is running on the Democratic ticket against Republican Todd Staples. Staples helped develop and pass the legislation for the Trans-Texas Corridor (TTC) and urban freeway-to-toll way schemes of Gov. Rick Perry. Gilbert is an owner of a family run cow/calf operation in Troup and a former educator. The Dallas Mornings News said Gilbert, "is an articulate and knowledgeable rancher...(who) has plenty of ability to offer."
My name is Hank Gilbert and I'm running for Texas Agriculture Commissioner -- it's the only job I want.
