Staple’s plan includes foreign management of Texas roads

(Ennis)//Hank Gilbert, Texas Democrat for Agriculture Commissioner, criticized Todd Staples for his support of the highly controversial Trans- Texas Corridor (TTC) which could destroy hundreds of family owned farms and small businesses. In a packed town hall meeting in Ennis on Monday, Gilbert met with hundreds of concerned citizens who turned out to express their outrage over what is being called “the greatest land grab in the last 100 years” and will benefit a foreign corporation at the expense of rural and suburban Texans.

“It is simply wrong for family farms to be torn apart for toll roads which will be leased to a foreign company,” Gilbert, a rancher from Whitehouse said. “I am impressed by the turnout and the crowd’s understanding of the issue. It’s important for all Texans to understand what’s at stake with the TTC and to do everything they can to stop it.”

Gilbert campaign spokesperson, Katy Cutright said, “I am very encouraged to hear from so many voters–not just Democrats, but Republicans and Independents too—who support Hank on this issue. Todd Staples obviously values big business over the agricultural interests of Texas.”

Gilbert received a standing ovation when he emphasized what needs to be done to stop the TTC, “You’ve got to turn out and vote for candidates who won’t sell out your interests. The TTC will kill small towns and family farms all along its path from Laredo to Oklahoma. My opponent doesn’t care what taking your land and handing it over to a foreign corporation will do to you. It is time to clean house and you can start by making sure I’m elected instead of my opponent.”

“This is not about Republicans, Democrats or Independents, this is about what is right for Texas. We can’t allow our valuable resources to be used to fatten the profits for some foreign corporation while robbing many Texans of their land and driving up taxes for all of us.”