The Texas Commissioner of Agriculture's office has lost direction at the hand of career politicians interested only in advancing up their career ladder. The Commissioner has lost touch with rural Texas, and specifically, economic development. I intend to re-establish the connection between the Commissioner's office and rural communities engaged in economic development.

Years ago, the Texas Department of Agriculture was given a seat on Rural Economic Development Councils across the state. The idea was to help rural communities and towns as they developed their economic development strategy. These seats have not been filled in years, if they were ever occupied at all.

So consequently, many communities have created economic development plans that grow the community on "prime agricultural land." Texas agriculture needs a voice to help steer communities to grow their community on non-prime agricultural land. We are already losing too much prime land, especially with the Trans-Texas Corridor in the works.

The Commissioner of Agriculture and the agency can be a voice to help educate and work with rural communities to develop economic development plans that grow the community and do not permanently take "prime agricultural land" out of production.

I will also work to increase assistance dedicated to agribusinesses, communities and rural business throughout the state for the retention, revitalization and creation of economic development. Texans involved in agriculture and economic development must work together to better both the community and Texas agriculture.

I pledge to all Texans to stay with this office and work for a common-sense approach with long term planning in global markets, food safety, natural resource conservation, bio-terrorism protection, environment concerns and border-security.