Eagle Editorial Board
While the race for governor is capturing most of the interest in the party primaries, there are contested races for land commissioner, agriculture commissioner and railroad commissioner.
In the Land Commission race, Bill Burton and Hector Uribe are vying for the Democratic nomination to face incumbent Commissioner Jerry Patterson, who is unopposed in the Republican Primary.
Jokester Kinky Friedman faces Hank Gilbert in the Democratic race for commissioner of agriculture. Todd Staples, the incumbent, is unopposed in the Republican Primary.
Railroad Commission Chair-man Victor Carillo faces David Porter in the Republican Primary.
Land Commissioner
Burton met with the Editorial Board, but Uribe did not.
Burton, a real estate professional in Athens, said he is alarmed at the losses in revenue from state lands. Those losses, he said, hurt school districts and counties across the state.
If elected, he said he would sell off unneeded state lands and limit purchases of new properties.
Uribe served three years in the Texas House and almost a decade in the Texas Senate, where he concentrated on water issues and sponsored the bill creating the Texas Lottery.
Uribe said he wants to bring the Land Office's reliance on carbon-based industry into 21st century reliance on renewable energy.
Both men would do a good job, but Burton's years of experience in land issues make him a better candidate.
The Eagle recommends a vote for Bill Burton for land commissioner in the Democratic Primary.
Agriculture Commissioner
Friedman didn't meet with the Editorial Board, but he didn't need to. He trivializes the electoral process and while at first his shtick was amusing, it long since has grown stale and tiresome. He is not a serious candidate and shouldn't be treated as such.
Gilbert, on the other hand, is an impressive candidate.
While a student at Texas A&M, Gilbert owned his own cattle sale barn in Jacksonville. After graduation, he taught high school agriculture for 13 years.
If elected, Gilbert said he wants to do a better job marketing Texas agriculture, creating a demand for Texas-branded products. He said the commission must be a better watchdog on food safety.
Even if he had a legitimate opponent, Gilbert would stand out. He is knowledgeable and passionate about Texas agriculture.
The Eagle recommends a vote for Hank Gilbert for the Democratic nomination for agriculture commissioner.
Railroad Commissioner
The Railroad Commissioner no longer has anything to do with railroads. Rather, it is the primary agency for dealing with the state's oil and gas industry.
Carillo is running for a second full term after being appointed to the position by Gov. Rick Perry in 2003. He spent seven years as a geophysicist before serving on the Abilene City Council and, later, Taylor County judge.
He favors combining all energy efforts in Texas under one authority -- the Railroad Com-mission -- with a name change to the Texas Energy Commission. That is a good idea that should be followed. His desire to combine the number of commissioners from three to one isn't as wise.
Porter was a certified public accountant in Midland for 23 years before moving to rural Lee County in 2004.
He said he is concerned with the health and safety working in the oil and gas industry, as well as with the safety and preservation of ground and surface water.
Carillo has done a good job for the past seven years and there is no reason to replace him.
The Eagle recommends a vote for Victor Carillo for re-election to the Railroad Commission of Texas in the Republican Primary.
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