Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples (R) brought his re-election campaign to Texas Tech’s Memorial Circle today.
Staples, speaking to supporters from both Texas Tech and Lubbock Christian University, brought up the legacy being left for the next generation and what conservative need to fight for, “So the question for you all as college students and the question for people of my generation is this: What kind of legacy are we going to leave for the next generation of Americans and the next generation of Texans? Are we going to leave a state and a country that we can be proud of? I’ve got to tell you, there are policies in our country today that threaten production of agriculture. And they threaten the future of our country. Not only do we have an overzealous, overreaching (and) overbearing federal government that is trying to takeover so many aspects of our lives from health care to a national debt that is very crippling. But we have a situation today to where we seem to be moving away from our free-market enterprise system that built the most productive, most powerful economy the world has ever known.”
Commissioner Staples’ Democrat Party opponent, Hank Gilbert, at a Lubbock campaign appearance in July and in appearances across the state stated the Texas Department of Agriculture is not doing a good enough job monitoring the accuracy of gas pumps across the state. Staples today told KFYO News, it’s a non-issue, “I’ve worked hard to make certain that every consumer gets every ounce of gas they pay for at the pump. During my first term in office I’ve quadrupled the fines for those that are found to be in noncompliance. I’ve posted (the names of) violators at our website. I have promoted a 1-800-TELL-TDA toll-free (phone) line to empower consumers, so if they feel there is a violation they can report it directly to TDA and we can dispatch an inspector. We’ve made tremendous gains in this arena and it’s important for our Texas economy that we do. Obviously, there always more work to be done, but with quadrupling the fines and reemphasizing opportunities for consumers to be involved, and through the legislative process increased other penalties for noncompliance we’ve made great progress.”
Staples’ event was sponsored by the Texas Tech and Lubbock Christian University Young Republican organizations. His reelection opponents include Democrat Hank Gilbert and Libertarian Rick Donaldson. Staples was first elected Ag Commissioner in 2006 after serving as a state senator.
KFYO Local News 