American-Statesman Editorial Board | Austin American-Statesman
Texas boasts more farms and ranches than any state in America, with nearly a quarter-million of them sprawled across 127 million acres.
That’s why the position of Texas agriculture commissioner should be entrusted to someone who takes the job more seriously than incumbent Republican Commissioner Sid Miller, whose questionable ethics undermine the credibility of the office. We recommend Republican voters support James White, a six-term Republican state representative and cattle rancher, in the March 1 GOP agriculture commissioner primary.
We recommend Ed Ireson in the Democratic primary. Early voting continues through March 1.
The Texas Department of Agriculture promotes agricultural production, consumer protection, economic development and healthy living, including administering school lunch and breakfast programs in Texas.
If elected, White has pledged to reduce onerous regulatory fees and expand the H-2A agricultural visa program. He co-sponsored a bill to legalize medical marijuana in Texas and says he would persuade lawmakers to authorize market opportunities for hemp and cannabis.
Miller, seeking a third term in office, has been the subject of a Texas Rangers investigation over taxpayer-funded travel and a top former political aide was indicted in January after investigators said the aide stole money from possible investors in the state’s hemp industry. Miller is also known to spread dangerous and false conspiracy theories, including that terrorists were training in Brazoria County and the 2020 presidential election was stolen. He can’t be taken seriously as a candidate.
Carey A. Counsil, a rancher, real estate developer and economics professor, is also running in the GOP primary, but he lacks White’s profile and political experience.
Democrat Ireson’s rural agenda invites more crossover appeal
Texas Democrats have two strong choices in the primary race for agriculture commissioner: Susan Hays, a West Texas attorney who has done legal work defending voting and reproductive rights, and advising cannabis producers, and Ed Ireson, a businessman who hails from a multi-generational cattle family in Brazos County.
Both bring solid ideas for improving Texas agriculture, but in our view Ireson – whose website declares “agriculture isn’t red or blue” – has a better chance of returning this seat to the Democrats in the general election because his mainstream rural agenda invites more crossover appeal. We recommend Democratic voters support him in the primary.
If elected, Ireson says he would ensure nutritious meals for schoolchildren, expand the H-2A visa seasonal worker program, push for improvements to decrepit roads and bridges to help farmers get their products to market more efficiently, and use federal grants to expand broadband in rural areas.
Hays also has good ideas, including legalizing marijuana, supporting the revitalization of failing rural hospitals and promoting “less-thirsty” crops that protect water supplies. She has been a vocal critic of alleged corruption in the agriculture commissioner’s office, and vows to clean it up.
American-Statesman Editorial Board