Staples talks immigration, jobs

Ag Commissioner makes campaign stop in Clarendon

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

Texas Ag Commissioner Todd Staples addressed a crowd of about 35 people last Tuesday as part of his campaign to be the next Lieutenant Governor.

Speaking at the Bairfield Activity Center, Staples addressed the historic drought affecting the state before saying that he is excited about the future of Texas and the 2014 election.

“Elections are about choices and who we choose to represent us and the ideas we believe,” the commissioner said.

Staples said work was engrained in him at young age as an important virtue and said he had made job creation an important focus during his time as ag commissioner, and he also focused on improving the marketing of locally produced food with the Go Texan project.

Much of Staples’ prepared remarks focused on illegal immigration and his frustrations with the federal government’s failure to secure the border with Mexico.

“The biggest threat to landowners is when they can’t use their property,” Staples said, noting that drug cartels are penetrating the border and endangering landowners in South Texas.

Staples commissioned a study of border issues and then published a book, Broken Borders, Broken Promises, which focuses on immigration issues.

As lieutenant governor, Staples says he would work on job creation, putting education dollars in the classrooms, and water and energy issues. He also raised concerns about the federal government encroaching on states’ rights.

Staples is expected to face at least three other contenders during the Republican Primary next spring. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst will be the incumbent, Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson is also seeking the lieutenant governor’s office, and so is State Sen. Dan Patrick.