State ag commissioner candidate visits Valley
EDINBURG — A candidate for Texas agriculture commissioner visited the Rio Grande Valley on Wednesday to tout a plan that would bring a biofuel boon to South Texas.
Hank Gilbert, who stumped in Edinburg, Harlingen and McAllen, is challenging incumbent Republican Todd Staples for the second time. Staples won the 2006 election with 55 percent of the vote to Gilbert’s 42 percent.
The two candidates have made headlines for being particularly vicious in the low-profile election, posting personal attacks on websites and accusing each other of law-breaking and corruption.
During Gilbert’s appearance in Edinburg — which was attended only by his campaign director, two local reporters and the candidate himself — he was quick to point out his opponent’s political ties in Austin, saying he was “sick and tired of politicians” who use their title at the agency as a stepping stone in their political careers.
“My opponent is a professional politician,” the lifetime rancher said as he stood outside the Hidalgo County Courthouse. “I am not a politician.”
Gilbert said he planned to make Texas a major biofuel producer using sugar cane and cassava, weaning the state off foreign oil.
“We have sugar now,” Gilbert said. “But the United States doesn’t need sugar — it needs energy.”
Texas is the fourth-largest sugar cane producer among the 50 states, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. More than 1.4 million tons are harvested in the state annually on 41,000 acres — most of it in the Rio Grande Valley. The USDA estimates 1 acre of sugar cane would yield 665 gallons of ethanol in Texas.
Gilbert plans to continue campaigning across the state today with stops in La Grange, Laredo, San Antonio and Seguin.
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Ana Ley covers business and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4428.
