The Dallas Morning News keeps chugging along on the endorsements front.
Hector Uribe has a refreshingly straightforward approach to politics that helps drive our recommendation of him in the Democratic primary for land commissioner. Ask him why he’s running, for example, and he doesn’t claim to be answering some lifelong passion to oversee the Texas General Land Office. Democratic Party notables recruited him, he says.
But in the short time he’s been running, Uribe has proven himself a quick study, having acquired an impressive grasp of many politically charged issues confronting the land office. He understands the pressing need to find new income sources for the dwindling petroleum royalties that supply the Permanent School Fund, a major land office challenge. Without that income, Texans could see their property taxes increase to fund public schools.
Uribe, 64, is a South Texas attorney and lobbyist who served in the state Senate and House from 1978 to 1990. His only opponent, real estate instructor Bill Burton, 54, lacks the depth of knowledge to be a viable challenger in November to the incumbent land commissioner, Republican Jerry Patterson, and Libertarian candidate James Holder.
Uribe has sent out some witty press releases, which endeared him to me pretty quickly, but it was also clear that he’s a sharp guy who’ll be an asset for the ticket as a whole. He’s got my vote, and I hope he’ll have yours.