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October 19, 2001

Producers keep close
eye on S.D. 30 race

By Mike Barnett
Editor

A special election to fill the unexpired term of the late Senator Tom Haywood has resulted in the grassroots endorsement by Texas Farm Bureau's political action arm, AGFUND (Texas Farm Bureau Friends of Agriculture Fund), of agribusinessman Craig Estes of Wichita Falls.

The special election for the Senate District 30 seat will be held Nov. 6.

"As the recent battles over redistricting of the Texas Legislature have taught us all too well, representation by leaders who understand agriculture and rural issues is more valuable than ever," said Donald Patman, president of the Texas Farm Bureau and AGFUND. "Experience and knowledge in these areas is not only important to those of us in agriculture, but also to the entire state of Texas."

Estes is president and chief executive officer of Estes, Inc., a wholesale distributor of agricultural supplies with outlets in Texas and Oklahoma.

A third generation Texan, the candidate said the farm and ranch communities in his district, which stretches from near Amarillo to the Sherman/Denison area, are critical to the economy of North Texas.

"I have been involved with the agriculture industry for many years and I understand the trials and tribulations of farming and ranching," he said. "Whether the issue is karnal bunt or taxes, I stand with the farmers and ranchers of Senate District 30 and the state of Texas."

Unusual race

Texas Farm Bureau Organization Director Joe Maley termed the Senate District 30 race unusual for several reasons, and said the results of the election has great implications for rural Texas.

First, the recent death of Sen. Tom Haywood, a good friend of agriculture, is the reason for this special election. Second, the election is a political free-for-all where all candidates—regardless of party affiliation—are running on the same ballot. If no candidate achieves 50 percent of the vote, a run-off election will be held in 30 days.

And third, whoever wins the election will immediately start preparing another campaign for the District 30 seat. The reason? Redistricting. And redistricting is also the reason this race is so important to rural Texas, Maley said.

The lines of Senate District 30 have been redrawn—as is the case in House and Senate districts across the state—making the district much more urban than before. Whomever wins this Nov. 6 special election will immediately start campaigning for the March 2002 primary—for the newly redrawn district. The power of incumbency could make a difference in that election, Maley said.

"This is the perfect opportunity for agriculture and rural Texas to try to elect someone from a district that will run with the power of an incumbent in a much more urban district after Jan. 1 of next year," he said.

And with the low voter turnout reflective of most special elections, the organization director said agriculture has a real chance to make a difference in this race.

"This is the perfect opportunity for rural residents to be very active and elect a senator that shares their values in the interests of rural Texas, as we move into the newly redistricted state after the election," he said.