Texas General Land Office commissioner candidates in Republican primary March 1
Don W. Minton
Occupation: Executive/General Counsel, Mineral Extraction Company
Age: 54
Campaign website: www.minton4glo.com
Best way for voters to reach you: don@minton4glo.com; 915.317.8447
Education: West Point (top 10%); UT Law (Honors); UTEP MBA (Honors)
Have you run for or held elected office before? District Court Judge, El Paso County Texas, Dec. 2007 to Jan. 2009
Please list highlights of your civic involvement (for example, service on boards/commissions or leadership positions held): General Counsel, Band Against MS (Musician Clay Walker non-profit); El Paso Independent School District Bond Accountability Committee
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain. N/A
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain. I have filed numerous suits as a creditor; I have never been sued, nor filed bankruptcy.
Who are your top three campaign contributors? Ly Tran; Joel Minton; Christopher Minton
Why are you seeking this office? To secure the Permanent School Fund by the expansion of leases of Texas Public Lands to include leases to extract and monetize critical minerals; to reformulate the Texas Veterans Land Board to make it first in class - our Veterans deserve it!; to ensure that there is no repeat of the debacle which occurred when the Texas Land Commissioner was required to return $2Billion in Hurricane Harvey relief to the federal government because it was not timely disbursed; to sanctify the grounds of the Alamo and transform it from tourist attraction to hallowed ground like the Pearl Harbor memorial or Omaha Beach; and finally to administer stingily the $4Billion in funds for the 123 projects (some of which are pork projects) designated for infrastructure improvements on the Texas Gulf Coast.
What qualities make for a good General Land Office Commissioner and how do you embody them? I graduated in the top 10% at West Point, served as an Army Officer, and am a Disabled Veteran. I know what veterans need. I served as a District Court Judge, and despite having resolved over 1,000 cases, was not once overturned on appeal. I know the law better than my opponents. As an executive in a mineral extraction company, I have negotiated with oil and gas companies in multi-million-dollar deals. I can cut deals for Texas with big oil to keep taxes low and tuition lower. And finally, I remember the Alamo
The Texas Legislature has transferred care of the Alamo to the GLO. How would you approach this task as commissioner? The Alamo deserves the reverence afforded national battlefields such as Pearl Harbor, Omaha Beach and Gettysburg. There is no place for tourist attractions adjacent to it. The story of the Alamo does not start with the 13 day siege in February/March 1836, but many years earlier, as early settlors rejected the central authority of the Spanish government and left the Alamo (and La Bahial, later known as Goliad) to settle the more remote regions of East Texas, such as Nacogdoches. All of these stories enhance and do not diminish the sacrifice of the original 150 defenders, as well as the immortal 32 who joined in the defense, knowing they were marching to a certain death.
Do you support the construction of a border wall on state lands? I am not opposed to the construction, if funds are appropriated from a source external to the General Land Office. I do not support diversion of GLO funds which are meant for the Permanent School Fund or the Veterans Land Board for the construction of the wall.
What would be your top 3 priorities as GLO commissioner? Enhance leases to grow the Permanent School Fund; make the Veterans Land Board a first in class benefit superior to the VA Loan; re-evaluate the 123 projects in various stages of implementation on the Texas Gulf Coast to ensure that only those projects which reinforce each other are undertaken, and no projects are completed which have as their genesis pork politics meant to reward a politician in a certain location.
Tim Westley
Did not respond.
Ben Armenta
Occupation: business owner
Age: 43
Campaign website: www.benarmenta.com
Best way for voters to reach you: email or call the office - 713-893-4419
Education: BA - humanities
Have you run for or held elected office before? No
Please list highlights of your civic involvement (for example, service on boards/commissions or leadership positions held):
- St. Faustina Catholic Church, Fulshear, TX
- Board Trustee, Houston Region Business Coalition (HRBC) PAC
- Board Trustee, Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation
- Multiple Associate Memberships, TFRW Clubs
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain. No
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain. No
Who are your top three campaign contributors?
- Stephanie Tsuru
- Ted Nguyen
- Samuel Neely
Why are you seeking this office?
1. To fix a broken agency. This agency is way too important for our state and yet it continues to make unforced errors due mostly to the fact that it has weak leadership and no accountability. I will restore both of those along with transparency and very active community engagement all across the state.
2. To give back to Texas. Texas has blessed me and my family and I’m now able to work in hopes of bestowing those blessings on others.
3. To not only hold the line for our conservative values (including the removal of RINOs in our party), but to go on offense against the Democrats. This agency must work closely with all levels of government (local to federal), but it must fight for what’s right by Texans. We should never, ever, compromise on our conservative values (which is an easy temptation when dealing with our inner cities and Biden agencies); I’m going to restore that principle back into this office.
What qualities make for a good General Land Office Commissioner and how do you embody them? As the only agency that generates revenue on the books for Texas, the GLO must run like a business and not like a bureaucratic agency. I operate and deliver. I’m a CEO. I have the experience in process automation, organization simplification, and technology implementation. This agency has grown three times its size in the last four years and it requires a complete overhaul. I am the only candidate that will lead like a conservative. I’m the only candidate in this race with the depth of experience to lead the GLO’s full responsibilities. I have oil and gas, real estate, veteran’s care, and deep experience in handling natural disasters – including managing public response programs after an oil environmental release. Along with having more relevant private sector experience than my opponents, I have complimentary experience in the public sector having worked in the Comptroller’s Office and led the strategy for the Greater Houston Partnership’s 2020 Public Policy Agenda.
The Texas Legislature has transferred care of the Alamo to the GLO. How would you approach this task as commissioner? Head on. I will ensure (1) that we never reimagine the history of the Alamo, (2) expand the representation of the battlefield, (3) break-up the 50-year lease with the City of San Antonio to manage the Alamo Plaza, (4) reprioritize the renovation and establish a transparent reporting process for the public on the financial spend, finish the evaluation of the Phil Collins donations and determine what should go on display.
Very importantly, I’ll also reestablish a stronger working relationship with the Daughters the Republic.
Do you support the construction of a border wall on state lands? Absolutely yes.
What would be your top 3 priorities as GLO commissioner? 1. Conduct a forensic audit of all GLO leases and ensure no foreign governments (or entities tied to governments) are leasing state lands
2. Overhaul the veteran’s services including bringing down the death rate in the nursing homes, building additional state cemeteries so all Texas veterans have access, and streamline the loan and land leasing capabilities
3. Take the lead on fixing the coastal flooding for our state (resiliency and remediation), from Brownsville to Beaumont. This includes removing all federal strings attached to HUD dollars and transparency on all rebuild efforts post disasters
Weston Martinez
Did not respond.
Victor Avila
Occupation: Retired ICE-HSI Special Agent; Author
Age: 49
Campaign website: VictorAvilaTX.com
Best way for voters to reach you: Info@VictorAvilaTX.com
Education: Bachelors of Science from the University of Texas, El Paso
Have you run for or held elected office before? I previously ran for the Southlake City Council.
Please list highlights of your civic involvement (for example, service on boards/commissions or leadership positions held):
2019 - Present: Member, North Texas Crime Commission (NTCC)
2017 – Present: Member, American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS) International
2015 – Present: Member, Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association (HAPCOA)
2011 – 2015: Member, ICE Hispanic Agents Association
2004 – Present: Member, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA)
2003 – 2007: Member, Texas Gang Investigators Association (TGIA)
2003 – 2007: Member, Texas Violent Gang Task Force (TVGTF)
2019- Present: Member of the Carroll ISD Diversity Council, Southlake, Tx
2016 – 2017: Volunteer Boy Scouts of America Troop 192
2005 – 2008: Member, DHS Outreach Program and Career Presentations
2000 – 2004: Mentor, El Paso Community Youth Development
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain. No
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain. No
Who are your top three campaign contributors? I am proud to say my campaign is powered by the people, not special interests. There are no shady lobbyists bankrolling my campaign, but a small army of Texans rallying behind me and my vision for the General Land Office. To answer the question, the names of my top three donors are Renato Ramirez, Orlando Salazar, and Magdalena Villalobos.
Why are you seeking this office?
To serve Texas. As I speak with voters throughout our state, their number one concern is the border. And from violent crime to drugs and human trafficking, it’s not hard to see why.
Recently, Commissioner George P. Bush announced Texas is building our own wall on lands overseen by the GLO. This is great news. But nothing is ever as simple as it seems.
Without new leadership, I have no doubt that the Texas wall will do little beyond serving as a political prop. That is if construction even continues past the Gubernatorial primary.
It’s time for Texas to get serious about building the wall and securing the border. Clearly, career politicians are the wrong choice to get the job done. I’m running as a conservative outsider to provide the battle-tested leadership we need to put Texans first by not only building the wall but ensuring we get the job done right. It’s time for real leadership, not political games.
What qualities make for a good General Land Office Commissioner and how do you embody them? For too long, the General Land Office has served as a political stepping stone. Too many career politicians serving in this capacity have devoted more time to running for their next office than actually doing the job to which they were elected. I am running as a conservative outsider because Texas needs a fighter who is not afraid to disrupt the status quo in order to deliver the results deserved by Texans. To me, every aspect of this job, whether it be border security, overseeing veterans benefits and education funding, as well as many of Texas’ natural resources, are fights that are both very personal and very close to my heart. I do not see this office as a political stepping stone but as a chance to continue my career in public service by righting so much of what is wrong today.
The Texas Legislature has transferred care of the Alamo to the GLO. How would you approach this task as commissioner? The Alamo is one of the latest targets of left-wing cancel culture. But on the contrary to what they would have you believe -that the Alamo is a symbol of slavery and oppression- hundreds of Texas, including many Tejanos, gave their lives to be free. The left’s Orwellian revisions to our history, in which they would teach our children that freedom is oppression, is wholly unacceptable should be soundly and decisively rejected. As Texas Land Commissioner and a proud first-generation Mexican-American, I will continue fighting back against Cancel Culture, and the corrosive ideologies supporting it, such as Critical Race Theory. I am proud to be an American, and I hope future generations will always say the same.
Do you support the construction of a border wall on state lands? Absolutely. A border wall is an essential component of any comprehensive border security solution. It has long since become clear we cannot count on the federal government to complete the wall, so we must take its construction upon ourselves.
What would be your top 3 priorities as GLO commissioner? Securing the border, defunding schools teaching Critical Race Theory, and protecting veterans’ benefits.
Dawn Buckingham
Occupation: Ophthalmologist and Oculoplastic & Reconstructive Surgeon
Age: 53
Campaign website: www.dawnbuckingham.com
Best way for voters to reach you: Calling our campaign office at 737-202-4728 or by visiting our website at www.dawnbuckingham.com
Education:
University of Texas at Austin, Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, Magna Cum Laude, 1992
University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Doctor of Medicine, 1997
Have you run for or held elected office before?
From 2012-2015: Lake Travis ISD School Board member.
From 2017-present: Texas State Senator, District 2
Please list highlights of your civic involvement (for example, service on boards/commissions or leadership positions held): I am very active in my church, Lakeway Church, and supporting its missions. I am also very active in PAPA (Physicians Aiding Physicians Abroad) who run medical missions in Africa and Central and South America. From 2013-2015, I was a member of the State Board of Educator Certification as Vice-Chair, where I set policy for educator certification and reprimanded educators. In 2018 I was the Victory Chair for the Republican Party of Texas where I suspended my medical practice for months while I raised the funds for the Get Out The Vote effort. Before and during early voting, I averaged 500 miles a day fighting side by side with Senator Ted Cruz against Beto as well as fighting for every Republican on the ballot.
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain. No
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain. No
Who are your top three campaign contributors?
Michael Porter, John Nau, Douglas Jaffe
Why are you seeking this office? I love serving Texas in the Senate, but God does not call us to the easy path. When I saw the void in the GLO, I knew Texas needed an experienced conservative fighter to be the tip of the spear in defending our Texas history and the oil and gas industry against the liberal left’s agenda. I am committed to preserving the Texas we know and love for our children and grandchildren. As a mom whose daughter recently got married, I take this duty very seriously. As I stated earlier, the Land Commissioner truly is central to so many of our biggest fights right now, and I am a fighter. I want to go where I can achieve the most good for the people of Texas, and I believe I am uniquely qualified with my life experiences and proven conservative record as a legislator to deliver for Texans.
What qualities make for a good General Land Office Commissioner and how do you embody them? I am qualified for this office because I am a residential, commercial, and agricultural landowner. I have experience in many types of land management. I also have served as a legislator, but more critically, as a public member of Sunset Commission and an appointed legislative member. In this capacity, I have reviewed many state agencies, identified efficiencies, cut waste, and improved outcomes for taxpayers—including some programs under the purview of the General Land Office. I understand how state government works and will be able to lead a major agency such as the GLO on day one. Finally, I am a practicing physician who is used to making important decisions that have immense impact on my patients and their loved ones. I’m used to making tough decisions when needed and I won’t back down from a challenge—no matter how big.
The Texas Legislature has transferred care of the Alamo to the GLO. How would you approach this task as commissioner? There will be no reimagining of the Alamo or our rich Texas history on my watch. The Land Commissioner is the guardian of our state history and many of our sacred monuments and I will never let them become victim to liberal revisionists who wish to demean and slander them. I am the one who threw down the legal challenge that kept the Alamo Cenotaph where it should be, out in front. Additionally, I passed the only legislation this session that protected our historical monuments, markers, and medallions.
Do you support the construction of a border wall on state lands? Absolutely. I am going to identify all available state lands that could be used for a state border wall and then begin construction as soon as practicable. I will continue my commitment to gaining complete operational control of our border.
What would be your top 3 priorities as GLO commissioner?
1)Border security: Identify all state lands that could be used for a state border wall and begin construction as soon as practicable. I’ll continue my commitment to gaining complete operational control of our border. My record on the need to get serious about the border is clear. 2)Preserving our Texas History: There will be no reimagining of the Alamo or Texas history on my watch. I’ll be the guardian of our state history and our sacred monuments and never let them become victim to liberal revisionists who wish to remove them. I led the legal challenge that kept the Alamo Cenotaph where it should be, out in front. Also, I passed the only bill this session that protects our monuments, markers, & medallions. 3)Disaster Recovery: Growing up on the Texas coast and living in Galveston, I know when you are a victim of a storm, help can never come fast enough. The GLO plays a huge role in disaster recovery and has plenty of areas to improve upon, which will be one of my primary focuses.
Jon Spiers
Occupation: Surgeon/Attorney/Entrepreneur
Age: 59
Campaign website: drjonspiers.com
Best way for voters to reach you: land@drjonspiers.com
Education:
B.A., (Honors) Duke University;
M.D., University of Tennessee;
General Surgery, University of Tennessee;
Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine;
J.D., University of Houston;
Board certifications: American Board of Surgery; American Board of Thoracic Surgery;
Fellow, American College of Surgery;
Admitted, State Bar of Texas;
Active Medical License held in Texas (also previously Tennessee; Georgia, S. Carolina, Mississippi);
US Army Medical Corps Reserve (Captain, Honorable Discharge).
Have you run for or held elected office before? In 2017, after Harvey flooded my home, I was asked to run for US Congress. While I did not prevail, I learned much about the nuts and bolts of a campaign. I believe this compliments my statewide grassroots work to make me better able to serve.
Please list highlights of your civic involvement (for example, service on boards/commissions or leadership positions held):
Harris County Republican Party (HCRP) Chair of Engagement (former) and Precinct Chair;
Trainer - Operation Wrangler (County Chair /Precinct Chair & Activist training with Republican Party of Texas and Texas Republican County Chair Assoc);
“Take Back Congressional District 7” Leadership Committee 2020;
Assistant Scoutmaster Boy Scouts of America Troop 55;
Houston Baptist University, Dept of Engineering Board;
Methodist Hospital Surgical Innovations Taskforce;
HealthCorps Advisory Board (National Nonprofit);
“Texas Two-Step” National CPR training initiative.
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain. No
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain. Over 20 years ago a company I owned sued a major medical corporation for defrauding patients, our company, and the federal government. The David versus Goliath scenario left my company in dire financial straits, but my company reorganized and paid all its debts.
Who are your top three campaign contributors? My contributions are a mix of donations from the grassroots, business people, friends/family. Notably absent are special interests, traditional pay to play donors, and special interests.
Why are you seeking this office? I am running for the Texas Land Commissioner office because the people of Texas deserve hard-working, experienced servant leaders who place the needs of Texas citizens ahead of their political aspirations. Not only am I a servant leader, but I have done my homework, meeting with stakeholders all across Texas to understand the requirements of the job.
Whether serving our Veterans, collaborating with the SBOE to maximize the Permanent School Fund, leasing land to qualified entities, developing our stores of critical elements, preserving our coast, leading disaster recovery, creating Texas jobs and fostering the return of critical industry to Texas, helping secure our border, or protecting our fossil fuel industry through novel mitigation programs, I am ready to lead from Day One!
What qualities make for a good General Land Office Commissioner and how do you embody them? A great Texas Land Commissioner should be a servant leader who can relate to all Texans who is focused on partnering with stakeholders to deliver results that matter. A great Land Commissioner should be an advocate for Texans, not an adversary. A great Land Commissioner should be focused on the job at hand and not looking to develop some future political network in anticipation of a run for higher office. I am that leader.
The Texas Legislature has transferred care of the Alamo to the GLO. How would you approach this task as commissioner? The Alamo is a sacred site, and deserves a Land Commissioner who will thoughtfully oversee its preservation and not delegate duties to others. The GLO must be the lead on all initiatives involving the Alamo.
Do you support the construction of a border wall on state lands? Yes. This will not only lessen the burdens placed on Texans along our border, but will also aid the hard work being done by our border patrol and protect immigrants from some of the dangers posed by the cartels.
What would be your top 3 priorities as GLO commissioner?
1. TRUST & TRANSPARENCY - Restore trust in the GLO through thoughtful restructuring of the agency to include transparency to all transactions, with the restoration of a collegial working relationship with other agencies (as opposed to the adversarial relationships of the past) and with Texans (again, as opposed to the adversarial relationship of the past!).
2. BOOST THE PERMANENT SCHOOL FUND - Maximize the yields for the Permanent School Fund Lands through novel, non-traditional relationships and an eye towards service.
3. DISASTER RECOVERY - Overhaul the State response to disasters to be more nimble and aggressive in responding to Texans’ needs rather than waiting for Federal action, while enhancing partnerships with Federal agencies tasked with aiding those impacted by disaster.
Rufus Lopez
Occupation: Attorney
Age: 80
Best way for voters to reach you: email (rel@relopezlaw.com); phone 956 286 8613
Education:
Attorney At Law; LLM in international contracts
Have you run for or held elected office before? none for State-Wide
Please list highlights of your civic involvement (for example, service on boards/commissions or leadership positions held):
Practice of law for 57 years in oil/gas; real estate, title examiner. I have also owned a bank as its general counsel, and chairman of the board. serve as Hearing office (IHE) for the Texas education Agency
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain. no
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain. no
Who are your top three campaign contributors? none; only me
Why are you seeking this office? The office of Texas Land commissioner is, in my opinion the most important office in the great state of Texas, having been established in 1836. It calls for an experienced attorney in oil/ .gas, pipelines, land purchases and sales, knowledge of investments, knowledge of the vast differences in the topography of Texas, its parks wildlife, beaches and needs for the Veterans. It calls for the following: improvement of the Alamo, Parks/wildlife, Veterans needs in loans, home purchases, improvements, Nursing Homes, and cemeteries’. We only have nine nursing homes for them, and 6 cemeteries’. we need to double it. The investments for the Permanent School for our 52 universities and colleges is high priorities. We need renewable energies investment.
What qualities make for a good General Land Office Commissioner and how do you embody them? I am a successful attorney with 57 years in the profession, a 5 generation Texan, and very knowledgeable in oil/gas, right a ways, pipelines, obtaining the best lease prices, as i have done for all my clients. Only 1 of my Republican opponents was born Before i began the practice of law and he is from Georgia, while another was born in New York. I don’t believe any of them have written or negotiated leases and are familiar with the 10 different regions of Texas. I do not look to this office as a step up to other offices. This is the highest office in Texas, in my opinion. It protects the Veterans, school funds, beaches, fulf drilling and artifacts of Texas.
The Texas Legislature has transferred care of the Alamo to the GLO. How would you approach this task as commissioner? There is $55 million dollars set aside in this year’s budget for the renovation. I will follow the existing plans for the renovations, preserve the area existing, and encourage the expansion through the additional purchase of land/building to restore it as much as possible to its original existence. I will assign 1 staff member to oversee it, meet with the city and county officials, chamber of commerce to coordinate the operation.
Do you support the construction of a border wall on state lands? Yes, but not at the expense of the GLO; it is not a function of the office and will not allow monies from the Permanent School Fund for this endeavor. I will be happy to buy a ticket personally for a fund raiser, but the GLO cannot assist. It is not our job.
What would be your top 3 priorities as GLO commissioner?
1. Increase the assistance to the Veterans by providing more loans to purchase the land they can desire, since the GLO owns over 800,000 surface acres and we should encourage and actively locate the veterans to participate. We must do anything and everything to encourage this, as some are homeless and little is done to to find them and bring them into the fold. We have only 9 nursing homes for the veterans and waiting list is never ending; we will double the number as they are living longer. We have only 6 cemeteries for the veterans, and all but 1 is located somewhat in the central part of the state; West Texas needs our attention. 2. I will move the Oil/Gas division of the office to Midland or west Texas, closer to the Permian Basin , where most of our funds come from and we should be closer to the action: GLO owns 13.5 mineral/royalty acres for the PSF, 7,486 leases, 31% of the ownership in the Basin, with 2.6 milling mineral/royalty acres dedicated to the PSF. 3. Find a balance with the Renewable Energy and the environment so that we can make good enforceable leases that will not leave the state holding the bag if the companies go bad, and protect the neighbors. This takes knowledge of the contacts and experience.
This story was originally published February 13, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
