susan hays texas agriculture commissioner

It provides financial assistance to farmers and ranchers, offers infrastructure grants in rural communities to attract development, markets Texas products and oversees measuring devices in grocery stores. $('.collapse').collapse('hide'); Check if youre registered to vote here. Hes proven himself to not be trustworthy.. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. So are we, thats why were fighting back against the right-wing lie machine. A Chronicle investigation reveals the extent of the ballot paper shortage in Harris County's November election, including how the shortages could impact the future of Texas' election laws. Editorial: We recommend Susan Hays in Democratic primary for Agriculture Commissioner, Letter from the editor: Introducing our exclusive new newsletter, More Recommendations from Editorial Board. And one thing about the ag industry that many outside of it dont fully get or havent been exposed to is ag is a heavily subsidized industry. background-color: #f9d334; So financially, theyre pretty sound, Miller said. At the top of Millers list is stopping China from buying farmland in the U.S. And Miller does want to expand and fully implement medical cannabis use. Susan Hays is called back to rural life This is the first time Hays is running for elected office, but shes no stranger to Texas politics. Voters who vote by mail can use an online tracker to check the status of their mail-in ballot. .results_table { Miller said a majority of Texans 4 in 5 are in favor of legalizing marijuana for compassionate purposes. School districts | People arent afraid of it anymore. p.survey-response {white-space: pre-line;} You look at maps of where theres medical cannabis and Texas usually is counted as not having a program at all, because its such a joke. His support for cannabis legalization ends with compassionate use., When asked about full legalization, Miller adamantly said, Im not for that.. width: 50%; You have to tell them what varieties youre growing. They have two sons, two daughters-in-law and five grandchildren. We think Hays is the best choice for Democratic voters. You know, weve reported on this. font-weight: bold; However, hemp in Texas hasnt lived up to expectations. My reaction to they want to ban smokable hemp, was dont you know you can smoke as it grows out of the ground? In my practice, Ive found middle ground with Republicans and its possible to do. by Jayme Lozano Carver Perhaps it goes without saying but producing quality journalism isn't cheap. The coalition also has hotlines available in other languages and for Texans with disabilities. Additionally, you can, County election offices are supposed to post on. div.oneoff-scrollbox.short { height:250px; overflow:scroll; margin:20px; padding:10px; border:1px solid gray; } Find more details here. } Miller has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump and was once thought to be under consideration to be the U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary under the 45th president. This transcript has been edited lightly for clarity: Texas Standard: Youre a Democrat running in a largely conservative state. I helped draft and pass the law that legalized hemp in Texas, and the ag commissioner regulates the hemp program and it was going through its rulemaking process. | We dont own the land, the land owns us, Miller said. The contest to serve as rural Texas ambassador to the state has become animated. Updated: 10 AM Central. AUSTIN The race for Texas Agriculture Commissioner has focused less on the positions responsibilities and more on the controversies involving the Republican incumbent throughout his almost eight years in office. $('.collapse').collapse('show'); display: inline-block; Abbott criticized for dehumanizing victims of mass shooting by calling them illegal, Texas college baseball player shot during game, Man fatally shot by Dallas police wounded 2 relatives before shooting cop, dog, chief says, Stanley Cup playoff central: Stars-Kraken schedule, stories Dallas fans need to know, Hot List: 15 great bars and restaurants to visit in Dallas-Fort Worth in May 2023, Luxury North Dallas rental community sells to national investor, Forest Hill widow facing eviction for I-20 widening gets deadline extension, Lancaster lands $80 million cold storage project, Record D-FW hotel development could bring more than 30,000 rooms, JPMorgan steps up to buy First Republic after government seizure, How Dallas video game icon Randy Pitchford became the new owner of Hollywoods Magic Castle, American Airlines pilots authorize strike as carrier says a contract deal is near, Pete DeBoer says Stars have one key trait shared by championship-caliber teams, Cowboys 2023 undrafted free agent tracker: See which players Dallas added after NFL draft. .race_header.democratic { left: 0; You can access the tracker here. text-align: center; position: relative; It does not allow people access who deserve it and need it. Miller, who faced similar attacks during a three-way primary earlier this year that he won handily, said controversies about him are a Democratic strategy and a low way to campaign. In 2020, she represented Harris County in several cases as the county worked to figure out voting in the pandemic against a backdrop of furious opposition from state officials. During this election cycle, high-ranking Texas Republicans were privately undermining Miller, too. Some counties also make this information available on their websites. Hays says number one, the state should expand Medicaid. border: 1px solid #999; The results have been certified. color: black; color: white; color: white; Several studies, reports and courts have found that voter fraud is relatively rare, according to the Brennan Center for Justice, a nonpartisan law and policy institute. var nTimer = setInterval(function() { width: 100%; Youll want to check for open polling locations with your local elections office before you head out to vote. font-weight: bold; background-color: green; by SBG San Antonio. max-height: 580px; If youre an hour away from getting emergency care, youre more likely to die or be permanently disabled.. To help people live better lives. Hays has an We respect each other, and we can sit down and have a conversation. [1][2], .votebox { Paper ballots are also stored in locked boxes and must be preserved for at least 22 months after an election. Since 2010, there have been 27 rural hospitals that have closed in 22 communities, according to the Texas Organization of Rural & Community Hospitals (TORCH). } border:1px solid #FFB81F; And what I fear right now is that as the market gets further and further ahead of the government, its going to be harder to put some of the genies back in the bottle.. .widget-value { .inner_percentage, .inner_percentage.Nonpartisan, .inner_percentage.Independent, .inner_percentage.Constitution, .inner_percentage.unknown { Who a person voted for is not public record. 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Susan Hays, a prominent cannabis lawyer and hemp advocate, announced she was running for agriculture commissioner, giving Democrats their first candidate to challenge Republican incumbent Sid Miller. Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. However, crop insurance does not make up for the millions of dollars in lost products, whether that be cotton or vegetable crops. 4 min read. padding-bottom: 3px; } max-width: 75px; background-color: #003388; } Farming is hard, but ethics should be easy, Hays said Thursday as she announced her campaign against the scandal-prone Miller. Instances of alleged fraud have also in some cases turned out to be mistakes by elections administrators or voters, according to the center. font-weight: bold; Instances of alleged fraud have also in some cases turned out to be mistakes by elections administrators or voters, few discrepancies between manual and electronic counts. In a phone interview, Miller said he has always been in favor of legalizing medical marijuana. font-weight: bold; padding-bottom: 8px; @media (max-width:600px) { div.survey-scrollbox { height:400px; overflow:scroll; margin:20px; padding:10px; border:1px solid gray; } } I would get three different answers from three different people. Why does this factor so largely in your campaign? Then in mid-January, his longtime political consultant, Todd Smith, was indicted on theft and bribery charges related to selling access to hemp licenses from Millers agency. font-size: 1.2em; $('.hideResponses').hide(); color: #888; What can you tell them that might convince them to vote for a Democrat for this position? He was first elected in 2014 and has since been able to stave off being unseated by both Democratic and Republican challengers. The agency is also responsible for helping rural hospitals with financial aid and technical assistance through its rural health division. Ireson is running a campaign with a welcome and detailed focus on strengthening the states school meals program. DALLAS Attorney Susan Hays says she knows the marijuana issue is garnering most of the headlines in her race for Texas agriculture commissioner. Susan will fight hard for us. color: white; display: inline-block; Sid Miller, Texas Commissioner of Agriculture during a general Susan Hays is a Democrat running to be Texas commissioner of agriculture This November, voters will decide contests for a number of statewide offices, from governor to attorney general. .widget-row.value-only.black { A lot of what I witnessed has now led to the commissioners political consultant being indicted for trying to sell $100, unlimited hemp licenses for tens of thousands of dollars to the unwitting. A few years ago, rural life was calling her home. Both candidates displayed humor, a solid understanding of the job, and maturity levels that seemed to far exceed the incumbents. Public policy. } Running for: Texas Agriculture Commissioner. by Jayme Lozano Carver And thats already happening in Texas.

. The board is separate from the newsroom and other sections of the paper. They or someone they know has tried it and found it to be very helpful, Hays said. Voters can still cast votes without those IDs if they sign a form swearing that they have a reasonable impediment from obtaining a proper photo ID or use a provisional ballot. font-weight: 300; --title-background: #334aab; Could you talk a little more about that? .inner_percentage.Libertarian { He served in the Texas House of Representatives from 2001-13. font-size: 0.9em; [The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA)] collects data on varieties. EVALI was the acronym for the condition that people developed. Youre allowed to vote by mail only if: You will be 65 or older by Election Day, you will not be in your county for the entire span of voting, including early voting, you cite a sickness or disability that prevents you from voting in person without needing personal assistance or without the likelihood of injuring your health, youre expected to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day or you are confined in jail but otherwise eligible (i.e., not convicted of a felony). This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. And then there is rural health care, a topic Hays evoked at a recent rally with gubernatorial candidate Beto ORourke at Texas Tech University. Heres how the candidates line up on two key issues in the race: marijuana and rural health care. font-size: .9em; Should inmates in Texas be eligible for early parole if they exhibit good behavior? And I also enjoy getting my boots dirty and getting out there.. When asked about spreading fabricated photos or supporting stories on social media, Miller said he doesnt personally post everything to his accounts and that his team takes posts down most of the time when they find out theyre false. The secretary of states website will also have information on polling locations closer to the start of voting. So a big reason I wanted to run was to take those programs out of the basement, beef them up, and work night and day to try to save rural health care in Texas. $('.showResponses').show(); This state is not prepared to deal with something like that because of the lack of enforcement mechanism. Part of her campaign message is to continue that work by fully legalizing cannabis in the state. --progress-bar: #f0a236; } width: 100% !important; And its not as easy to grow it and grow it well as people might think. .results_row td:first-child { Its a national security issue. Susan Hays: Seeing how poorly that agency is run and the notorious graft and corruption. font-size: 16px; $('#candidate-connection-email-105181').on('click', () => { ga('send', 'event', 'surveycta', 'surveycta-click-email'); }); The vaping crisis. However, weve heard from Republican Sid Miller about things like abortion, Second Amendment, property taxes and obviously part of the larger political conversation, to be sure. Unfortunately for Texans, weve had an agriculture commissioner whose seven-year tenure has been full of ethical lapses and embarrassing errors in judgment. Republican Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and Democratic challenger Susan Hays. width: 250px; Home Tag Susan Hays | The Texan The 88th Session Kickoff Event Join The Texan reporters in Austin on Jan. 24, 2023 as they moderate panels of lawmakers discussing the issues and priorities of the 88th Legislative Session! 0. } (Opinion), Israeli-Palestinian progress means mutual recognition (Opinion), Huffines: Lege property tax cut proposals are Band-Aid solutions, Ten Commandments don't belong in Texas public schools (Opinion). The topic of rural health care has been one of Hays main talking points throughout her campaign. And that means focusing on your job and engaging on analyzing how to do that effectively, and then actually doing it. $(".collapse-all").on('click', () => { Are you suggesting that marijuana is a reasonable cash crop for growers here in Texas? Throughout her legal career, Both grew up managing cattle at their families ranches. margin-top: 0px; Both their families have been in the state for generations, Hays since just after the Civil War and Millers since the 1700s. Mon, February 21st 2022, 5:35 PM PST. He and his wife, Debra, have been married for going on 45 years. font-weight: 300; As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. She also wants Texas to expand Medicaid, saying its asinine that the state leaves federal tax dollars on the floor by not. Its a food security issue. .widget-row.value-only.white { p.survey-question {font-weight:bold;} Hays says after that, the state must figure out how to get more health care workers in rural Texas, such as providing rural students more incentives to enter medical school. display: inline-block; } I mean, there are a lot of hemp farmers who feel that theyre sort of high and dry. Thats the Democrat campaign strategy, just to throw something out there, get people like you to report on it, whether its true or not, and get the headlines, Miller said. Well, you can be a character without being a nonstop scandal. But the governor has said he does not support legalizing the drug. Sid Miller, 66, has twice been investigated by the Texas Rangers, given hundreds of thousands in bonuses to employees, taken taxpayer-funded out-of-state excursions and pushed more fees on farmers and businesses. We spoke to Hays about her background, her candidacy, and how she would approach the role of agriculture commissioner. Im running for Agriculture Commissioner because corruption is bad .mw-body #mw-content-text th.votebox-results-cell--text { Were way behind where the public is. Another reason Texas leads the nation in rural hospital closures is because it has the largest number of rural hospitals in the country with 158. padding-bottom: 5px; I was thinking when you were talking about drafting the hemp law Miller embraced it, as I recall now. Hays loves being in a rural community now, but growing up, she was pulling off cow ticks and helping her brothers castrate calves and looking for a way out. $('.pastResponses').hide(); Hays has an extensive legal background, including as a cannabis attorney. .votebox-scroll-container { County election offices are supposed to post on their websites information on polling locations for Election Day and during the early-voting period by Oct. 18. But we dont have the system in place to really implement regulating and enforcing. And theres a lot of potential in those programs. }) Most recently, Hays has found herself practicing law in the cannabis industry she helped write and pass the Texas hemp legalization bill in 2019 and was named Texas first cannabis super lawyer by Thomson Reuters. Democratic challenger Susan Hays, left, will face Republican Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller in November. Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. LUBBOCK A mere 44 miles, a flyspeck on the map, separates the Central Texas towns where Sid Miller and Susan Hays grew up. If you look at survival rates from traumatic accidents or heart attacks, you know its the first hour that matters, Hays said. .outer_percentage { She said a top priority is to address the rural hospital shortage by revitalizing agriculture programs now rotting in the basement that can boost rural economic development and rural hospitals. --link-color: #337ab7; This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity. Find your county website here. And at the time we really needed some better regulations out of USDA. text-align: left; It was terrifying to be in a community like that with the pandemic and theres only three ventilators for three counties. Kody Bessent, CEO of Plains Cotton Growers, said producers need a staunch advocate who will promote Texas-grown products on a global scale. She directly against the corruption surrounding the selling hemp licenses for absurd prices ($25,000 vs. the expected $100). One of the problems of getting into hemp, the varieties of hemp that are for sale arent predictable. .key-messages li {margin-bottom: 10px;} .results_row td { The job of this position is to bring as many federal dollars back to Texas as possible. background-color: grey; Hes just not suited for public office and not suited for this management role and outreach role that this office demands, Hays said. padding-top: 8px; Well the root of the problem is it doesnt rain, Miller said. text-align: center; margin-top: 1em; Its the deep frustration of watching whats happening to the state and watching the communities where I grew up and used to run around as a teenager, not do near as well as they should because of policy choices. But Hays still has odds stacked against her: A Democrat has not won a statewide election in Texas in almost 25 years. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan. One is a former rodeo cowboy caught in controversy. .race_header.libertarian { Sid Miller, former Dallas County Democratic chairwoman in race for Texas ag commissioner, (Photo courtesy of Hays Campaign / Courtesy of Hays Campaign), promotion of conspiracy theories, false stories and racist memes on social media. width: 43%; } Susan Hays offers a much-needed and sensible new vision for state Agriculture Department The Texas Department of Agriculture commissioner has a big job. display: block; Your opponent is an incumbent with a whole lot more name recognition. Hays said she would continue to advocate for those priorities in the future. Hays said shes going to take her message directly to conservatives shes already appeared on the Mark Davis radio show and also connect directly with rural voters of color, an often-overlooked constituency.

} Farming is hard, but ethics should be easy, Susan Hays has said often on the campaign trail. Hays also has almost $169,000 cash on hand while Miller holds about $85,000. } What influenced your decision to take on Sid Miller? The two towns have rich histories in farming and ranching. Do you value our journalism? } Hays, a longtime rancher and equal rights lawyer, campaigned on a platform of rebuilding rural communities, sustainable agriculture and legalizing cannabis. Not much I can do about that, other than pray.. Agriculture commissioner is also on the ballot, with incumbent Sid Miller, a Trump-backed Republican, facing Democrat Susan Hays. You can contact your county elections official or call the Texas Secretary of State's helpline at 1-800-252-VOTE (8683). display: inline-block; overflow-y: hidden; .results_row.winner { You have to only use approved varieties. The consequences of that ban were on full display in the U.S. Senate when Amanda Zurawski testified about her harrowing ordeal that should never have happened. .votebox-results-cell--number { Susan Hays is challenging the Republican incumbent in the November midterm elections. The Sunset Commission said were the best state agency theyve ever reviewed, so I think that says a lot about what weve done and what type of people we have with the TDA, Miller said. Attorney Susan Hays filed to run as a Democratic candidate for agriculture commissioner, taking on the current occupant Republican Sid Miller. A longtime writer and journalist, Jessica was thrilled to join the Texas Signal where she could utilize her unique perspective on politics and culture. On the legalization piece of it, were now seeing poll numbers come out that more than fifty percent of Republican voters want it legalized. Nov. 9, 2022 .votebox_legend { margin: 8px auto; Our commitment to ethical, fact-based journalism is vital to our democracy, and we cant do it without you. So what would you like to see Texas do, and how would your role as agriculture commissioner fit in there? You describe yourself as the first cannabis super lawyer. For months rumors have swirled that Congressman Colin Allred is considering a challenge to Senator Ted Cruz in 2024. Aarn Torres, Austin Bureau Correspondent. No one trusts the incumbent to do whats right for Texas. But long term, as the markets stabilize and government action absolutely plays a role in market stabilization with cannabis, it does provide an opportunity for a high-value crop where a farmer can make a living off a relatively small amount of land if they get good at growing it. So I went to hearings, got to know some of the staff, and it was just a hot mess. Susan Hays (Democratic Party) ran for election for Texas Commissioner of Agriculture. In the face of historic crop losses from the drought, Miller, who has acknowledged humans have contributed to climate change, said producers will be turning to crop insurance. During the most recent campaign fundraising period, July 1 through Sept. 30, Hays raised $115,505. Today For press releases, tips, and pitches, email editor@texassignal.com. The other piece of it is once we have stable cannabis markets, which were a long way from right now, its one of the few crops somebody can make a living off of on an acre or less.. This takes time as polling places are closed down and election materials are transported back to county election officials. And she believes she would be the right agriculture commissioner to see the task through. Agriculture is the heartbeat of America., When it comes to keeping agriculture stable, though, Millers conservative views are vastly different from Hays. The job of this position is to bring as many federal dollars back to Texas as possible. For legalization, there is a partisan split, but Democrats and independents want to see it legalized, and an increasing number of Republicans want to see it legalized. Find yours here. --view-more-background: #f0a236; Greg Abbott signed a bill that allowed patients under the Texas Compassionate Use Program to access cannabis with up to 1% THC, which is twice the current limit. [My husband and I] largely live in Alpine, and we spent the pandemic watching nervously. And the fact that we havent expanded Medicaid. Both found success, Hays as a lawyer fighting for human rights and Miller as a national award-winning rodeo cowboy. .image-candidate-thumbnail-wrapper .image-candidate-thumbnail { } .election_results_text { The arrest didnt seem to affect the outcome of the primary, which Miller won with more than 58% of the vote. margin-right: 10px; margin: 0; .external_links_table { width: auto !important; } Source. Troy Nehls strange spat with Capitol Police and more, listen in the audio player above. .widget-row.Republican { } The gap in access is only getting wider, she said. I dont have the power to do that with the snap of my fingers, but I can get down to the Capitol and talk and advocate, Hays said. Miller believes there is enough support in the Legislature for a bill to pass, but we do have to get it by leadership, Miller said. Jessica attended Harvard College, is a onetime fitness blogger, and has now transitioned to recreational runner (for which her joints are thankful). Get the latest politics news from North Texas and beyond. Republican Sid Miller has been reelected as Texas agriculture commissioner, defeating Democratic candidate Susan Hays on Tuesday night in a Which is the exact opposite of what an AG Commissioner ought to be doing. Ballot measures, Who represents me? Theres a lot of buzz about legalizing and decriminalizing, but not a lot of thoughtfulness on the part of the state of Texas on developing really well-thought-out cannabis policy. If you found the reporting above valuable, please consider making a donation to support it here. Is there anything else that youd like to say about why youre running? He was drawn to the Republican Party because he saw it as the party of freedom. About eighty percent of the budget of that agency is school lunch for people with disabilities and people with food security.

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