Texas Land Commissioner JerryPatterson takes aim at the Christmas Mountains
From time to time a rumor floats to the top and doesn't seem to want to go away. It goes like this: Texas Governor Rick Perry has an eye on selling off Franklin Mountains State Park. The rumor seems to get kicked up whenever there is news about the sale of the Christmas Mountains next to Big Bend National Park near Terlingua. However, Texas Parks and Wildlife officials both here and in Austin are unaware of any action regarding the FMSP.
Tootin' shootin' Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson has long argued that the Christmas Mountains would be better suited for hunting (after stocking up on game, of course). The National Park Service wants to procure the Christmas Mountains to add to Big Bend National Park. Since hunting is now allowed in the parks, you might think that Jerry Patterson would back off of his obsession to sell the land. Instead, he now seems to want to go ahead with a sale of Christmas Mountains to a private land holder. One wonders whether Patterson is interested in conservation or deals. And that's what begins to make me nervous about rumors of selling off all or part of the Franklin Mountains State Park.
Of course, such a proposed sale, if it ever were to be made, would have to have public hearings and then the approval of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission. I think there would be little chance of a sale happening.
Nevertheless, when I see the over-exploitation of our mountains and region by Jobe Materials and I know that Jobe is a huge contributor both to Jerry Patterson and Rick Perry, I'm concerned. Follow the Money reports a pending contribution of $10,000 for the 2010 Perry campaign from Mr. Jobe. In 2006, Mr. Patterson's campaign received a whopping $56,000 from Stanley P. Jobe. These contributions are just the start. Add to them that, in December 2008, Stanley Jobe flew Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson and two cohorts (Bill Warnick and Louis Renaud) from San Antonio to his ranch in Culberson County on his plane. Patterson, et. al. concluded some leases while guests at the ranch. One such agreement concerned land in El Paso County. Jobe flew them to Austin Bergstrom International Airport after a weekend on the ranch.
The whole thing makes me uneasy.
Why be concerned about the Christmas Mountains besides any rumor about our mountains? Big Bend is a key part of the eco-tourism of our region. Bringing more people to El Paso for all of its great outdoor resources is tied with tourism to the Guadalupes, the Davis Mountains, and Big Bend. Conservation there means eco-tourism here. Patterson should know that El Pasoans are keeping their eyes open especially this year when Democratic challenger, Hector Uribe, is finding traction in his race against gun totin' Jerry.
Fantastic, Jim, as usual. Thank goodness we have you and your dedication to getting at the truth since the El Paso Times is just one big black hole when it comes to environmental news. Thank you!
ReplyDeletePlease tell us why on earth Bill Clinton gave Jobe a pardon so he could go on supporting these guys...or is Bill Clinton just part of the problem?
ReplyDeleteI don't know much about the Clinton pardon other than I've heard that his Defense Fund got a substantial donation from the Jobes. (I have never verified that.)
ReplyDeleteIn 1998, Jobe gave $24,500 to the Garry Mauro Campaign. You may remember that Mauro, a Democrat, was also the Land Commissioner. See http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/contributor_details.phtml?c=52241&d=1071494203.
It’s pretty cynical and it makes you think about politicians of all stripes - but it’s the cost of doing business.
Jobe is also generous with his donations to non-profits in El Paso. One of those non-profits recently chose not to join the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition because of their being benefactors of Jobe's "charity". Again - it's the cost of doing business