Hugh Fitzsimmons for Texas Commissioner of Agriculture

Democrats as well as conservationists and environmentalists have a clear-cut choice for Agricultural Commissioner this year. (Early voting begins tomorrow and the March 4 is election day.) That choice is Hugh Asa Fitzsimmons. Not only is Fitzsimmons the choice but he stands a better than average chance of being elected in the fall against the Republican nominee - something very difficult to do these days in Republican controlled Texas.

Fitzsimmons has gravitas and is respected by Texans of both political persuasions. He grew up and tended cattle on his parent's ranch - the same land where Hugh now raises grass-fed bison and keeps bees. The San Antonio Magazine gave him kudos for his humane treatment of his herd.

He understands climate change and the need for water conservation. He knows that fracking is an unsustainable practice. He was even featured in a NY Times story about the issue.

In a Sierra Club Texas Green Report, Hugh wrote:

"But the hard facts are these: 1/3 of our available groundwater in Dimmit County per year is being lost to fracking. Because the water used to inject the chemicals is absorbed by the formation, this process is 100% consumptive, unless the 20% that returns as flowback water is recycled, all that water is lost. Unlike agricultural irrigation, fracking wastewater is lost completely. In short, we have a new, man-made water crisis etched atop the man-made crisis of climate change that produced the drought."

Hugh Fitzsimmons has been endorsed by the Dallas Morning News, Houston Chronicle, Austin Chronicle, San Antonio Express-News, Texas League of Conservation, the Chairman of the powerful House Agriculture and Livestock Committee, Tracy King, the Texas Environmental Democrats, Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance, yadda, yadda, yadda.

Do not waste your vote on Texas celebrity and personality, Kinky Friedman. Elect the real deal - rancher, conservationist, humanitarian: Hugh Fitzsimmons.