Abbott’s gubernatorial campaign arrives in Midland
By Joseph Basco
MyWestTexas.com
July 17, 2013
Basin Burger House’s outdoor patio was crowded on Wednesday as Attorney General Greg Abbott, state gubernatorial candidate, made an early campaign trail stop in Midland.
Abbott was accompanied by his daughter, Audrey, and wife, Cecilia, as he spoke to prominent Midland and Odessa conservatives. The audience gave Abbott a loud ovation despite the rainy weather and cramped space, applause that he described at first as a warm welcome, then cool because of the July temperatures.
“As your governor, I will bring rain and cool weather in July,” said Abbott in his first unofficial campaign promise. “It is great to be back at ground zero of energy production in this country helping make the United States of America independent from foreign sources of oil.”
Abbott, who already has raised more than $20 million, came to Midland days after he announced in San Antonio his intention to run for governor. He chose to make a stop in Midland because it is the jobs capital of the state, he said after his speech. Discussing how ingenuity has revived the oil industry in the area, Abbott said that same level of innovation should be applied to other areas, from the private sector to education.
One issue Abbott was adamant about was securing the U.S. and Mexico border. Taking a shot at President Barack Obama’s administration, Abbott said a reformed immigration plan that has yet to pass in Washington, D.C., is needed. Abbott said he wouldn’t wait for Washington to get things done, but would want to add more ground forces on the border, more advanced technology and better communication among law enforcement officials.
“Something is wrong when we live in a state that stops a valedictorian from mentioning God at a graduation ceremony but doesn’t stop drug cartels from crossing our border, threatening our fellow Texans,” Abbott said. “As your governor, I will put a stop to that.”
Abbott also addressed infrastructure needs in the Permian Basin, as the population, fatal crashes and traffic jams continue to increase. Prefacing with the state’s rapid growth as a whole, Abbott prioritized roads, water and education as the top state infrastructure needs.
“You must fund the needs, but you may not always be able to fund the wants,” Abbott said.
Education was one of the final and prominent points Abbott hit during his speech, speaking about how teachers need to stop “teaching to the test.” Giving fewer tests and focusing more on customized teaching methods will lead to kids being either “college-ready” or “career-ready.” He said college has become cost-prohibitive, so tuition costs have to decrease.
As a former teacher, Midland County Republican Women President Rhonda Lacy said education reform will have actually come from state legislators, and said that Abbott is concerned with working closely with lawmakers for a better education system. The Ector County Republican Women president also was concerned with the state education system as the curriculum system CSCOPE recently was eliminated.
“The education system has been hit very hard in our state,” said ECRW President Teri Dorsey Pearce. “I’m proud to hear that Abbott put that at his forefront.”
As his daughter sat behind him, Abbott mentioned several times during his speech how these issues were for the children of the state. Audrey Abbott introduced her father to the audience with a speech of her own, saying how he was a role model for her. Abbott said that a portrait of him and his smiling daughter at 4 years old hangs by his office’s entrance and is a daily reminder of why he goes to work.
“I want every child in the state of Texas to have that opportunity to smile, to hope, to dream and to succeed,” Abbott said. “That’s why I’m running to be your next governor so that I can ensure that guarantee for every child in the great state of Texas.”
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