A challenger has emerged in the race for Texas Land Commissioner.
Dr. Davey Edwards, a professional land surveyor, has thrown his hat into the ring to run for Commissioner of the General Land Office of Texas. Incumbent George P. Bush announced his intention to run for re-election yesterday.
Edwards is a professional land surveyor who is both a licensed state land surveyor and a federally licensed surveyor. Edwards holds a doctorate in Geosciences from the University of Texas at Dallas, where he studied river morphology monitoring and legal implications of international-interstate boundaries.
Dr. Edwards previously worked with the General Land Office of Texas, consulting with Commissioner Jerry Patterson over land surveys along the Red River. Edwards worked with Congressman Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) to achieve passage of a bill aimed at protecting land owners along the Red River. Edwards has also worked with Governor Greg Abbott and other legislators in Austin.
Edwards serves on the Texas Board of Professional Land Surveying, under the appointment of Governor Abbott with the recommendation of Commissioner Bush. Edwards is a former member of the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners and serves as chairman of the City of Decatur's Planning and Zoning Commission.
Edwards said that he decided to run due to the need for someone who understands the office of Land Commissioner.
"We need someone who has an understanding of land management instead of a politician," Edwards said.
Edwards also criticized incumbent Commissioner George P. Bush for downsizings and budget cuts that he says has stifled progression in the Land Office and has hurt the Permanent School Fund.
On what he will bring to the table, Edwards says that his private sector land experience will be something beneficial for Texas.
"My education, expertise, and practice of something similar in the private sector is what I will be bringing to the office." Edwards said.
Regarding the issue of the transfer of management of the Alamo mission from the Daughters of the Republic of Texas to the General Land Office, Edwards said that he believes the DRT should not be completely removed from the Alamo.
"The main issue is how it's being maintained," Edwards said, "I personally don't think the Land Office should be responsible. Commissioner Patterson moved it in the right direction but the Daughters of the Republic of Texas should not be completely cut out."
Edwards said that his top priority as Land Commissioner will be the stewardship of lands. Edwards said that the Land Office should be properly promoted and managed and should not be used to build a political portfolio. Edwards said that many people inside and outside of the state do not understand the importance of the office and he hopes to use the office also to take care of veterans through the Texas Veterans Land Board.
To find out more about Edwards, you are asked to go to his website or to visit his Facebook page. If you would like to set up a meeting with the candidate, you can do so by contacting him on Facebook.
