From now until election day, we are introducing you to who will be appearing on your ballot this November. For today's profile, meet Miguel Suazo, the Democratic Party's nominee for Land Commissioner.
When voters head to the polls in November, one attorney hopes to claim the votes of millions of Texans who have never considered voting for a Democrat before now.
Miguel Suazo, an Austin-based energy attorney, is the Democratic Party's nominee for Commissioner of the General Land Office of Texas. Suazo is locked in a heated general election battle with incumbent Republican George P. Bush and Libertarian Matt Pina, but believes that he has the policy advantage on the well-known Republican incumbent.
"As Texans compare my background to Commissioner Bush's, they will see a real contrast," Suazo says. "I think he's a big name but he doesn't have any results to show for during his tenure."
The Austin attorney says he has the best knowledge of the issues facing West Texas. Growing up on a cattle ranch, the Georgetown University graduate learned the values of the agriculture community. Today, Suazo represents businesses through his law practice and believes that his upbringing and experiences in business and as a staffer on Capitol Hill have prepared him to take on the role currently held by Bush.
"I grew up in a place where my family knows what Texas is about and what places like Amarillo are about," Suazo says. "My policy is going to be about leaving our land better than I found it."
On one of the most controversial issues of this election, Suazo says he disagrees with Commissioner George P. Bush's handling of the historic Alamo site. The Democrat says he wants to work with the Daughters of the Republic of Texas on the site and believes that a new commissioner is needed to better foster the relationship with those who have served as caretakers of the site.
"His choice was to abrogate the agreement with the Daughters of the Republic of Texas," Suazo says. "As a leader, he should have been willing to work with the team instead of trying to find a new one."
Suazo says his background as a History major helped prepare him to deal with the historic challenges facing the Alamo and that he will be committed to preserving the importance of the landmark.
"At the end of the day, the Alamo is a church," Suazo says. "To try and make the Alamo into a Disneyland-like experience is not only forgetting history but reimagining it."
Additionally, Suazo says he is best prepared to find solutions to all issues facing the General Land Office. From hurricane recovery to the handling of the Permanent School Fund, Suazo says he hopes to oversee a "proactive" department and ensure that issues are treated with bipartisanship.
"These are not red issues or blue issues," Suazo says. "These are red, white, and blue issues."
Looking ahead to November, the Democratic nominee knows that he faces an uphill climb against Bush. However, Suazo believes that Texans are ready for a change from the present Bush administration at the General Land Office.
"I think if you look at Commissioner Bush, he's not really a Republican and he doesn't put Texans first," Suazo says. "I'm ready to debate because debates go back to the founding of the Republic, but Commissioner Bush is already deflecting his record. As someone who addressed the Republican National Convention at age 12, he really should be better than this."
While Suazo says Bush is continuing to duck Texans, he believes he is gaining ground in the race and will be successful on election day.
"This isn't just an election year, this is a wave election year," Suazo says. "I really like my chances in this race."
For more information about Miguel Suazo, please visit https://www.miguelsuazo.org/.
