Michael Lange
Democratic Candidate for Commissioner of the General Land Office
Lange/Photo by Campaign
Question: What is your age?
Answer: 58
Q: What is your educational background? Please list any degrees or certificates earned and any institutions attended.
A: Houston Public Schools, then Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, Houston. Graduate University of Texas - Austin in Finance. Advanced Coursework at Rice University, Houston and the New York Institute of Finance, New York City. Graduate - Advanced Management Program, INSEAD, Fontainebleau, France
Q: What is your occupation?
A: Investment Manager
Q: If you are a business owner, please list the business or businesses that you own. (If this question is not applicable, please note that below.)
A: Now Work with families and individuals. Previously worked for 30 years in small and large complex, private and publicly traded businesses at Senior and Board Levels. Texas, U.S. and International experience with professional operational, investment, risk management and leadership skill sets.
Q: Please list any civic boards or commissions (non-profit, government, union, political, etc.) on which you have served as a board member or equivalent.
A: Chair of Texas Democratic Party Business Roundtable and Infrastructure Committee from 2018-2021. Many Political and Charitable Organizations. Member Rules Committee at the 2000 DNC Convention in Los Angeles, National Delegate at the 2004 DNC Convention in Boston, plus much more. Let me know if you want a list.
Q: Have you previously held or do you currently hold any elected office? If so, what office(s)?
A: No
Q: If your campaign has any online campaign resources where voters can learn more about you, such as social media accounts or a website, please list them below.
Q: Why did you decide to run for this office in 2022?
A: Want the People of Texas to Have Better Lives. Please see my website, Langeforland.com. Much information there. Have been a Democrat since the age of 16. Approached by several people and suggested that with my Real World Experience and Family Background I should consider running. Grew up in the City and Rural, Texas. City Knowledge. Rural Wisdom. After discussing with family and after 40+ years of being in politics, it was time.
Q: If elected, what will be your top three priorities in office?
A: 1. The Safety of the People of Texas. 2. Treat All People with Equal Respect. 3. Be a Man for Others. 4. Work constantly for Texans to have Better Lives. Better Lives, LANGE for Land
Q: What is an issue you believe has gone overlooked in your race and how will you address it if elected?
A: 3 issues. 1. Veterans State Benefits. It is one thing to pass a law, its another to implement it well. The Land Commissioner looks after over 1.4 Million Veterans and Gold Star Families in Texas. The Benefits are good but not Great. Many Texas Veterans are not even aware of their State Benefits and also find them difficult to understand and access. I have a plan called TEXAS HAS YOUR SIX. It will simplify the state’s benefits process and make them more accessible for Veterans and Gold Star Families ( those who have lost a Mother or Father or Brother or Sister in Service to our Nation). I believe Veterans have sacrificed enough. Texas should lead the Nation here. 2. K-12 Reading Levels. Texas currently ranks 45th in the Nation. 44 States do it Better. Texas should be a Leader State. The GLO puts huge money, over $ 1 Billion a year into the Permanent School Fund. 45th place is not right for our kids, hero teachers or parents. I have las ganas and las agallas, the desire and the guts to move Texas from the bottom 5 in K-12 Reading levels to the Top 5 where Texas should be. 3. The Growth of Texas. We are over 29 Million Texans now. By 2050, we will be over 54 Million. Think about that impact on our resources, especially fresh water, public schools, the environment and so much more. The planning and preparation for this change is going way too slow.
Q: Why are you the best candidate for voters to support for this position?
A: Las ganas and las agallas. The Desire and the Guts. Land Commissioner is a very complex job and if done well all Texans can have Better Lives. It is the least understood job at the state level. It has a budget of almost $3.4 Billion, with 800 employees, looks after 1.4 Million veterans, over $2.6 Billion of Loan Capital, up to $ 600 Million a year in Veterans loans, 1.6 Million visitors a year to the Alamo, up to a $450 Million Alamo renovation project, 13 Million acres of public lands, think 13 Million American Football fields that produces over $ 1 Billion a year of income for the Permanent School Fund as well manages the entire Texas coast going out 10.35 miles into the Gulf or Mexico from the beaches. Hurricane recovery, oil spills, permitting and so much more. You need las ganas and las agallas but also real world experience to be effective from day one. I bring all this to the table to work for Texans have Better Lives. Please have a look at my website, Langeforland.com