The Houston Chronicle recommends Jon Spiers in Republican primary for Texas Land Commissioner

The Texas General Land Office is responsible for 13 million acres of public lands and mineral rights, support for military veterans and disaster recovery and relief. In the eight-person Republican race to replace George P. Bush, it’s border security and management of the Alamo that’s taken center stage. We recommend Dr. Jon Spiers — a 59-year-old heart surgeon, current attorney and former Houston-area congressional candidate — because we think he’s in lockstep with most Republicans on social issues while still running a campaign focused on the GLO’s responsibilities beyond the border wall. With Bush off to run for attorney general, Texas Sen. Dawn Buckingham has garnered most of the money and headlines. Former president Donald Trump endorsed Buckingham, an oculoplastic surgeon who represents a huge swath of central Texas. She had nearly $2 million in cash on hand as of late January, and she’s endorsed by both of Texas’ U.S. senators, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, dozens of state lawmakers and several prominent conservative groups.

Buckingham, 53, didn’t meet with the editorial board. In campaign materials and interviews, she’s fixated on border security and has touted her conservative record of banning critical race theory and defense of “traditional Texas history” regarding the Alamo. We’d like to see a land commissioner focused more on disaster relief and funding for military veterans than on the day’s social issues — and that’s our concern with Buckingham. We have similar doubts about Sid Miller-backed Weston Martinez, a San Antonio-based conservative activist with experience in the oil, gas and business sectors. Spiers, who lives in Houston, said his goal would be to turn the GLO “into an advocate rather than an adversary” for Texans, making it more transparent and accessible. “Whether they’re trying to get a permit, rebuild their home, rebuild their city or lease land, they describe the process as painful and difficult because the land office has seemed to erect constant barriers,” Spiers said. He endured three hurricanes over 12 years in two different states — Katrina, Ike and Harvey — and said his rebuilding experiences would guide him to ensure there’s no discrimination or political considerations in distributing storm relief funds. The land commissioner chairs the Texas Veterans Land Board, and Spiers, a veteran, said he would work right away to bolster the GLO’s engagement with and support of veterans.