Primary Election Date: 03/02/2010
General Election Date: 11/02/2010

Who Am I?

Rancher and Small Businessman Hank Gilbert is a father of two with his wife of 25 years, Karla. He has spent his entire professional life in Agriculture and has fought hard to protect small farmers and ranchers from eminent domain abuse and to stop infrastructure privatization in Texas. He is a traditional grassroots candidate who is rallying Democrats all over Texas.

Why Am I Running?

Real Eminent Domain Reform and a Stop to Selling Our Roads

Protecting private property rights has always been a priority for me. We will stop eminent domain abuse with real reform and I’ll continue to lead the fight against selling our roads to the highest bidder, burdening us with toll taxes.

Real Food Safety

Do you really know where our food comes from? I’ll fight for country of origin labeling for all food products and increase the number of inspectors at TDA to ensure that the food we all consume is safe and clean.

Real Weights & Measures Oversight

The TDA controls accuracy certifications of everything in Texas that scans, measures or weighs, whether it’s checking U.P.C scanners at the grocery store or the pumps where you buy your gasoline. As your Commissioner of Agriculture, I will make sure that inspections are increased and those who would cheat Texans are prosecuted.

Real Texas Agriculture Marketing and Promotion

Agriculture is the second largest industry in Texas. I will fight to open new opportunities to sell Texas agriculture products in Texas, throughout the US, and internationally in markets where it makes sense. I won’t pander to the large agribusinesses as Todd Staples does, I’ll work for all Texans who want to market their agricultural products.

Working to Bring Bioenergy Jobs to Texas

There is absolutely no excuse for the lack of support from the TDA for bioenergy production in this state. As Commissioner of Agriculture, I will be a tireless advocate for building a real, strong and stable bioenergy sector in this state.

Hold Me Accountable!

Food safety, consumer protection and leading a shift to biofuels.

My DFA values:

By continuing to build on the grassroots momentum we've already got in the race and that Hank ran on in 2006.

My Campaign is People-Powered!

Hank is making heavy use of social media (especially twitter, hank4texas) and on the ground organization through Democratic clubs around the state.