This morning, I gave Susan Hays my congratulations on being the the 2022 Democratic nominee for Texas Ag Commissioner and offered to lend a hand on the issues that have been left behind by Sid Miller and Republican leadership. Susan believes that a healthy cannabis regulatory regime should focus on some core values: As Susan Hays puts it: Farming is hard, ethics should be easy, Hey Thanks for the kind words . font-weight: bold; I'm always down for a good brain challenge. indicateScroll(); This includes Millers reputation for making offensive remarks about immigrants, spreading falsehoods on social media, and the indictment of his longtime political consultant on charges of theft and bribery in exchange for state hemp licenses. .inner_percentage.Green { It was a stepping stone . Hays has positioned herself that the state of Texas needs to fund criminal justice and legalize cannabis the right way. The ag commission has a rural hospital program. padding:7px 8px 8px; She is board certified in campaign and legislative law in addition to court and civil law. width: 100% So financially, theyre pretty sound, Miller said. Oct. 20, 20225 AM Central. }, See also:Texas Agriculture Commissioner election, 2022. Not only are you campaigning in rural Texas, which has a history of being rather socially conservative and politically conservative, too. .votebox-covid-disclaimer { Election day is Nov. 8. Then supporting the people who are dedicated civil servants and asking them, what do you need to do your job better and be more effective.. Source. [My husband and I] largely live in Alpine, and we spent the pandemic watching nervously. CBD Delivery ATX Serves Customers in Austin and Beyond. Afterward, Hays worked at the Capital as a legislative aid in the House of Representatives, and a year later went to clerk at the Texas Supreme Court. .top_disclaimer { top: -5px; But, you know, he wasnt much help. The law makes abortion illegal after cardiac activity is detected in an embryo -- normally around six weeks, before some women even know they are pregnant. Well, I mean, I wouldnt ask that question on the nose. Another solution Hays gives is simply more doctors and nurses in rural Texas. She also wants Texas to expand Medicaid, saying its asinine that the state leaves federal tax dollars on the floor by not. } .votebox_legend .non_result_row { One thing you don't account for however is something looking bigger or smaller than you seemed to think it was. However, polling locations may change, so be sure to check your countys election website before going to vote. display: block; All Texas has to do is read it and be smart about expanding cannabis laws, and Susan feels she is best equipped to do just that as an attorney who understands agriculture. Counties served: Bosque, Falls, Freestone, Hill, Limestone, and McLennan AAA of Houston-Galveston 713-627-3200 713-993-4562 Fax: 713-993-4578 3555 Timmons Lane Suite 120 Houston, TX 77027 . Susan grew up in rural Texas in the middle of ranching and hunting country. if (typeof $ != 'undefined') { display: inline-block; Ive been a civil appellate lawyer for some years, and as I shifted my practice, I was named super lawyer in the cannabis category. let scrollHeight = jQuery('.results_table_container').get(index).scrollHeight; display: block; .votebox-results-cell--number { No one trusts the incumbent to do whats right for Texas. } While I may not be the change Texas chose last night, we sure need it. } And if you look at polling data, medical [marijuana] is almost perfectly bipartisan and its high support. font-weight: bold; display: inline-block; width: 100%; . RELATED: A conversation with incumbent ag commissioner Republican, Sid Miller. div.survey-scrollbox { height:400px; overflow:scroll; margin:20px; padding:10px; border:1px solid gray; } $('.hideResponses').on('click', () => { It also hit the hemp crop. } Other candidates for statewide offices who spoke were Jay Kleberg for Land Commissioner, Luke Warford for Railroad Commissioner, and Susan Hayes for Agriculture Commissioner. font-size: 16px; background-color: #f9d334; I worked on an Eron case, I worked on the BP oil spill cases, said Hays. They want better for Texas, but paint different pictures of what that is. "With Linda Coffee she filed the first case of her legal career, Roe v. Wade, fresh out of law school," Hayes added. Updated: 9:46 AM CDT September 18, 2022. 1:53. This is a developing story. Well, it seems like the biggest issue that you were running on, and correct me if Im mistaken here, is rural development. We also need to license more providers. Americans and Texans have not only seen the global economy change, but the Texas economy as well. padding-bottom: 7px; clear: both; The job of this position is to bring as many federal dollars back to Texas as possible. Disclosure: Texas Tech University and the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. She and her husband own land outside of Alpine Texas which is southwest of Fort Stockton where they have been experimenting with growing both hemp and hops. display: table; People can find more about her campaign at HAYS4AG.com. "Texas farmers, ranchers and families deserve a commissioner who will act . Its not there to force people to do something but show the better models, said Hays. .panel-heading:hover { cursor: pointer;} Podcast Episode 12: Taste of Texas Hemp Cup and Heather Fazio, Cannabis Labs/Food Labs Conference June 2 5, 2020, Texas Supreme Court Bans Manufacture of Smokeable Hemp, Representing Cannabis: Failed Insights from a Supposedly Pro-Cannabis U.S. House of Representatives Candidate, Oklahoma Becomes Marijuana Legalization Battleground Between Advocates, With Legal Challenges And A New Ballot Initiative. You dont have free market competition. Why does this factor so largely in your campaign? Law enforcement has figured out they have bigger fish to fry and theyre wasting a lot of resources on busting people for marijuana when they should be focused on violent crimes., The plant also needs to have regulations by the state to protect consumers from getting their cannabis from the black market. Weddington, however, remained committed to abortion. We can produce a crop of very, very high quality, but we have to continue to use all the platforms we have to promote that, Bessent explained. .outer_percentage { @media (max-width:600px) { margin-right: 12px; background: #4c4c4c; State on the Wrong Track. The other piece of it is once we have stable cannabis markets, which were a long way from right now, its one of the few crops somebody can make a living off of on an acre or less.. Weddington's reported death comes while the Supreme Court is considering a case with the potential to reverse the landmark abortion case. Federal courts | State executives | Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Susan notes that leadership roles in Texas with their failure to deal with cannabis reform the right way has caused issues. Their visions of government, and its responsibilities, are worlds apart. So, we lose the middle-class jobs, we lose the opportunities for young people growing up there to stay.. Monday, February 21st 2022. Hays appeared recently on The Chad Hasty Show to discuss her campaign and hemp production in Texas. And not just traditional criminal black market, but PTA moms from Dallas come from Colorado with products. Hes proven himself to not be trustworthy.. Otherwise, the black market grows in power. The primary was scheduled for March 1, 2022, and a primary runoff was scheduled for May 24, 2022. The state ruled that the legislatures language was constitutional per the state constitution and federal guidance, but that the DSHS language would have its injunction upheld as the agency dropped their argument. One is a former rodeo cowboy caught in controversy. 2.1.1 Campaign finance; . And its not as easy to grow it and grow it well as people might think. Parts of North Texas are under an enhanced risk of severe weather on Thursday night, meaning we could see thunderstorms, hail and even tornadoes. The area has been known for cattle and cotton. Hays believes she can be a Democrat that can appeal to voters outside the Democrat party in Texas. The writing is on the wall. .results_row td:first-child { And youre hours away from your next best option. Being dependent on one or two items alone will eventually cause a town and its residents to suffer long term. .widget-row.Republican { } When Will Cannabis Be Recreational in Texas? And so this office and who knew? background-color: #f9d334; Youll need one of seven types of valid photo ID to vote in Texas: A state drivers license, a Texas election identification certificate, a Texas personal identification card, a Texas license to carry a handgun, a U.S. military ID card with a personal photo, a U.S. citizenship certificate with a personal photo or a U.S. passport. And yet, you think about, well, what about the ag department? } And at the time we really needed some better regulations out of USDA. But long term, as the markets stabilize and government action absolutely plays a role in market stabilization with cannabis, it does provide an opportunity for a high-value crop where a farmer can make a living off a relatively small amount of land if they get good at growing it. Your gift helps pay for everything you find on texasstandard.org and KUT.org. .inner_percentage { Ill continue to do whatever I can to deliver it. .key-messages li {margin-bottom: 10px;} Hays helped write the bill that legalized hemp in Texas. $('.pastResponses').show(); } Texas has two big names on the ballot for AG Commissioner in November. Farming is hard, but ethics should be easy., 2023 KCDP. .race_header.democratic { Susan Hays defeated Ed Ireson in the Democratic primary for Texas Commissioner of Agriculture on March 1, 2022. This year, Texans will be casting their votes to choose candidates for some major positions, including the governor, lieutenant governor and . Susan Hays, a Democratic candidate for Texas Commissioner of Agriculture, has shown leadership on hemp cultivation and would offer much-needed accountability to the agency. .image-candidate-thumbnail-wrapper { A lot of what I witnessed has now led to the commissioners political consultant being indicted for trying to sell $100, unlimited hemp licenses for tens of thousands of dollars to the unwitting. Ballot measures, Who represents me? --subtitle-background: #334aab; Harris County simply had far more registered progressive voters this election than in previous elections: the county added more than 120,000 voters to its . background-color: grey; Counties | On the issue of cannabis though, Hays really dispels the notion that moving the plant towards a legalization direction is a societal disaster waiting to happen. font-size: .9em; font-size: 1.25em; Susan Hays, the Democratic candidate for ag commissioner, made a campaign stop in College Station on Wednesday. .inner_percentage.Democratic { The mission statement of the Texas Department of Agriculture is: "Partner with all Texans to make Texas the nation's leader in agriculture, fortify our economy, empower rural communities, promote healthy lifestyles, and cultivate winning strategies for . The legislature is slowly carving [the Texas Department of Agriculture] apart because of Millers antics, says Hays. Susan Hays is running for Texas Agricultural Commissioner in the Democrat primary with her ultimate goal of taking on the incumbent, Commissioner Sid Miller, over what she called a "dysfunctional . "One new judge wont necessarily make much difference. } As a legislative lawyer, Hays prides herself on being well-researched in these political and legal topics that come to play in the legislature. .mw-content-ltr td.votebox-results-cell--text, Listen to the full interview with Susan Hays above. function indicateScroll (){ The AG is also reportedly under investigation by the FBI after former aides accused him of taking bribes. U.S. President | margin-bottom: .75em; State . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. There are no exceptions for rape or incest. Those issues are being brought up by Paxton's three challengers in the Republican primary former land Commissioner George P. Bush, U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert and former Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman. We dont teach kids enough about agriculture and where their food comes from.. Non-Governmental & Nonprofit Organization Alpine, TX hays4ag.com Joined September 2011. It provides financial assistance to farmers and ranchers, offers infrastructure grants in rural communities to attract development, markets Texas products and oversees measuring devices in grocery stores. } By Jayme Lozano, Texas Tribune LUBBOCK A mere 44 miles, a flyspeck on the map, separates the Central Texas towns where Sid Miller and Susan Hays grew up. This transcript has been edited lightly for clarity: Texas Standard: Youre a Democrat running in a largely conservative state. } The results have been certified. font-style: italic; The winner of this election will lead the state agriculture department that juggles several tasks. The 2022 Texas primary election is Tuesday, March 1. width: 150px; font-size: 20px; if (window.jQuery) { font-weight: bold; .widget-row.Democratic { padding-left: 16px; If your doctor thinks its a good idea to try cannabis you should be able to try cannabis. Texas held an election for agriculture commissioner on November 8, 2022. Miller said agriculture has always been the glue that holds Texas together. This November, voters will decide contests for a number of statewide offices, from governor to attorney general. The Irving rapper signed to Kodak Black's label Sniper Gang Records is charged with murder in a Dallas shooting. Running for: Texas Agriculture Commissioner. " [His campaign] has victimized small farmers, large farmers, all farmers and ranchers," said White during an interview on Capital Tonight. I mean, there are a lot of hemp farmers who feel that theyre sort of high and dry. Hays attended the University of Texas where she was part of a student lobby group. There were no incumbents in this race. Contact our sales team. State legislature | The secretary of states website will also have information on polling locations closer to the start of voting. margin-bottom: 0px; Her practice now focuses on cannabis law, from hemp to the full regulatory scheme of cannabis. left: 0px; Both my brothersattended Texas Tech and I understand the ground. In 2017, she warned that then-President Donald Trump may put Roe v. Wade in jeopardy if he got multiple justices confirmed to the Supreme Court. .widget-row.value-only.white { It sounds like maybe the Legislature would be more of a fit, if youre talking about the kind of sweeping changes youre suggesting. And the other reality we need to deal with is that cannabis products are already here. overflow-y: hidden; Hays helped write the bill that legalized hemp in Texas. State and local courts | } Im a policy wonk and smart enough to figure out how to get things done the right way, Hays said. Whether its Miller or Hays in office next year, the agriculture commissioner has several issues coming to a head. Contents. Candidates for Texas Agriculture Commissioner, incumbent Sid Miller (R) and Susan Hays (D) In the coming November election for Texas Governor, Lt. Find out how Susan Hays answered our questions in our voter guide. Susan Hays (D) 3,458,814 44% *Incumbent. $('.collapse').collapse('show'); Take, for example, rural health care. But a big part of this job is pulling down those federal dollars for economic development programs or health care. If youve been in the cannabis space since Texas went hemp, you likely know of her. background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: left; width: 100%; She lost in the general election on November 8, 2022. Meet the incumbent challenger, Susan Hays. This is the first time Hays is running for elected office, but shes no stranger to Texas politics. luke warford. width: 100%; The other thing thats happened in Texas, particularly the urban areas, the taxpayers have had it paying for people to be incarcerated for marijuana possession. While she earned her chops analyzing complex legal issues and creating simple . Hays believes that the legalization is evitable in the United States. Taking a few minutes and actual effort to generate a really good article. Hays says her priority to create better ethics is to simply get rid of those in the Department of Agriculture who are cashing a check, but not putting in the work. Youll want to check for open polling locations with your local elections office before you head out to vote. } Candidate for Texas Commissioner of Agriculture (DEM) Democrat. Shes noted that her family over the years had started to find a balance between farming/ranching and becoming educated in other industries in order to continue their legacy in the area. We dont own the land, the land owns us, Miller said. margin: auto; The best way to get there is to encourage kids from rural Texas to go into the healthcare professions. railroad commissioner. Did the DEAs new rule confirm hemp-derived Delta-8 THC is illegal? $(".expand-all").on('click', () => { If you are not from rural Texas but you train there, you may want to stay, and those have shown to be effective. What the TDA can do to help that, is draw down federal grant money. And theres a lot of potential in those programs. } For Hayes, it was Brownwood, a town with one high school. Hayes noted that Weddington argued Roe at age 27. } A Texas lawmaker wants to use eminent domain to save a state park. School districts | background-color: #db0000; } It also oversees the states department of rural health, which helps rural hospitals with financial aid and technical assistance. At the top of Millers list is stopping China from buying farmland in the U.S. And Miller does want to expand and fully implement medical cannabis use. font-weight: bold; .mw-body #mw-content-text th.votebox-results-cell--text { .inner_percentage.CrossFiled { Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. But . .inner_percentage, .inner_percentage.Nonpartisan, .inner_percentage.Independent, .inner_percentage.Constitution, .inner_percentage.unknown { Texas has also had two dozen rural hospitals close in the last several years. margin-top: 0px; Hays latest case she was involved in revolved around the smokable hemp ban language from DSHS and created by the legislature with HB1325. padding-left: 0; The contest to serve as rural Texas ambassador to the state has become animated. max-width: 600px; [emailprotected], Texas Gives Nod to Hempseed Feed for Horses and Chickens. Reference: Analysis of answers from 2,071 voters that voted for Susan Hays in the 2022 Texas Commissioner of Agriculture election. [More] Tuesday, January 31, 2023, Annual challenge builds connections between students, fresh local foods, and Texas farmers and ranchers . For Hays, it was Brownwood, a one-high-school town. Susan Hays is a prolific attorney in Texas that has been at the forefront of cannabis legislation for quite some time. Susan was named the first cannabis Super Lawyer in the state of Texas, and continues to be a top attorney in the state of Texas on the topic. This option is fairly limited in Texas. margin-bottom:16px; Hays is also a fan of implementing carbon capture which is a way for landowners and farmers to get paid for planting things that put carbon back into the earth. She served in the Department of Agriculture in 1977, and she served as assistant to President Jimmy Carter from 1978 to 1981, directing his administration's work on women's issues. Their cannabis knowledge, enthusiasm, and, Aw, this was an extremely nice post. Hays applauded Texas State Senator Charles Perry for writing a bill that regulated hemp well in Texas. } Hays, . Its identifying what I call choke points, says Hays. font-style: italic; But she wants to legalize the crop for more than the popularity points. .widget-row.value-only { Speaking during the confirmation process for Neil Gorsuch, Weddington noted that one justice might not make the difference but a few might. Hays loves being in a rural community now, but growing up, she was pulling off cow ticks and helping her brothers castrate calves and looking for a way out. People who are older remember that. Susan Hayes (D) Undecided ActiVote: June 23 - September 21, 2022 184 (LV) 7.0% 50%: 50% - . } --title-background: #334aab; } color: #fff; Updated: 9:45 AM CDT September 18, 2022. Agriculture commissioner is also on the ballot, with incumbent Sid Miller, a Trump-backed Republican, facing Democrat Susan Hays.. Hays' campaign issues include rural economic development, expanded health care, marijuana legalization and fighting corruption. margin-top: 1em; float: right; .results_table { Senator Charles Perry did a great job crafting and getting that bill through, I learned really after the fact that Texas has the best regulatory framework for monitoring hemp products in the country. What I would like to see us do in next session is pass a full medical program, said Hays. width: 50px; background-color: #f4f4f4;
float:right; .contact_entity {font-size: 1.0em ;margin-top: 0.6em; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 0.5em;} color: white; }, 100); RELATED: Supreme Courts conservative majority suggesting changes to limit US abortion rights. A modernized state agency that serves all Texans. $('.showResponses').on('click', () => { The August 2022 University of Texas / Texas Politics Project poll has just been released, including extensive questioning on the 2022 elections, abortion, immigration, gun violence and much much more. Susan will fight hard for us. None of them are credible.. People arent afraid of it anymore. What can you tell them that might convince them to vote for a Democrat for this position? if(scrollHeight > 580 ) { "Both have deep Texas roots, but Sid Miller and Susan Hays offer stark contrast in fight for ag commissioner" was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans and engages with them about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. Additionally, you can, County election offices are supposed to post on. When you cannot get the funding and the budgeting to do your job, the punishment of Sid Miller ultimately hurts agriculture, and anybody who eats, because the agency has been carved down out of a lack of trust and to punish him.. One experience I had with [writing the hemp bill], is seeing how much the Republicans in the senate distress and dislike Sid Miller, said Hays. Thats the Democrat campaign strategy, just to throw something out there, get people like you to report on it, whether its true or not, and get the headlines, Miller said. I was thinking when you were talking about drafting the hemp law Miller embraced it, as I recall now. Meet the incumbent challenger, Susan Hays. Cannabis should not be regulated more heavily than other products unless there is a valid scientific, medical, or public safety reason to do so. Democratic challenger Susan Hays, left, will face Republican Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller in November. Youre allowed to vote by mail only if: You will be 65 or older by Election Day, you will not be in your county for the entire span of voting, including early voting, you cite a sickness or disability that prevents you from voting in person without needing personal assistance or without the likelihood of injuring your health, youre expected to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day or you are confined in jail but otherwise eligible (i.e., not convicted of a felony). At the same time, only a third of Texans, 33%, report feeling "very safe" in the area where they lived, compared to 44% in October of 2020. Incumbent Sid Miller defeated Susan Hays in the general election for Texas Commissioner of Agriculture on November 8, 2022. Yeah, he did. } The other is an attorney with an exceptional vision . Hays said she disagreed with Beto O'Rourke on wanting Texans to give up their AR-15's. Ballotpedia features 395,397 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. background-color: #003388; } vertical-align: top; } A Texas Appeals Court overruled a decision to throw out a lawsuit against Jerry Jones from a woman who claimed the Dallas Cowboys owner kissed her on the mouth and forcibly grabbed her without her consent.. width: 250px; When these mechanisms arent utilized correctly the market will always fill a void where there is money to be made. 1 Biography; 2 Elections. } }) That can be from scholarship programs and its also training programs. State Board of Education (15 seats) Agriculture Commissioner. font-size: 12px; She became the trope of a rural kid moving away in search of a better living. I co-founded an organization called Janes Due Process, which provides legal services to pregnant teenagers, which has been greatly interesting and satisfying work. She has also worked on voting rights issues and election laws. background-color: #6db24f; So I went to hearings, got to know some of the staff, and it was just a hot mess. Thank you, Burt Bacharach #RIPBurtBacharach #DougandJulie #MarlenaandDon #MickeyandMaggie. SAN ANTONIO - Susan Hays is a Democrat candidate Texas Agriculture Commissioner. color: black; text-align: center; color: white; ; Its amazing how popular it is. Susan Hays is a lawyer, advocate, and crisis manager based in Austin, Texas, with more than twenty-five years' experience in law and politics. Hays has an extensive legal background, including as a cannabis attorney. But when asked what he hopes . He said rural hospitals are in good shape since federal and state funds were distributed to facilities around Texas during the pandemic. DALLAS Incumbent Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller says he has some unfinished business, so he's seeking a third term. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, a two-term Republican, is facing his toughest reelection cycle yet as . })(); See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection. texas . DALLAS Attorney Susan Hays says she knows the marijuana issue is garnering most of the headlines in her race for Texas agriculture commissioner. margin-bottom: 4px; .race_footer { Agriculture commissioner is also on the ballot, with incumbent Sid Miller, a Trump-backed Republican, facing Democrat Susan Hays. } Running for: Texas Agriculture Commissioner. } Ag Commissioner results | Incumbent Sid Miller and Susan Hays secure nominations. background-color: #003388; } else { } float: left; LUBBOCK Just 44 miles, a dot on a map, separate the Central Texas towns where Sid Miller and Susan Hayes grew up. height: 100%; .votebox-scroll-container { Shes publicly stated as well that our forensic crime labs in the state are seriously underfunded. Now youre going out there saying, I believe in rural Texas, I want to legalize marijuana. width: 100%; } What does that title mean? Both found success, Hays as a lawyer fighting for human rights and Miller as a national award-winning rodeo cowboy. It's always a fun time looking up address or cities and seeing them from a satellite point of view. Sarah Weddington, one of the attorneys who argued the landmark abortion case Roe v. Wade in 1973, died at the age of 76, a former student said Sunday. .clearfix { "The Look of Love" was the song we all fell in love to; Bill and Susan and, incidentally, Doug and Julie. .widget-row.value-only.black { Railroad Commissioner. On rural hospitals, Hays said most rural hospitals do not have the capacity needed to take care of several counties, and when you need a trauma care hospital, you need to go to a bigger city, which for some could be several hours away. Tuesday, January 31, 2023, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller reminds the Texas agriculture community that the USDA's deadline to respond to the 2022 Census of Agriculture is Monday, February 6th. Farming is hard, but ethics should be easy. [Miller] doesnt seem engaged in the job, or to actually do the job. My deepest thanks to the core group of friends and family, and more broadly to Texans from all walks of life who supported my campaign. color: white; } margin: 0px 10px; Well, you know, these things can happen in fairly large agencies and departments. Its estimated that Texas would receive $6.3 billion annually, and coverage would be expanded to include 1 million enrollees.