Nate Sheets, Republican candidate for Agriculture Commissioner, visited San Saba Friday, October 9th, in the District Courtroom at the County Courthouse to introduce himself to local voters and explain his priorities should he be voted into office. Greeted by a small but lively group, Nate arrived in his "Texans Feeding Texans" bus on a tour of rural counties. He said that in the Republican Primary against currentAg Commissioner Sid Miller, he had received 70% of the vote from Republicans in the major cities across Texas but only about 30% of the vote in the rural counties. He knew he wanted to tour those rural areas and let voters know who he was and what he stood for.
Never having run for political office before, Nate said he's spent his life first in the Navy, then as a successful businessman, and recently as a rancher and he wants to bring a business mindset to the state Agriculture Department. One of his top priorities is to help Texas food producers bring their products to market in Texas to feed Texans, particularly children. He stated that Texas ranks 44th in the nation in Child Nutrition, including in our school lunch programs, and his goal is to raise Texas to be in the Top 10 within one year of taking office. He knows there is a factual link between good nutrition in school and a child's ability to learn and he wants to facilitate major improvements in child nutrition across the state.
He also talked about data centers and how if one is to be built in an area it needs to be done smartly, with local involvement, regulated and guided by the needs of the community, such as new parks or school upgrades, and respect for its resources, including water and electric power. He also talked about the 765kV electrical lines planned for San Saba County and other areas and how he has been talking directly with Governor Abbott about the anger and frustration being felt in rural communities over these plans.
When Cindy Sloan, Precinct 2 Chair, voiced the concern of many ranchers about the 765kV lines and that many ranchers she knows may withhold their votes for Governor Abbott due to his lack of action against these lines, Nate promised to call the Governor himself to relay those sentiments.
Nate introduced his wife, Patty, who was accompanying him on the tour and took questions from the floor on a variety of subjects. The first state-wide candidate to visit San Saba in many years, he was gracious, humble and thankful for those who came out to see him and listen to his plans for the future.
Prior to departing, voters got to sign Nate's bus, take pictures and wish him and his team a safe farewell.