Pick Buckingham in the GOP runoff
Neither candidate in this race gives us much confidence that they’ll handle stewardship of the Alamo with anything approaching the nuance that’s needed in that job.
That’s too bad, because outgoing Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush, whose office oversees the museum and monument to Texas’ most famous battle, long ago abandoned any commitment to history and truth when it comes to the Alamo. As new scholarship has sought to add to a fuller understanding of Texas’ origin story, Bush has joined others in state leadership in attacking the messengers rather than confronting the message.
The two Republicans seeking to succeed him have routed the same disappointing course in their campaigns.
Tim Westley, 50, says he’ll fight to keep the story of Texas heroes just as has been told for years. For that matter, Westley, the official historian for the Texas GOP, also promises to defend historical monuments throughout Texas from revisionists, and to fight the rising threat of “critical race theory” in Texas schools. What precisely he could do about that as land commissioner is far from clear.
We believe his opponent, Sen. Dawn Buckingham of Lakeview, is the better choice in the May 24 primary. It’s not because she differs from Westley on issues such as the Alamo — she doesn’t. That she strikes such a similar tone is not especially surprising, given that Buckingham, a physician in private life, has won endorsements from Donald Trump, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and other powerful figures in the GOP. Just this past week, Patrick campaigned with Buckingham in Wichita Falls and San Angelo. During a stop in the latter city, Buckingham said she’s running to “keep the Texas you and I know and love the way it is for our future generations.”
We wish both candidates would tone down the culture war talking points about the Alamo and focus on the office’s other critical responsibilities. From overseeing investments that contribute billions to education funding to administering some veterans benefits, the land commissioner is one state government leader who can most afford to dial down the politics and focus on the needs of ordinary Texans.
Still, Buckingham’s record of public service and especially her experience in elected office will stand her in good stead should she become Texas’ first female land commissioner. She was first elected to the Senate in 2016 and reelected two years ago.
If she does win, her first task ought to be to unjam the flow of federal Harvey relief dollars and get the help that was promised to flood victims so long ago.
Westley would also make history should he win the runoff and the general election in the fall. He’d be the first Black Texan to serve as land commissioner, and that’s an outcome we can get behind. But on balance, we believe it’s Cunningham who is best prepared for the job.