Christmas Mountains Still In Danger

A few years ago, the Richard King Mellon Foundation and the Conservation Fund bought a large tract of land in the Christmas Mountains (bordering Big Bend National Park) and gave the land to the state of Texas. Their only stipulations for the gift was to leave the land in its natural environmental state and assure that the land could be open to use by all the citizens of Texas.

The state made a solemn promise to abide by those stipulations, but now Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson wants to break that promise. He tried to sell the land about a year ago to a private interest, but was stopped by citizen outrage. It was thought he would relent and give the land to the National Park System (which would obey the gift's stipulations), but now he's changed his mind and once again wants to sell this valuable gift to the people of Texas.

Why is he doing this? Because he's a gun nut, and the Big Bend National Park doesn't allow firearms or hunting in the park. Patterson told a conservation group, "No guns, no hunting, no deal." He figures if he sells to a private person, then hunting leases could be granted.

The problem is that selling to a private interest means all the citizens of Texas will not have access. It also means there is no assurance the land will be kept in its natural state (as the state promised). Selling this public land to a private interest is really a bad idea, and the state would get very little from it. The previous high bid was $650,000 -- just a drop in the bucket that would do nothing to solve Texas' financial problems.

Fortunately, Patterson has a Democratic opponent who wants to honor the promises made by the state. His name is Hector Uribe (pictured), and he is the only hope to avoid the sale of this land to private interests. If Patterson is re-elected, the land will be sold. Here is what Uribe says:

"From generation to generation, Texans take pride in keeping their word. Back when Ann Richards was governor and Garry Mauro was Land Commissioner, the Mellon Foundation and the Conservation Fund gave more than 9,000 acres outside Big Bend National Park to the State of Texas. It is known as the Christmas Mountains Ranch, and the views from Christmas Mountain are spectacular.

The General Land Office accepted the gift with the understanding that strict conservation restrictions had been placed on it. Selling the land to private parties would be a violation of our fiduciary duty to the donors and to their beneficiaries, the people of Texas.

Accordingly, I will preserve and protect our scenic Christmas Mountains in West Texas. I’ll urge the passage of legislation to transfer their management to the National Park Service and their inclusion in our Big Bend National Park."

Please save this land for the people of Texas (and the United States). However you vote on the rest of the ballot, it is important to vote for Hector Uribe and save the Christmas Mountains. This is not a liberal or conservative issue. It is just a vote for the people of Texas and a vote for the state to honor its promises.