The gentleman pictured is Kenneth Kendrick -- the Green Party's candidate for Texas Agriculture Commissioner in the 2014 general election. Mr. Kendrick is, in my opinion, the only rational choice on the ballot for progressives (or anyone else who would like to see an honest and hard-working man hold that office).There really is no other sensible choice for voters. The Republicans have nominated a right-wing extremist who would be a disaster as Ag. Commissioner. And nobody knows what the Democratic candidate believes -- since he has refused to campaign or to list any issues he supports and will fight for. All we know is that he ran as a Democrat because the Republicans (his first choice) already had five candidates for that office running in their primary.
My fellow blogger Texpatriot has sent all the candidates running for statewide office in Texas a questionnaire. Mr. Kendrick responded to that questionnaire, and his answers were great. I urge you to go to Texpatriot's blog and read the whole thing. I think you'll be impressed.
I bring you below only the last question on the questionnaire, and Mr. Kendrick's response:
T: What are the three most important issues to you, and what is at least one thing you have done to address each of them? KK: 1) Food Safety – I want Texas to be known as the safest place for producers to buy from thus not only keeping people safe, but also increasing our economic viability. 2) Corporate Accountability- After Blowing the Whistle on Peanut Corp of America, it was discovered that 355 facilities had never registered with the Dept of Health, thus breaking the law, none were fined. All Agencies must work together to ensure this does not happen again (Peanut Corp had TX Dept of Ag Organic Certification, but was not even Registered with the Texas Dept. of Health. Had the Dept. of Ag had done its job properly on any one of its three inspections, lives would have been saved. Here is a Hyperlink to the Story. 3) Finding, stopping, and referring for prosecution those that commit fraud waste and abuse in both Government and Corporate settings. Employees will have an open door straight to me on that issue, and I have already heard plenty of employees tell me, in confidence, that these problems exist. As far as what I have done. Since being known as a Whistle Blower I have traveled the country with the Government Accountability Project speaking at Universities on Ethics and Whistle Blowing all over the country. I have tried to keep the public up to date via social media on food recalls, and worked closely with the FDA to ensure Peanut Corp of America went to trial.
