FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Cattle Raisers help Staples launch bid for ag commissioner

FORT WORTH, Texas, Sept. 15, 2005―State Sen. Todd Staples held a press conference Sept. 15 at TSCRA headquarters in Fort Worth to launch his campaign for Texas Agriculture Commissioner.
         The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Political Action Committee is supporting Staples in his bid for the Republican nomination in the March 2006 primary.
         “Sen. Staples has been tenacious in fighting to preserve agricultural and rural interests,” said TSCRA PAC Chairman Dick Sherron.
         “He was instrumental in getting several amendments passed to protect landowners in legislation for the controversial Trans-Texas Corridor.
         “We also counted on his help to pass eminent domain protection and workers’ compensation reform.”
         Sen. Staples is currently serving his fifth year as state senator for Senate District. 3. He was first elected to the Legislature in 1995, serving six years in the Texas House of Representatives.
         A real estate appraiser, broker and partner with his father in a cow-calf operation, Staples resides in Palestine, Texas, with his wife and children.
         He has a degree in agricultural economics from Texas A&M University, and is a former statewide vice president of the Future Farmers of America.
         Staples told supporters at TSCRA headquarters that he will approach all issues with one question: How will it affect our families?
         “My campaign will focus on agricultural families and businesses, the competitive future of agricultural technology, protection of private property rights, safety of our food, the benefits of agriculture to urban and suburban areas of our state, and the overall economic impact of ranching and farming across Texas.”

         Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association is a 128-year-old trade organization whose 13,000-plus members manage approximately 5.4 million cattle on 70.3 million acres of range and pasture land, primarily in Texas and Oklahoma.

TSCRA-30-2005