AUSTIN -- Kinky Friedman may have been out-matched by Bill White in the democratic race for governor, but he believes he can run for and win the post of Texas Agriculture Commissioner.
Friedman said the state-wide post would allow him to push forward many programs he would have pushed for as governor, only, as ag commissioner, he wouldn't have to ask the Legislature's permission.
Kinky Friedman originally planned to be at Democratic Party headquarters in downtown Austin to file paperwork to run for governor.
After recently traveling to Houston to meet with democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White, he decided to leave the race for governor and run for agriculture commissioner instead.
"I won't go so far as George W. when he said he looked into Putin’s eyes and saw his soul mate, but I saw that it could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
That same day in Houston, Friedman met with longtime-friend and democratic gubernatorial candidate Farouk Shami, and tried to convince him to also switch races.
"I met with Farouk on the evening of the day I met with Bill White and tried to talk him into running for lieutenant governor, so the ticket wouldn't have to butt heads like that,” he said.
While Shami still wants to run for the top-job, Friedman says being ag commissioner will allow him to direct a lot more than just farm policy, namely promoting bio fuel and animal sanctuaries statewide.
"You've got the budget and you've got the staff to do things they can't do,” Friedman said.
The Texas Department of Agriculture has more than 600 employees across the state and a budget, this year, of $465 million.
State law requires the ag commissioner to have spent five of the last 10 years in farming or ranching.
Friedman believes his family cattle operation in the Hill Country qualifies. He also says the post of ag commissioner might just be a better fit for his cowboy-hat attitude.
“I think that's one of the pleasant things about running for ag commissioner,” he said. “I think it's something I can win.”
