Benjamin Flores Announces for Texas Land Commissioner

Benjamin Flores, a member of the Bay City City Council, is announcing his candidacy for Land Commissioner. He is also endorsing State Representative Gina Hinojosa for Governor, the office he sought before leaving the race to endorse Hinojosa. “I believe Gina Hinojosa is the right person to inspire voters across the state and lead Texas forward as its next Governor,” says Flores.

The Land Commissioner oversees the General Land Office which is constitutionally responsible for generating revenue to fund the state’s Permanent School Fund and the Veterans Land Fund. It does this today by leasing the state’s land and mineral rights chiefly to land developers and the oil and gas industry.

As Land Commissioner, Flores intends to invite solar and wind energy producers to also operate on state land, increasing both revenue and power generation in an environmentally conscious manner.

Flores promises to focus the Land Commission on its core mission: funding schools and veterans services, and to making sure every available dollar is getting to where it’s needed. He will prioritize getting money to schools that need it most to reduce the burden on property taxes and explore opportunities to address housing affordability by incentivizing residential construction on state owned land.

Determined to make a better life for himself, Flores says, “I came to this country from Mexico when I was 20 – legally, by the way – with two small bags and a big dream. I worked menial jobs in California until a hotel job led to my career in cybersecurity. My wife, daughter and I moved to Texas because the state respected personal liberty, offered opportunity for all, and supported public schools. But today, I see Texas moving in a different direction, and I want to help our great state get back on track. My vision for Texas? A state where Texans thrive together.”

“There’s nothing Texans can’t do when we work together. Whether it’s increasing the funding to our schools or helping our veterans closer to where they live, my promise is to be the Land Commissioner who puts the needs of Texans First,” says Flores.