Fort Bend Truth & Times endorses Dawn Buckingham for reelection as Texas Land Commissioner. Her leadership of the General Land Office has focused on disaster recovery, veterans’ services, public education funding, and management of state lands—responsibilities with direct consequences for communities across Texas.
The General Land Office manages more than 13 million acres of state land, administers disaster-recovery and flood-mitigation funds, contributes revenue to public education, and oversees the Alamo. The commissioner’s job requires careful stewardship of public resources and the ability to move complex programs from allocation to results.
Buckingham was elected in 2022 as the state’s first woman land commissioner. During her term, the GLO has continued work across disaster recovery, coastal resilience, state land management, veterans’ programs, and historic preservation. The breadth of those responsibilities makes administrative follow-through as important as setting priorities.
Disaster recovery is especially important to Fort Bend and the Houston region. The GLO administers federal recovery funds for housing and infrastructure, including billions allocated after Hurricane Harvey. Harris County has its own direct allocation, and the GLO’s role in administering and coordinating recovery programs remains consequential for residents still dealing with flood risk and storm damage.
Buckingham recently announced a one-year extension for eligible existing Harvey recovery and mitigation contracts, including more than $1.1 billion in project funding allocated to Harris County. That extension can give local projects more time to advance, but residents deserve clear reporting on schedules, spending, and completed work. Recovery funding matters most when it reaches households and neighborhoods that need it.
The office also manages state land revenue that supports Texas public education. The GLO’s work to generate revenue from state resources is an important part of its public mission. We expect the commissioner to continue protecting the long-term value of those assets and to report clearly on how land management decisions benefit Texas schoolchildren.
Buckingham also chairs the Texas Veterans Land Board, which provides programs for veterans and military families. The GLO reports that the board has helped thousands of veterans through loans and other benefits. These programs should remain accessible, well managed, and responsive to the needs of veterans throughout the state.
Her recent initiatives include efforts to connect state land with energy, manufacturing, agriculture, and resource development. Those goals align with Texas’s economic strengths, but development must be managed responsibly, with attention to public value, land stewardship, and the long-term interests of the state.
An endorsement is not a blank check. The General Land Office must remain focused on its statutory duties, careful use of public funds, timely disaster recovery, and transparent communication with local governments and residents. Buckingham should be judged by whether projects are completed, public assets are protected, and Texans can see measurable results.
The office’s work affects communities far beyond Austin. Fort Bend County needs state partners who understand that disaster recovery, flood mitigation, public education, and responsible land management are practical concerns for families and local leaders. Buckingham’s record in office gives voters a basis to return her to the job and demand continued accountability.
For these reasons, Fort Bend Truth & Times endorses Dawn Buckingham for reelection as Texas Land Commissioner.
