West RGV News

Conservative Republican gubernatorial candidate Don Huffines has said he is disgusted with the amount of corruption in government, adding that he hopes voters will remember his anti-corruption work as a legislator when they go to the polls in November.

Recently it was reported by Texas Scorecard that La Joya ISD Trustee Armin Garza resigned from his school board position after admitting he took bribes and kickbacks of $234,500 for using his influence on the board to award energy-saving contracts to a company of his choice. Garza admitted he used his influence on school employees who were elected officials in other areas of Hidalgo County, and these employees received promotions or raises. The same company was awarded a contract in three other political areas of Hidalgo County.

Huffines had strong words about corruption.

“I was proud to uncover one of the largest corruption schemes in Texas and send six people to jail for their effort in defrauding the taxpayers,” Huffines said.

The former legislator noted that while in office he noticed the backroom deals and disregard of the Texas taxpayers, according to his candidate website. While in office he created legislation that uncovered a scandal in Dallas schools that involved tens of millions of dollars going to school officials from the president of a school bus camera company, according to a report by NBC5. Six people went to prison for the crimes. 

“Trust in our public institutions is at an all-time low,” Huffines said. “Texans know there are bureaucrats and lawmakers at all levels engaged in corruption.”

In the instance with La Joya, the Texas Scorecard report said that in 2017 another member of the school board pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud and resigned. Also, this past July, former La Joya mayor and school board official Fito Salinas pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges after awarding a contract to his daughter.

“As governor, I will prioritize the prosecution of anyone who violates the public trust,” Huffines said.

Huffines is a staunch Republican running for government who feels that “RINOS” – Republicans in Name Only – are running the state and beginning to turn it blue. On his website he said his priorities include finishing the border wall and securing elections. He said he fully supports pro-life and pro-gun initiatives. Huffines has been married for 34 years and has five children and four grandchildren.

Elected in 2014, Governor Greg Abbott is currently serving as the 48th Governor of Texas. Before being elected governor, Abbott was the longest-serving Attorney General of Texas. 

Huffines will face Abbott in the gubernatorial primary on March 1. From 2015 to 2019, he represented Texas’ 16th State Senate District. Huffines is the CEO of Huffines Communities, a Dallas/Fort Worth-based real estate development firm.