(Community Matters) Reading Mr. Patterson’s quote yesterday in the Austin American Statesman, “The Mellon Foundation … went on this jihad, if you will, and things went south from there,” made me sad.
The citation went on to note, “Texas land commissioner, accusing the Richard King Mellon Foundation, which donated the Christmas Mountains in West Texas to the state for conservation purposes, of being excessively critical of his plan to sell the land to private interests.”
During the controversy, I’ve assumed Land Commissioner Patterson was just being overzealous in his promotion of gun and hunting rights. Imagined some friends would gently correct his tact. Though, his comment that our promise to conserve Christmas Mountains as public property was “just one line in a contract” didn’t bode well for his stewardship.
Jerry Patterson turns out to be one more elected official who’s gotten too big for his britches – now assumes the law doesn’t apply to him and shouldn’t get in the way of his plans, flaunts promises made to others and tosses out incendiary comments (read: whining) when being opposed.
I’d always heard Jerry was a smart, respectable man – perhaps, but he’s coming across as a whining, self-important bully.
Great story in the recent Texas Monthly about him and the land deal. Gives a lot of insight about his style and beliefs.