Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick visited Valero Corpus Christi Refineries on Sept. 17 during his campaign bus tour.
Patrick is running for re-election this fall against Democratic state Rep. Vikki Goodwin.
Patrick has been Texas' lieutenant governor since he was first elected in 2014.
Goodwin has served four terms in the Texas Legislature. Her campaign website states she supports public schools and has voted against vouchers. Her stated priorities are public school funding, housing affordability, water infrastructure and access to healthcare.
During his remarks to assembled Valero employees, Patrick defended the inclusion of Bible stories and Christian teachings in the state-approved Bluebonnet Learning curriculum and the posting of the Ten Commandments in Texas
public school classrooms.
"There is no separation of church and state in America," Patrick said.
Patrick said he wants to eliminate public school property taxes, specifically maintenance and operations property taxes, and expand homestead exemptions. He called for a moratorium on data center projects until the state can introduce guardrails.
Asked by the Caller-Times about whether the upcoming 2027 state legislative session would address water issues in Corpus Christi, Patrick said a desalination plant is needed in Corpus Christi.
Patrick said that "a local government that says yes" to desalination and state support is needed.
Patrick said he also visited the Hi-Ho Restaurant, the U.S.S. Lexington and the original Whataburger location during his time in Corpus Christi.
The election is scheduled for Nov. 3, with early voting beginning Oct. 19. The last day to register to vote before the election is Oct. 5.
Also on the ballot is a U.S. Senate race, U.S. House of representative races and statewide races for governor, attorney general, land commissioner, agriculture commissioner, comptroller, railroad commissioner and more. At the local level, voters will pick mayors, city council members, county judges and commissioners, school board members and more.
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick visits Valero in Corpus Christi
