Abbott says repeat-offender task force will expand to Brazos Valley

Gov. Greg Abbott said Wednesday that the state's Repeat Offender Task Force will be extended to the Brazos Valley, one of several local issues he addressed in an interview with KBTX after headlining a Republican Party of Brazos County dinner and rally at Tonkaway Ranch.

The stop was a partisan campaign event. Abbott, a Republican seeking another term, faces Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa in the Nov. 3 general election, and early voting begins Oct. 19.

Repeat offenders

Abbott credited the task force with getting more than a thousand repeat offenders off Houston-area streets. "Most violent crime is committed by repeat offenders," he said, adding that he wants the program statewide, "including right here in the Brazos County area." He did not give a start date or cost for the expansion.

Flock cameras

Asked why he froze state money for Flock's license plate cameras, Abbott pointed to a law enforcement officer he said had been indicted on 100 felony counts tied to misuse of the cameras, and to other allegations of misuse. "Fundamentally, we cannot have people's Fourth Amendment rights violated," he said.

He disputed the idea that the freeze was timed to the election, calling it a legal question about privacy.

The debate has a local chapter. On Sept. 24, College Station's council renewed its Flock Safety contract on a 4-2 vote, keeping 84 cameras running. Most of the residents who spoke during close to three hours of comment had asked the city to drop the system.

Hinojosa has called Flock cameras "warrantless surveillance" and urged Abbott to "stop turning Texas into a surveillance state," according to a Texas Tribune candidate guide.

Terafab

Turning to the SpaceX Terafab chip plant taking shape in neighboring Grimes County, the governor said water and power worries raised by residents must be respected. "I have every expectation that Terafab is going to work collaboratively both with local officials as well as local residents," he said.

KBTX reported that he did not directly answer a question about whether his ties to Elon Musk could sway such decisions. Musk is listed among Abbott's campaign donors at $500,000 in the Tribune guide.

Abbott said the same principles apply to data centers. Hinojosa supports a moratorium on new data centers until lawmakers add protections for communities, the Tribune reported.

Cost of living

Abbott again promoted halving property taxes, which he said would save the average Texan $3,000, and to eliminate school district property taxes for homestead owners using budget surpluses and a reserve fund the state is building. He also cited plans to lower insurance costs. Hinojosa has proposed a one-time $1,500 payment to Texans from the state's savings account, according to the Tribune.

Sources

KBTX

KBTX

The Texas Tribune