Texas gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke (D-El Paso) on a Friday stop in Odessa spoke to about 75 people during the second stop of his “Keeping the Lights On” statewide tour.
For more than 20 minutes, O’Rourke spoke about his plan for the power grid in Texas.
The presentation took place at the Woodson Community Center as O’Rourke laid out a five point plan about infrastructure that included winterizing the grid, connecting Texas to the national grid, helping the rate payer out, stop price gouging and have an independent market monitor for gas.
“If we are going to fix it, we have to take it seriously,” O’Rourke said during the meeting.
This is the third time in the last nine weeks that O’Rourke has visited the Odessa-Midland area as he runs for governor.
After Friday’s presentation, O’Rourke spent about 20 minutes fielding questions from the audience. Those questions ranged from stories about last year’s power outages to what are his other proposed agenda items for his run for governor.
Beto supporters and protesters show up for Odessa campaign stop at Woodson.
“This state is already too divided,” O’Rourke said. “We can’t divide ourselves any further. We have to find ways to come together.”
O’Rourke spoke about the importance to keep oil and gas jobs in the state and secure the energy independence of the United States, but also add to those jobs with wind and solar.
“We want to create more jobs, so we have an even better economy and higher wages for the people who work in the Permian Basin,” O’Rourke said.
On Friday, O’Rourke started his 12-day trip that will span more than 2,100 miles to speak with people about the power grid in Texas.
O’Rourke started the tour in El Paso and on Saturday that tour will continue in Abilene and Wichita Falls. O’Rourke will be in the Dallas-Fort Worth area on Sunday.
During O’Rourke’s visit on Friday in Odessa, there were three elected officials present, which included Odessa Mayor Javier Joven, Ector County Commissioner of Precinct 4 Armando Rodriguez and Andrews County and District Attorney Sean Galloway.
