By Art Lawler Staff Writer

Sixteen years ago when Gary Mauro was Texas Land Commissioner, Rev. Bill Burton of Athens sat in his chair during a trip to Austin for Athens Day.

“Someday this is going to be my chair,” Burton remembers saying.

Saying it and doing it is two different things. Burton, 54, now realizes he lacked the experience and knowledge for the job at the time.

So he returned to Athens, got experience in politics, education and real estate, learned the complexities of the office. When he wasn’t preaching on Sunday’s at the St. Thomas Chapel AME Church in Alto, he was a real estate teacher and broker.

Now, he says he’s ready to go after that chair in earnest.

The former Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace in Henderson County will be throwing his hat into the state’s political arena in a real-life campaign designed to make him the Texas Land Commissioner.

The heavy lifting begins at 7 p.m. on July 25, as he carries his cause to the people in what he hopes will be a successful Democratic primary ending on March 2.

Burton admits countering his Republican opponent, Jerry Patterson and his half million war chest will be a challenge, but he plans to take his message to the people and have faith in them.

Burton said “what we’ll be doing in this campaign will be evident” when asked how much money he has accumulated to make the run.

“We’ve been in several counties already, and we plan to contact every county in Texas,” he said. “It will be a grass roots approach.”

Burton plans to make use of technology, too.

“The computer is my best friend,” he said. “I’m going to take advantage of the information age. I have a web site under construction.”

He wants to make the General Land Office a “household word.”

“I love the state of Texas, and I feel it’s my duty to serve the people of this great state,” Burton said.

He wants assist the Texas Veterans in finding possible sites for nursing home facilities by continuing the promotion and education of home and land loan programs, and continuing the ongoing efforts of coastal divisions; with plans to partner with local municipalities to improve clean beach initiatives and identify ways of improving the oil and gas lease programs in an effort to strengthen the Permanent School Fund.

“My plan is to hit the ground running, first by evaluating each division and conducting a trend analysis to establish the weaknesses and strength’s of each division,” Burton said.

He said that process is well under way.

After getting recommendations from each division, he would carefully conduct a feasibility study to include President Obama’s alternative fuel initiatives.

“The General Land Office in on the right track” he said. “...It simply needs new wheels.”

Burton attended Athens schools and is a graduate of the University of Texas Tyler with a Bachelors of General Studies degree, with an emphasis in Psychology and Kinesiology.

He also lists Trinity Valley Community College, Dallas Baptist University, University of North Texas, Cedar Valley Community and Houston Community College as institutions of higher learning he has attended.

Burton is a former member of the U .S. Army Combat Engineer 16th Battalion.

He is married and has one son; in addition, he and his wife, Helen, are the care givers of Michael Anglin, a cousin living with them.