Sid Miller, Conservative Republican

Remember our friend from Stephenville, Sid Miller? He's the guy that spent over $55,000 remodelling his office, raised fees on farmers and supermarkets, illegally hired friends without offering the jobs to the public, gave out more in bonuses in his first 9 months in office than his predecessor did in his first 2 and a half years and spent state money to fly to Oklahoma to get "The Jesus Shot".

Well, there's more...

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — State Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller used taxpayer money and campaign cash last year to fly to Mississippi to compete in a rodeo.

Records obtained by the Houston Chronicle show Miller spent nearly $2,000 on the three-day trip to Jackson, Mississippi.

He competed in calf-roping events at the Dixie National Rodeo and won $880.

Miller did not have any scheduled meetings or events other than the horse show, according to his calendar.

"It was a personal trip so he could compete in a rodeo," Texas Department of Agriculture spokeswoman Lucy Nashed said.

Texas law prohibits officeholders from using state money or campaign funds for travel that's personal in nature.

Miller later wrote a check from his campaign account to reimburse the state for his flights.

He defended the campaign expense by saying that he spoke with people at the rodeo who donated to his campaign.

It was earlier disclosed that Miller's office withheld public records indicating he traveled to Oklahoma on a taxpayer-funded trip for a medical procedure.

Read the full story in The Houston Chronicle.