WILLIAM P. CLEMENTS, JR. GOVERNOR OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR STATE CAPITOL AUSTIN, TEXAS 78711 June 20, 1980 STATEMENT OF GOVERNOR CLEMENTS ON PROPOSED PRISON SITE AT LA CASITA FARMS I want to personally thank you for expressing your opinion by signing a petition to me on the proposed prison site in Starr County. As you probably know, the State Board of Corrections' plan to purchase the La Casita Farms site in Starr County for a new prison was, at my insistence, postponed and subsequently abandoned. Local residents were given an opportunity to express their concerns and opposition at public hearings which I urged the Board to conduct. The opposition came through loud and clear. On May 22, following the hearings, the Board of Corrections unanimously agreed that the La Casita site should not be purchased. I applaud that decision, and encourage the expeditious search for another site. Several areas have expressed an interest, and I look forward to an early decision by the site selection committee headed by Mr. T. L. Roach of Amarillo. Again, I appreciate hearing from you on this question. The means you chose, signing a petition, is a valuable way to get government's attention. As you can see, it also gets results. Sincerely, A?, William P. Clements, Jr. WPCJr:lpc