In its last big endorsement decision for the general election cycle, the Texas Farm Bureau’s political action committee opted to stay on the sidelines in the race between Gov. Rick Perry and Bill White.

The Waco-based Farm Bureau’s political arm has endorsed Republicans in the past five gubernatorial contests, including Perry in the last two.

But the relationship between Perry and the farmers and ranchers group was strained in the past two legislative sessions about an eminent domain reform effort the Farm Bureau supported and the Trans-Texas Corridor, which it opposed.

The group announced their decision late Wednesday.

The tension between Perry and the Farm Bureau was most pronounced during the GOP primary, when the organization backed U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison in her unsuccessful challenge to Perry for the party’s nomination.

A spokeswoman for White, the former Houston mayor and Democratic candidate, treated the decision like a victory in a news release.

“I’ve been talking with Farm Bureau members all over the state, and they know I’ll be looking out for them as governor, regardless of politics,” White said.

A Perry spokesman touted the support the campaign has received from “more than 100 organizations representing millions of hardworking Texans” and said Perry will have the support of individual farmers and ranchers.

Farm Bureau spokesman Gene Hall cautioned against interpreting the group’s decision as a political victory for either campaign.

“Neutral is neutral, and no one should read anything more into that,” Hall said.

But he said Farm Bureau members were encouraged that both candidates had committed to supporting legislation that would allow for compensation to landowners for a loss of access to roads when cities, utilities or the state seize private property through eminent domain.

Perry vetoed legislation in 2007 that would have allowed landowners who lose property through eminent domain to sue for compensation stemming from “diminished access” to their property because of a new road or road construction.

Perry argued at the time that the legislation would have made the cost of land acquisition far more expensive. Other opponents of the bill said it would have made road construction unaffordable.

Hall also said both candidates said that, if elected, they would make eminent domain reform a priority in what promises to be a busy 2011 legislative session.

mshapiro@wacotrib.com

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