Seven Generations Deep. Moving Texas Forward.
Robert Salter for Texas House District 17
Blue Dog Democrat | March 3rd Primary Election
Robert Salter for Texas House District 17
Blue Dog Democrat | March 3rd Primary Election
I'm not a career politician looking for my next office. I'm a 7th generation Texan with deep roots in Milam County, and I've seen enough of the world to know what we stand to lose.
My family has been in Milam County for six generations. We purchased this land in 1886, and my great-great-great-grandfather donated property for the Lewis Schoolhouse in 1881. This isn't just my district—it's my home for seven generations.
"I graduated from Rockdale High School and went to work at the Alcoa plant like many of my classmates. I started as an apprentice pipefitter with Local 211. That hands-on experience shaped everything that came after—from managing plants in the U.S. to overseeing industrial systems on five continents as Air Liquide's Worldwide Efficiency Manager."
I spent years living and working in Qatar and China, mentoring young engineers and managing complex systems where safety, reliability, and efficiency were paramount. I've worked within functioning institutions and I've seen what happens when they break down. I understand both what we have and what we risk losing.
I left Air Liquide in 2019 after 30 years in industrial gases—starting on the plant floor and rising to global management. My wife and I spent two years sailing the Caribbean before I came back to our family's land—the same property my great-great-grandparents purchased in 1886. I could have stayed out of politics, but I believe our district deserves representation that actually understands the technical challenges we face and has the independence to address them.
I'm not beholden to corporate donors or party bosses. When we debate water policy, infrastructure investment, or industrial development, I actually understand the systems and how those decisions affect working families. My loyalty is clear: constituents first, Texas second, party politics a distant third.
Local 211 Pipefitters Union
Where I started: 1983-1990
The world order that kept us safe and prosperous for 75 years is under threat. Trump's might-makes-right approach creates economic chaos, undermines the rule of law, and threatens the constitutional system our founders built.
The pattern is undeniable:
After January 6, after Trump's economic chaos that's destabilizing the global order, after federal violence and official lies—state legislatures are the last firewall between democracy and authoritarianism. Texas has always understood that state power exists to check federal overreach. That's not just conservative principle—it's why our founders created federalism. When Washington fails us, Austin must lead.
Stan Gerdes proudly carries Trump's endorsement. He is enabling this. He and politicians like him have given it momentum. I have the courage to stand against it.
Without defending democracy and the rule of law, none of the other issues matter. Trump's chaos makes it impossible to plan, build, or govern responsibly. State legislatures must be the firewall against federal overreach and authoritarianism.
Clean water is a right, not a privilege. The Austin Water/Bastrop aquifer controversy shows we need fair compensation frameworks for communities that host water infrastructure projects. My technical expertise in industrial systems makes me uniquely qualified to address these challenges.
Bitcoin mining and data centers are straining our infrastructure. After the grid failures Texans have experienced, we need leaders who understand industrial power systems and can ensure reliability while supporting responsible economic development.
Each of our seven counties faces unique economic challenges. The closure of Alcoa affected communities from Rockdale to Thorndale to Elgin. Add rapid growth pressures, bitcoin mining and data centers straining infrastructure, and small businesses fighting to compete, and it's clear HD-17 needs representation that understands diverse economic challenges and brings technical expertise to create sustainable opportunities for working families.
We must prepare students for a changing economy. Career and technical education opened doors for me—from apprentice pipefitter to global manager. From my work across 14 countries, I've seen how strong public education systems create economic advantage. If America wants to compete globally, we must invest in public schools that serve every community. We need to expand CTE pathways and use emerging technologies to reduce the lag time between what students learn and what they need for future employment.
Seven generations of my family have called this land home
In 1881, my great-great-great-grandfather donated land for the Lewis Schoolhouse. In 1886, my great-great-grandparents purchased the property where my family still lives today.
This tradition of community service runs deep. Public service isn't about ambition—it's about responsibility to the place that shaped you and the people who call it home.
The original 1891 deed documenting my family's land donation for public education—a legacy of service that continues today.
View Historical DocumentDemocracy depends on people willing to defend it. Will you stand with me?
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