| | Carnes was reared on a ranch in Uvalde County and graduated in 1997 with a degree in Finance from the McCombs School of Business at the [[University of Texas at Austin|University of Texas]] at [[Austin]].<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=http://vote-tx.org/Intro.aspx?State=TX&Id=TXCarnesJAllen1|title=Biographical Profile for Jay Allen Carnes|publisher=vote-tx.org|accessdate=April 25, 2014}}</ref> Prior to his election as mayor, a nonpartisan position in Texas, he served from 2008 to 2012 on the Uvalde City Council. He has also been appointed to numerous Texas agriculture boards and commissions, including the Texas International Produce Association and the Texas Vegetable Association.<ref name=dallasnews>{{cite web|url=http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2013/08/uvalde-mayor-carnes-currently-exploring-agriculture-commissioner-race-to-make-announcement-sept-5.html/|title=David Barer, Uvalde Mayor Carnes, Currently Exploring Agriculture Commissioner Race, to Make Announcement Sept. 5|date=August 26, 2013|publisher=''Dallas Morning News''|accessdate=April 25, 2014}}</ref> | | Carnes was reared on a ranch in Uvalde County and graduated in 1997 with a degree in Finance from the McCombs School of Business at the [[University of Texas at Austin|University of Texas]] at [[Austin]].<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=http://vote-tx.org/Intro.aspx?State=TX&Id=TXCarnesJAllen1|title=Biographical Profile for Jay Allen Carnes|publisher=vote-tx.org|accessdate=April 25, 2014}}</ref> Prior to his election as mayor, a nonpartisan position in Texas, he served from 2008 to 2012 on the Uvalde City Council. He has also been appointed to numerous Texas agriculture boards and commissions, including the Texas International Produce Association and the Texas Vegetable Association.<ref name=dallasnews>{{cite web|url=http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2013/08/uvalde-mayor-carnes-currently-exploring-agriculture-commissioner-race-to-make-announcement-sept-5.html/|title=David Barer, Uvalde Mayor Carnes, Currently Exploring Agriculture Commissioner Race, to Make Announcement Sept. 5|date=August 26, 2013|publisher=''Dallas Morning News''|accessdate=April 25, 2014}}</ref> |
| | Carnes began his campaign for agriculture commissioner with $89,000, the smallest amount of the five Republican candidates who sought the position.<ref name=dallasnews/> Carnes's opponents challenged his actual commitment to the Republican Party. Carnes voted in the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] primaries in 2008 and 2010, as well as 2000, although he disputes that contention. He said that he backed Democrats in local races for [[sheriff]] and county judge in which no Republicans were seeking those offices in Uvalde County. Carnes said that his backing for these Democrats and political contributions to other Democrats was tied directly to agriculture issues. | | Carnes began his campaign for agriculture commissioner with $89,000, the smallest amount of the five Republican candidates who sought the position.<ref name=dallasnews/> Carnes's opponents challenged his actual commitment to the Republican Party. Carnes voted in the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] primaries in 2008 and 2010, as well as 2000, although he disputes that contention. He said that he backed Democrats in local races for [[sheriff]] and county judge in which no Republicans were seeking those offices in Uvalde County. Carnes said that his backing for these Democrats and political contributions to other Democrats was tied directly to agriculture issues. |