Rising Pump Prices Fuel a Boycott in Texas
The county board of this small southeast Texas town at least an hour’s drive from malls and specialized medical care has called for a countywide boycott of Exxon Mobil Corp. over high gasoline prices.
The boycott, which begins today, was approved 4 to 1 last week, and will continue until gas is down to $1.30 a gallon, said County Judge Jimmy Martinez. A gallon of regular unleaded averaged $2.80 in the Corpus Christi region Sunday, according to American Automobile Assn.
A Beeville Bee-Picayune poll showed 72% of those surveyed in this town of 13,000 plan to participate in the boycott. Martinez said Exxon, based in Irving, was targeted because of its size and its recent compensation and pension package for former Chief Executive Lee Raymond.
Commissioner Susan Stasny, who cast the dissenting vote, said that in the last five years, the county received $8 million in oil and gas tax revenue.
“We’re all concerned,” she said. “However, the oil and gas industry has been very kind to Bee County.”
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