Mose Buchele is the Austin-based broadcast reporter for KUT's NPR partnership StateImpact Texas . For more on how we select candidates to include, click here. "I see my fellow politicians saying, 'Were for all of the above energy! That, I disagree with. David Prindle, a political science professor at UT Austin who wrote a book on the Railroad Commission, says thats a position commissioners have held basically since the start of the Texas oil industry. } He was a member of a country/gospel band that was a finalist for a Grammy Award in 1979. Incumbent Wayne Christian defeated Luke Warford, Jaime Dez, and Hunter Crow in the general election for Texas Railroad Commission on November 8, 2022. }, 100); display: block; letter-spacing: 0.03em; .votebox_legend .non_result_row { color: #aaa; .non_result_row div { The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks, because the writing is really good and because it provides interesting insight into how different peoples brains work. I see my fellow politicians saying, Were for all of the above energy! That, I disagree with. font-size: 20px; Christian avoided talking about the power grid and last years winter freeze, even when asked by Rice-Tims about the future of the grid. padding-bottom: 7px; $("div.vis_widget_title").each(function(index) { letter-spacing: .03em; chevron.addClass('fa-chevron-up'); font-size: 12px; color: #fff; Source1Source2. } Remember to call 811 before you dig. top: 0px; background-color: #6db24f; margin-bottom: 4px; ", Sources: Statewide Railroad Commissioner - Austin American-Statesman What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system? .election_results_text { } } else { text-align: center; Incumbents are bolded and underlined. chevron.removeClass('fa-chevron-down'); [5], The commission does not regulate the railroad industry, but instead oversees the oil and gas business in Texas. } margin-bottom: 0px; .results_row.winner { PARIS, Texas Deep in Northeast Texas, near the replica Eiffel Tower topped with a red cowboy hat, Cynthia Rice-Tims decorated tables inside the Celebrate It event hall with household products made from petroleum. overflow-x: auto; width: 35px !important; color: #6db24f; Detroit, MI 48211. padding-bottom: 5px; .inner_percentage, .inner_percentage.Nonpartisan, .inner_percentage.Independent, .inner_percentage.Constitution, .inner_percentage.unknown { State executives | @media screen and (max-width: 350px) { Christian and Stogner will face each other in a runoff election May 24. margin-right: 10px; max-height: 580px; U.S. Congress | Keeping the lights on! text-align: center; .inner_percentage.CrossFiled { One Commissioner position is on the ballot every two years. text-align: left !important; .image-candidate-thumbnail-wrapper { .votebox-results-cell--check { color: #888; Christian's professional experience includes working in business, banking, and real estate and owning a financial services business. What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder? $(".expand-all").on('click', () => { } } width: 100% He holds masters degrees in Latin American Studies and Journalism from UT Austin. I am very passionate about environmental justice, an eco-socialist Green New Deal, together with a workers' bill of rights and the need to address/confront issues of climate change, NOW. The Railroad Commission oversees the oil & gas industry in Texas, which makes it one of the most important elected offices in the state for the future of our economy and our environment. } } Click on a candidate's name to view that candidate's responses. overflow: hidden; padding-top: 30px !important; padding-left: 0; } Matt Sterett defeated Charlie Stevens in the Libertarian convention for Texas Railroad Commission on August 3, 2020. Source1Source2. New York City to hand out 500 free Apple AirTags to deter car thefts Its amazing how many people have no clue what a railroad commissioner does, Scott Hommel, chair of the Republican Party of Lamar County, told the audience. width: 100%; No candidate is above 30 percent at the moment; Ruben Ramirez leads with 28 percent. Railroad Commissioner. ", Christian said that during his first term in office he has been "fighting against Biden Administration efforts like the Green New Deal, CLEAN Future Act, and the Paris Climate Agreement. background-color: grey; } If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, Register with a federal or state campaign finance agency before the candidate filing deadline, Appear on candidate lists released by government election agencies. James Wright defeated incumbent Ryan Sitton in the Republican primary for Texas Railroad Commission on March 3, 2020. .votebox-scroll-container { If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you. How to vote | chevron.removeClass('fa-chevron-up'); background-color: #f9d334; There are no official candidates yet for this election. bottom: 2px The audience broke into its first round of applause of the evening. } } .outer_percentage { Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. Christian is a former gospel singer turned financial adviser turned longtime Texas politician. } I disagree that were for all. vertical-align: top; .image-candidate-thumbnail-wrapper .image-candidate-thumbnail { padding: 5px; $('.collapse').collapse('show'); .votebox-results-metadata-p { Copyright 2022 KUT 90.5. margin: 0px 10px; Those issues include: the Texas blackout last year (caused in large part by problems along the natural gas supply chain that the commission regulates); the role big industry donations play in Railroad Commission policy decisions; the current high price of natural gas; and the routine practice of gas flaring in the Texas oil fields, which wastes gas and pollutes the environment. Railroad commissioners just aren't enforcing the existing rules. swig secret menu; pete postlethwaite brother; My Cart. Sittons opponent, now-Commissioner Jim Wright, raised less than $13,000. The Railroad Commission of Texas has been called one of the most consequential climate-related offices in the country. 2023 Texas Standard. width: 350px; Chrysta Castaeda defeated Roberto Alonzo in the Democratic primary runoff for Texas Railroad Commission on July 14, 2020. } Stogner did not accept campaign contributions and attracted much of the attention she has received after her seminude stunt. Those issues include: the Texas blackout last year (caused in large part by problems along the natural gas supply chain that the commission regulates); the role big industry donations play in Railroad Commission policy decisions; the current high price of natural gas; and the routine practice of gas flaring in the Texas oil fields, which wastes gas and pollutes the environment. This year, he says, his party has a chance. padding-left: 16px; border-radius: 7px 7px 0 0; .electionsectionheading { overflow-y: hidden; } margin-bottom:16px; if ($('#vis_xs_indicator').is(':hidden')){ } width: 100%; Republican: Wayne Christian, a former state legislator who is finishing his first term as a commissioner, currently serves as chairman of the Railroad Commission. color: #6db24f; May 11, 20225 AM Central. Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of? U.S. President | VoterInfobyState_Resized = true; Putting Texans to work to provide clean, reliable, affordable energy; 2. width: 100% The winner will face Democrat Luke Warford, a former top staffer for the Texas Democratic Party, in the November general election. Christian is a former gospel Unicorns exist, so here I am Im not a politician, I accept no campaign contributions.. } I do not have previous experience as an elected official and I think that would help me bring a new perspective to the Commission. } What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office? Calendar Washtenaw County, MI CivicEngage position: absolute; position: absolute; } background-color: #ccc; .mw-body #mw-content-text th.votebox-results-cell--text { .race_header.libertarian { padding-top: 8px; Show us with your support. problems along the natural gas supply chain, 5 people, including an 8-year-old, were killed in a shooting near Houston, Brittney Griner says she's 'never going overseas' again after her detention, More than a third of Texas prisons don't have air conditioning. Elections in 2023 | margin-bottom:16px; I have a unique mix of private sector and political experience that allows me to understand the concerns of business in the Texas energy sector, while also being acutely aware of how this office should put the safety of all Texans first. Christian said the U.S. produces oil in a cleaner and more environmentally conscious way than the worlds other large energy producers such as China, Russia and Saudi Arabia. background: #4c4c4c; I disagree that were for all. margin: 0; background-color: #6db24f; .inner_percentage.Democratic { } Democrat Luke Warford is challenging incumbent Wayne Christian for his seat. But for Christian, who argues that whats good for the oil industry is good for Texas, a coziness with industry is not necessarily a bad thing. if ($('#vis_xs_indicator').is(':hidden') || typeof VoterInfobyState_Resized!='undefined') { overflow-y: auto; padding-left: 10px; chevron.removeClass('fa-chevron-down'); Source. font-weight: 300; } Railroad Commission candidates offer opposing visions of what will .inner_percentage, .inner_percentage.Nonpartisan, .inner_percentage.Independent, .inner_percentage.Constitution, .inner_percentage.unknown { padding-bottom: 5px; This office is unique and important because the Railroad Commission regulates the oil & gas industries as well as coal and uranium extraction. } In a one-minute video accompanying his campaign launch, Warford puts it more dramatically. Incumbent Wayne Christian and Sarah Stogner advanced to a runoff. But its not so important that we can contaminate our air, contaminate our groundwater.. Through his years of campaigning, Christian has often urged voters to support the only Christian on the ballot. He says the slogan is a way to get his name out, which is especially useful when running for an obscure political office that most people dont know much about. .inner_percentage.Democratic { Are we angry that I looked good on a pumpjack?. margin-bottom: 0px; .results_row td:first-child { display: inline; } .votebox-scroll-container { background-color: #f9d334; .mw-body #mw-content-text .votebox .race_header h5.votebox-header-election-type { } .mw-body #mw-content-text .votebox .race_header h3.votebox-header-office-name { } The incident (in which Christian denied any wrongdoing) was emblematic of a state agency whose elected commissioners are overwhelmingly funded by the industry they regulate, a practice recently documented in a series of reports from the watchdog group Commission Shift. A single payer health insurance program on both the state and federal level, an improved and expanded Medicare for All. Incumbents are bolded and underlined. Early voting runs May 16-20. by Mitchell Ferman Texans shelter in a furniture store in Houston after a massive winter storm in February knocked out heat and electricity for millions of residents. State and local courts | margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: -2px !important; ", Apply for the Ballotpedia Fellows Program, Federal and state primary competitiveness, Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2022. complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. .results_row td:first-child { He was a member of a country/gospel band that was a finalist for a Grammy Award in 1979. Railroad Commissioner } else { max-height: 580px; margin-top: 0; margin-top: 1em; } position: relative; } } border-radius: 50%; } border-radius: 0 0 7px 7px; overflow: hidden; Ballotpedia features 408,463 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. width: 90%; font-weight: bold; .electionsectionheading { In order to manage the Texas economy, they want to help and nurture a healthy petroleum industry., I dont think Wayne Christian and the current Railroad commissioners are supporting the industry as a whole, Warford says. 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