texas railroad commissioner candidates 2022 texas railroad commissioner candidates 2022

Im going to have to stew on it.. Comments. I have other assets, GOP lawyer Sarah Stogner, 37, said in a tweet of the campaign clip posted to TikTok. More than a year after the winter freeze, the Railroad Commission hasnt crafted rules for how oil and gas companies should prepare for extreme weather. They like what I do with oil and gas in Texas, Christian said. I have concern for my grandkids, I believe the good Lord has given us oil gas, and coal as the greatest resource and made Texas the number one supplier of that in history. Find a complete list of them here. Stogner, who lives on a ranch in Monahans, west of Odessa, said Christian is a politician bought and controlled by donors. This vitally important election of one of the states top energy regulators will have a significant impact on whether Texass natural gas infrastructure freezes up again and contributes to widespread blackouts, as it did a year ago. Well, heres my Grammy Award-winning video, Wayne.. We expect candidates for public office to model civil discourse and decorum worthy of the publics trust, its editorial board said. Its how voters feel about that statement, as much as issues of the blackout and global warming, that may decide the race for a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission. Religion is something he brings up often on the stump. Updated: Sep 26, 2022 / 12:31 PM CDT AUSTIN (KXAN) The Democrat running to unseat the Republican chairman of the Railroad Commission of Texas announced an endorsement Monday from the. The Railroad Commission of Texas has been called one of the most consequential climate-related offices in the country. One Commissioner position is on the ballot every two years. What is the least-visited state park in Texas? My overall mission is to ensure that Texans have access to cheap, plentiful, and reliable energy., Warford: My background is in mostly the private sector in energy policy and energy consulting. I see my fellow politicians saying, Were for all of the above energy! That, I disagree with. What is your response to his allegations against you? No. The commission and how theyre enforcing the rules or not enforcing the rules is distorting the market. Rice-Tims is president of the Republican Women of Red River Valley, which co-hosted the late April forum for the two GOP candidates facing each other in a runoff election for Railroad Commission of Texas, and she also wanted to emphasize that the state agency overseeing the states oil and gas industry has nothing to do with railroads. Its actually undermining the market.. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission ofiSideWith.com. We cant [produce oil and gas] at the cost of our groundwater, Stogner said. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. These are the most engaging discussions about this election. It has allowed me to engage folks who appreciated my passion and concerns.. I disagree that were for all. Russian beauty queen claims plastic surgery left her unabl Canadian teacher with size-Z prosthetic breasts placed on paid leave, What's next for Buster Murdaugh after dad's murder conviction, life sentence, Murdaugh son collapsed outside court after sitting stone-faced through dad's 6-week murder trial: source, Tom Sandoval breaks silence on Ariana Madix split amid cheating claims, Kelly Osbourne posts first photo of baby son as he hangs out with uncle Jack, Greys Anatomy alum Isaiah Washington retiring from acting: The haters have won, Max Scherzer's first look at the new pitch clock, Chris Rock Jokes About Watching Emancipation to See Will Smith Getting Whipped In Advance of Netflix Special: Report, Kellyanne Conway and George Conway to divorce. Gulf of Mexico warming at faster rate than global ocean, study finds, At these old-school restaurants in Texas, you feel like its an extension of your home, Greg Abbott says if these corporate tax breaks return, renewable energy should be excluded. We dont know who asked to comply, we have no assurances that they actually have complied. The two main contenders in this year's race for commissioner are incumbent Republican Wayne Christian and Democrat Luke Warford. Railroad Commissioners are elected statewide to six-year, staggered terms. The audience broke into its first round of applause of the evening. We are independent and not affiliated with any investors, shareholders, political parties or interestgroups. 1, there is no ethics filing or ethics complaint against me right now in the state of Texas, Christian said. Its not something that I would personally do or undertake, he told the Chronicle. Compare the candidates policies, political views, popularity ratings, and latest public opinion polling. Perhaps it goes without saying but producing quality journalism isn't cheap. Texas election rules require that primary candidates receive at least 50 percent of the vote. The San Antonio Express-News had previously endorsed Stogner, writing that she offers the vision, energy, and tenacity to make real changes at the RRC. But the newspaper withdrew its endorsement on Tuesday, in the wake of her post. Christian, a 71-year-old Grammy-nominated former gospel singer and financial planner who is seeking his second six-year term, is trying to fend off challenges from Slocum, Stogner and Dawayne Tipton, a former oil field roughneck who has worked various oil sector jobs including offshore drilling. But today, with two-thirds of the Hidalgo vote in, Mr. ORourke was at 81 percent, suggesting he would do far better in the primary for governor than he did for Senate. And right now, Texas oil and gas has a reputation as not being particularly clean, because the Texas Railroad Commission doesnt enforce the rules, doesnt hold that actors accountable.. The top positions include, governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, comptroller, land commissioner, agriculture commissioner, and railroad commissioner. We have to be educating people on what the oil and gas industry does, she said. Now, Democrats are catching up, Undocumented Motherhood explores family separation, challenges in healthcare access, Democrats and Republicans in Collin County vie for open Texas House District 70 seat, Amazon Prime ups its music game, within limits, Texas Standard for Nov. 3, 2022: Churches arent supposed to endorse candidates but some big Texas churches are, Early voting is underway in Texas: Heres how to vote in the 2022 midterm election, In a Central Texas county, high schoolers are jailed on felony charges for vaping what could be legal hemp, As Texas STAAR test goes fully online, teachers feel defeated, Texas Education Agency projects confidence. This election is literally one that will have life-and-death consequences. Well, hes a career politician and shes got some good ideas, Gaines said. None of that is necessarily illegal, but Houston Chronicle columnist Chris Tomlinson didnt mince words when he wrote this week that Christian demonstrated what at best is a profound disregard for ethics, and at worst, engaged in public corruption. Christian told Texas Monthly via email that the Railroad Commissions general counsel advised him to approve the permit as long as the facility used a modern clay liner, which it did. 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 . But the catchphrase has struck many others as insensitive or anti-Semitic, a critique that came up in 2014 when Christian faced a primary opponent who was Jewish. Why Does He Get to Make That Call? Were for the good stuff!. Progressives have gone all in on the Cisneros-Cuellar race. On these committees, he had direct oversight of the Railroad Commission and accumulated a strong record of standing for free markets and against burdensome regulations. What are we angry about? The crew, in town to film a documentary about an unplugged oil well spewing contaminated fluids, was sharing beers with Stogner when one of the videographers said they always wanted to do an artistic photo shoot on a pumpjack, Stogner recalled. Texans will choose between four candidates: Republican incumbent Wayne Christian, Democratic nominee Luke Warford and two third-party candidates Libertarian Jaime Andres Diez and Hunter Wayne Crow of the Green Party. Hes a Grammy Award-winning gospel singer. To me, the most astonishing thing about the Texas primaries is that in 2020 there were more than a dozen competitive House districts in the state. Rochelle Garza has 44% of the vote, Joe Jaworski has 20%, Lee Merritt is at 19%, Mike Fields 12% and T-Bone Raynor 5%. Texas Governor Race; Texas Lieutenant Governor Race 2022; Texas Attorney General Race 2022; Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts; . *Incumbent. There was one campaign in particular she wanted to talk about. The 2022 Texas elections were held on November 8, 2022. The Railroad Commission regulates oil and gas operations in the State of Texas. Texas Railroad Commissioner Republican primary Republican primary runoff Election details Filing deadline: December 13, 2021 Primary: March 1, 2022 Primary runoff: May 24, 2022 General: November 8, 2022 Pre-election incumbent (s): Wayne Christian (Republican) How to vote Poll times: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voting in Texas Ballotpedia analysis Candidate information comes from Texas Secretary of State data, the candidates and other sources. david doonan published this page in 2022 Candidates 2022-03-14 10:38:16 -0400. To learn more about how election results work, read this article. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. Warford: I actually think lowering emissions is in the interest and makes sense for Texas, not just from an environmental perspective, but from an industry perspective as well, right, especially with everything happening in Europe, right now, European natural gas buyers are going to be looking to buy hydrocarbons from elsewhere around the world. Texas Railroad Commissioner Primary Election Results, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/03/01/us/elections/results-texas-railroad-commissioner.html, Edgar Sandoval, reporting from San Antonio, Jennifer Medina, reporting from Laredo, Texas. deadline: Jan. 31 Early voting starts: Feb. 14 Early voting ends: Feb. 25 Poll times: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Absentee/mail-in deadline: March 1 Leave them blank to get signed up. 2022 Election. City Employees Are Heading for the Exits. RAILROAD COMMISSIONER. Meanwhile, the Public Utility Commission of Texas, which regulates power plants, drafted and implemented weatherization rules in October. Published: Feb. 24, 2022 at 11:19 AM PST TYLER, Texas (KLTV) - Dawayne Tipton, one of the Republicans who is running for Texas Railroad Commissioner, said he is the best qualified for the position because of his years of experience in the oil and gas industry. AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) - With some well-known state officials, such as State Senator Kel Seliger, not seeking re-election in 2022 and filing open for primary election candidates, the bal Neither Christian nor a second GOP challenger, Tom Slocum, has responded to requests for comment by the Chronicle. Published March 1, 2022. Q: Do you think more needs to be done to regulate natural gas facilities when it comes to weatherization? Please tell me how I am supposed to get the medias attention so I can discuss these important issues, she wrote. I have other assets.. The Railroad Commission regulates that infrastructure. Incumbent Wayne Christian and oil and gas lawyer Sarah Stogner pitched voters in Paris, Texas, ahead of the May 24 election. Interviews are granted to candidates who visit Odessa and submit a request to be interviewed. Sure, the Stogner post was clickbait. Voters will decide the GOP nominee for a commission seat in a May 24 runoff election. Theres this really coherent story of regulatory capture and of special interests having total power and control here, Warford said. Thats because the agency does not regulate railroads; it regulates oil and gas in the state. But taking out Gov. Here's the lineup: Gary Gates, Republican. Against the conclusions of researchers and the complaints of landowners, Christian says the commission is doing a good job when it comes to things like gas flaring and plugging abandoned oil wells. Tickets are on sale now for the 2022 Texas Tribune Festival, happening in downtown Austin on Sept. 22-24. Jessica Cisneros is performing well in San Antonio section of the 28th Congressional District, but more telling will be results from Webb County, which includes Laredo. After college, Christian found success in the music industry with his country/gospel band, the Mercy River Boys and went on to be finalist for a Grammy Award in 1979. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. What would be your top three priorities as railroad commissioner? Ad Paid for by Wayne Christian for Texas If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. Though I will not be contesting the outcome of this election, I will not be going away, he said in a statement. The Timess election results pages are produced by Michael Andre, Crystal Arroyo, Aliza Aufrichtig, Matthew Bloch, Andrew Chavez, Nate Cohn, Alastair Coote, Annie Daniel, Tiffany Fehr, Will Houp, Josh Katz, Aaron Krolik, Jasmine C. Lee, Rebecca Lieberman, Bea Malsky, Jaymin Patel, Rachel Shorey, Charlie Smart, Umi Syam, Urvashi Uberoy and Isaac White. He and the woman filming the video were invited . Stogner said she is used to being objectified in the male-dominated industryI understand that when I walk into a room or a space, people dont assume that Im a lawyer or that Im competent on anything to do with oil and gas, she told the paper. for a place on the ballot with the county or state party chair, as appropriate (see chart). v. t. e. The 2022 Florida Chief Financial Officer election was held on November 8, 2022, to elect the Chief Financial Officer of Florida. Stogner, who isnt accepting campaign contributions, cheekily wrote on the post, They said I needed money I have other assets. In an interview with Texas Monthly, and on LinkedIn, Stogner defended her video. The top two candidates in races where no one reaches that threshold will meet in runoff contests on May 24. Governor Greg Abbott Speaking to supporters in Laredo, Jessica Cisneros says Were probably not going to know the full results tonight, but adds that they are holding out hope in the 28th Congressional District race for tonight, tomorrow or May (when there would be a runoff). By Russell Gold February 17, 2022 11 Incumbent. Companies would be more incentivized to do so if we stopped picking winners and losers and subsidizing unreliable forms of energy., Warford: During the winter storm, as electricity supply dropped, we then cut off electricity supply to some of our most critical natural gas producers. (The Sunset Commission chose not to adopt the suggestion.). In order to keep the power grid from total collapse, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas directed transmission companies to cut off power to residents, businesses and gas producing facilities because they were not registered as critical infrastructure part of a cascade of power failures that led to hundreds of deaths. * Incumbent. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. Texas 2022 Elections A semi-nude video, corruption allegations and a fatal crash roil GOP primary for Texas Railroad Commission The oldest state regulatory agency, in charge of how oil. The two main contenders in this year's race for commissioner are incumbent Republican Wayne Christian and Democrat Luke Warford. 2023 iSideWith.com. Multiple candidates are presently running in the March 1, 2022 Republican Primary to be the next Railroad Commissioner of Texas. This will be hilarious. Updated: Mar 2, 2023 / 11:20 AM CST. To learn more about how election results work, read this article. I think they are doing the bidding of a very small number of oil and gas executives. And we basically have the commission saying, hey, just trust us.'. Christian did not respond to criticism of the commissions handling of the grids collapse, but in an email he did rebut allegations from some of his opponents that accepting a big campaign donation from the company that received the oil waste dump permit amounted to a payoff for his vote. Texas comptroller is up for grabs in the 2022 midterm, along with commissioners of land and agriculture, and a seat on the Railroad Commission. Theres An App for That. Christian was the top choice of 9% of registered voters in that poll, with the other candidates receiving between 3% and 5%. 2022 Candidate's Guide Home; . I didnt even know who she was until I saw the ad., Former Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton, who was upset in the 2020 Republican primary election after serving one term, said he thought Stogner was smart and had the technical and legal expertise required for the job, but her video probably dismissed any legitimate shot she had at winning the race.. Democrat Luke Warford is challenging incumbent Wayne Christian for his seat. Providence. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Wayne Christian * (Republican) . The oil and gas industry and the Railroad Commission have a huge impact on Texans clean air and clean water and the environment.. This statement raises questions about what constitutes civil discourse in todays political landscape and whether such standards are applied equally to candidates. Odessa Headlines does not endorse or support any candidate for elected office. In Texas, voters will elect officials for seven statewide seats governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, land commissioner, agriculture commissioner, comptroller and one of three seats on the Railroad Commission. I want to talk about winterizing our infrastructure pipelines. Stogner, who posted the steamy video on Super Bowl Sunday, said it was shot in November by a documentary crew she hired for her campaign against incumbent Wayne Christian, the Houston Chronicle reported. Government. 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. Christian served as Vice-Chair of Regulated Industries and as a multi-term member of the Energy Resource Committee. Vote 2022 Texas; . EXCLUSIVE: Texas Railroad Commission candidate appearing nearly nude on pumpjack has 'no regrets' By Greg Groogan Published February 28, 2022 News FOX 26 Houston Railroad Commission candidate appears nearly nude on pump jack during campaign It doesnt get click bait., The candidate said the clip has opened opportunities to discuss the real issues about her campaign.The video is being perceived just as I desired, a knock on the door and now that door is open, she told Fox News. Race called by The Associated Press. Sarah Stogner is one candidate who has . Ketia Daniel, founder of BHM Cleaning Co., is BestReviews cleaning expert. In the increasingly blue Harris County, more Republicans voted early (105,482) than Democrats (96,725). Joe Gaines, an oil and gas businessman, attended the event and said he wanted to see if it could help him make up his mind about who to support in the May 24 election. My name is Hunter Crow and I'm seeking the position of Texas Railroad Commissioner, because we cannot have a healthy humanity without a healthy natural world. Railroad Commission candidates offer opposing visions of what will make oil and gas industry 'healthy' | KUT Radio, Austin's NPR Station Incumbent Wayne Christian, a Grammy-nominated gospel singer turned state representative from the small East Texas town of Center, faces four challengers in the March 1 primary. Slocum is hoping his support of conservative priorities top issues on his campaign website include building the border wall and protecting gun ownership, issues the Railroad Commission has no jurisdiction over and his years of experience working in oil and gas operations and plugging abandoned oil wells will help propel him over the incumbent. As your Railroad Commissioner, I bring a wealth of knowledge and understanding of the Bitcoin Energy revolution to educate other oil and gas experts so that Texas becomes the world's leader in cheap and plentiful energy production maximizing our use of existing fields and wells in our great state!I will focus on adopting smart energy-strong policies while maintaining a stable job creation . They said I needed money. Greg Abbott, issued a statement all but conceding, and seeking credit for forcing the governor to the right on issues. AUSTIN High atop a West Texas pumpjack, Republican Railroad Commission candidate Sarah Stogner nearly bared it all in a recent social media post that is bringing . Umm, its tough, Hommel said. So lets put our clothes on and talk about the issues, she added. MENU. If you were near the Mount Carmel apartments in East Austin on a recent sunny morning you might have spotted an unlikely celebrity in a little crowd gathered on the lawn. She went on to earn a Bachelor's degree in International Trade and Finance from Louisiana State University, followed by a Juris Doctorate from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center. Democrat Attorney General candidates are in the same boat. Email: Wayne@ChristianForTexas.com Phone: (936) 598-8183 204 Houston St. Center, Texas 75935 Pol. She hammered Christian and his fellow commissioners for failing to ensure that the states natural gas pipelines didnt fail during the extended subfreezing weather. 2021 Texas Standard. Hunter Wayne Crow (G) 85,242 1%. Last week, Stogner told KENS 5: I want to put my clothes back on and have a serious conversation. And I want to change that.. Jos R. Ralat is Texas Monthlys taco editor, writing about tacos and Mexican food. Texans will choose between four candidates: Republican incumbent Wayne Christian, Democratic. The IOGCC is one of the oldest and largest interstate compacts in the nation, formed over 80 years ago when several states joined together to resolve common issues in the industry without federal intervention. The biggest threat we currently have is political, Christian said, before launching into criticism of efforts to curb climate change that often take aim at the oil and gas industry. A service of the Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin | Contact us, A service of the Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin, problems along the natural gas supply chain, Despite a ban on the practice, many churches use their pulpit to support or oppose political candidates, Republicans have historically embraced small-town Texas. He touts his experience in the oil patch and has attacked the Railroad Commission for failing to act quickly to ensure that natural gas pipelines and compressors are able to withstand cold weather. Key fact: Applications must be . In the race for Republican Lt. Theres a good chance this race is going to a runoff, and, as Cisneros feared, the other progressive in the race, Tannya Benavides, is playing the spoiler, with nearly 5 percent of the vote. This site maintained by Union Labor The Green Party of . Reporting by Lalena Fisher, J. David Goodman and Alicia Parlapiano; production by Amanda Cordero and Jessica White; editing by Wilson Andrews, Ben Koski and Kenan Davis. After Rice-Tims asked about flaring, Stogner said she wanted to ensure that oil production companies are not releasing excessive carbon emissions and polluting the air. Advanced to runoff Christian: I believe Texans should elect me again because Im willing to fight. When someone asked whether she supported shutting down the Keystone XL pipeline project a partially built series of pipelines between Canada and the U.S. that President Joe Biden canceled on his first day in office she said Absolutely not and explained that the Railroad Commission doesnt have jurisdiction over interstate pipelines like Keystone. Greg Abbott may be an even greater challenge. Texas primaries 2022: Key dates. Railroad Commissioner (Rep) . The chart below shows the historical percentage of voters who have pledged to vote for each candidate in the 2022 Texas Railroad Commissionerelection. Two candidates will be on the ballot in the May runoff, current Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian and oil & gas attorney Sarah Stogner. (Christian did not respond to KUTs request for an interview.). Its name remains problematic, noted Sunset Advisory Commission staff in 2016, in recommending it be rechristened the Texas Energy Resources Commission. . All rights reserved. Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke hosts a rally at Fair Park in Dallas after announcing his campaign, on Nov. 21, 2021. If you found the reporting above valuable, please consider making a donation to support ithere. Commissioners are elected to six-year staggered terms, with one commissioner being up for election every two years, according to Ballotpedia . The board members serve staggered, six-year terms. Early voting lasts from Monday through Feb. 25, and election day is March 1. And for them, its totally reasonable to require them to weatherize and thats where I would focus as a commissioner.. Millions of Texans have rare diseases. The New York Timess results team is a group of graphics editors, engineers and reporters who build and maintain software to publish election results in real-time as they are reported by results providers. Ben Rowen is a senior editor at Texas Monthly for News & Politics. Bring on the Shiplap. She admits as much. In 1996, Christian was elected to the House of Representatives as the first Republican elected from Deep East Texas since Reconstruction after the Civil War. Christian, who received generally friendly questions throughout the night, was asked at one point about corruption allegations that surfaced after he voted against the recommendation of Railroad Commission staff to approve a permit for an oil field waste dump facility, then days later accepted a $100,000 campaign donation from the company that received the permit. Q: Your opponent Luke Warford has accused you of being corrupt due to campaign contributions you have received from the oil and gas industry. Stogner said after being told to sit down, be quiet, you silly little girl her whole life, she went on to start her own law firm and learn to fly planes. She will also help bring landowners back into the conversation to ensure all stakeholders are represented and heard by the Commission. Policy-wise, Warford supports renaming the commission so it makes sense to voters, creating a natural gas market monitor to guard against price gouging, increasing the weatherization of gas infrastructure, and reducing greenhouse gas and other emissions from Texas fossil fuel operations. Im running because Wayne Christian, my opponent, is a career politician who takes 99% of his campaign contributions from the industry hes supposed to regulate. Throughout the evening, Christian tried to convince the audience that hes the conservative fighter who will protect the states oil and gas sector even if local governments and the free market are increasingly interested in renewable energy sources. Shes punching back, Hommel told a Tribune reporter as Christian spoke. And the reason that that happened is because the Railroad Commission hadnt mapped out who the critical producers now the Railroad Commission was directed to create a supply chain map to try to address that problem. Do you value our journalism? The winner will square off in the fall against Democrat Luke Warford, an Austin energy consultant and former strategist with the Texas Democratic Party, who faces no primary opposition. We review social media, and Stogner would never have been our pick had the video appeared before we made our recommendation, the paper said in an editorial. Updated Mar. He was elected statewide as the 12th Texas Agriculture Commissioner in 2014 and re-elected to his second term in office in 2018; followed by a third term in 2022, receiving almost 4.5 million votes--more votes than any candidate for Texas Agricultural Commissioner has ever received. Incumbent mayor Steve Adler was term-limited and could not run for re-election. The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) is the state agency with primary regulatory jurisdiction over the oil and natural gas industry, pipeline transporters, natural gas and hazardous liquid pipeline industry, natural gas utilities, the LP-gas industry, and coal and uranium surface mining operations. Q: How would you address further securing the power grid as we head into winter? 100% of Precincts Reporting. Recently, Christians campaign said it would finally drop the slogan after being called bigoted by Warford, who is Jewish. After losing in the GOP runoff elections, Stogner endorsed Warford for this race. Candidates for Texas Railroad Commissioner 6440 Voter Guide My Ballot Recommendations Election Coverage Voting for this election ended Nov 8, 2022. The Railroad Commission of Texas has been called one of the most consequential climate-related offices in the country. Im tired of people telling me things are impossible, she said. Feb. 14 First day of early voting for the primaries. Christian said the state Legislature, not the Railroad Commission itself, has the authority to change the agencys name. . Railroad Commissioner: x-$3,750 -5000: Justice, Supreme Court g: x-$3,750 -5000: Primary elections were held on March 1, with runoffs held on May 24 for primary candidates who did not receive a majority of the vote. Lee esta historia en espaol. I have no personal financial ties to the oil and gas industry.. 2:28 PM on Feb 17, 2022 CST. Despite the old-timey-sounding name, a seat on the Railroad Commission of Texas has been called one of the most consequential climate-related offices in the country.