Public offices you’ve held or run for, with years: Ran for Texas House of Representatives; ran for and won Texas Railroad Commissioner in 2014 and have been in office since 2015.
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain: No
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain: No
Why are you seeking this office?
The Railroad Commission of Texas regulates oil and gas production across our state. I am a mechanical engineer with over 20 years’ experience in oil and gas. I am the first engineer to serve as Railroad Commissioner in over 50 years, and I bring my experience and expertise to bear to ensure that Texas produces energy affordable and reliably. Texas and the United States need affordable and reliable energy, as it provides the foundation for our economy. The Railroad Commission of Texas is the agency responsible to see that this happens and I am honored to have Texans’ trust.
What would your top 3 policy priorities be?
Keeping energy affordable and reliable for all Texans while producing it as cleanly as possible is my priority. Continuing to modernize the Railroad Commission and continuing our efforts to make it more transparent to Texans are additional priorities I have led at the agency over my first term.
Why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?
I bring more expertise and experience to bear on the job. Under my watch the RRC has taken down the very few producers who violate the regulations, while ensuring that Texas produces more oil and gas, affordably, reliably and as cleanly as possible, than ever before. Texans see the results right now in low gas prices and low prices to power their homes, office, churches and schools, while our carbon emissions are declining faster in the United States than any other industrialized nation.
Public offices you’ve held or run for, with years: None
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain: Yes, arrested in 1982 for failure to pay a speeding ticket.
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain: Yes have been involved in civil proceedings involving trucking accidents. My companies owns trucks for over the road transport and we normally get sued when our trucks are involved in an accident regardless of actual fault. Have personally filed for bankruptcy back in 1982 due to a 25,000.00 debt owed to a local bank in which I borrowed for a failed business venture thus the reason I could not pay the speeding ticket at the time due.
Why are you seeking this office?
Currently my business is involved in assisting the oil and gas industry from an environmental standpoint. With this the oil and gas sector has expressed their concerns with what the Texas Railroad Commission actually returns in benefit both for the citizens of the State of Texas and the Industry. Therefore this was the catalyst that made my decision to be a man to hear concerns and act on behalf of the Citizens and the Industry.
What would your top 3 policy priorities be?
Improve the Texas Railroads Commissions lack of transparency, put my best efforts into the State of Texas becoming a domineering recognized energy provider to worldwide markets insuring resource production keeps our economy in Texas strong, and promote better agency intrastate communication with other beneficial state agencies.
Why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?
I am not a career politician nor have I been. I wish to be allowed to introduce and implement solid ideas presented to me by all concerns in an effort to enhance our economy while being the best public servant as to what the people of this great State deserve and expect. I have been asked a thousand times, “what does the Texas Railroad Commission do” that one question should tell everyone about who presides currently over this agency. It is time we all get involved so we define our future in what expectations of that should be.
