Who’s running in the Democratic primary for Texas Railroad Commissioner on March 5
Katherine Culbert
Did not respond to questions.
Bill Burch
Age (as of March, 5 2024): 49
Campaign website: https://www.burch4trrc.com
Best way for voters to reach you: https://blinq.me/0LV6WoZBy8w1?bs=db (Link to all social media contact info)
Occupation: Managing Director
Education: BSc Chemical Engineering (Minor Petroleum Engineering), University of Pittsburgh, 2000
Have you run for elected office before?
No
Please list the highlights of your civic involvement/activism.
Pure Justice
Montgomery Food Bank
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
Who are your top three campaign contributors?
Schuyler Wight / Chrysta Castaneda / Ellen Pierce
Why are you seeking this office?
I want to reverse the direction the State of Texas is going in their regulation of the Oil and Gas Industry for the safety and the good of the industry itself.
What are the biggest challenges facing the Railroad Commission of Texas?
Earthquakes due to overinjection of salt water disposal; legacy cleanup of oilfeild and contamination of groundwater; transparency
If elected, what would your top 3 policy priorities be?
produced water recycling; transparency of operations/processes/financial reporting; hiring more inspectors/increasing pay/training to attract and retain talent
How will you measure your success as a railroad commissioner?
by seeing measurable improvements in environmental stewardship by helping landowners get proper restoration of their lands; having open communication in meetings and public disclosure of incidents/accidents/spills; and rejecting flaring permits unless truly as deemed emergency
Why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?
Katherine Culvert is a Republican - she has never missed a Republican primary in NY, MA, and TX since moving here since 2015 (2016, 2018, 2020, 2022 and the runoff). She is not a Democrat.
Should the Railroad Commission’s name be changed to better reflect its responsibilities? If so, what should it be named?
Yes - Natural Energy Resources Commission of Texas (or something like that)
What should the Railroad Commission do to prevent gas explosions in the state?
By implementing active measuring technologies of methane and leak detection in pipelines
How confident are you in Texas’ electric grid, and what role does the Railroad Commission and natural gas play in keeping power on?
Not at all confident when the temperature is above 100 or below 40 for a duration of time - we are the edge of its limit currently and are not prepared to grow it further for the future. TRRC plays not only a financial role in setting peak prices but also in guarantees to supply gas properly for cold weather. TRRC should be the agency responsible for making sure there’s plenty of supply in case of high demand loads.
