Texas oil and gas agency needs a shakeup. Here’s who we recommend for commissioner
Of all the statewide campaigns this year, the race for railroad commissioner has had some of the most interesting characters.
In the Republican primary, political newcomer Sarah Stogner pushed incumbent Wayne Christian into a runoff. She made national news by appearing mostly nude in a campaign ad. We thought she might be able to bring necessary change to the entity that, despite its name, regulates our vital oil and gas industry — as long as she followed the basics of overseeing a successful state regulatory agency, like remaining clothed.
Christian, a 70-year-old businessman seeking his second term, bested her. In the Nov. 8 general election, he faces Democrat Luke Warford, 33, of Austin.
The agency still needs a shake-up, and Christian, who lives in the town of Center, won’t provide that. His campaign is not only heavily funded by a small number of oil and gas producers, but he’s also been accused of helping donors, including one case in which he voted against a staff recommendation and received a six-figure donation from the company involved in the case.
With caution, we recommend Warford. His youth and relative inexperience in government are notable, but he’s also sharp and a bit zealous, which is somewhat refreshing. In our interview, he pledged to work with the two Republicans on the commission to help protect Texas’ vital industry while raising important questions and positioning the state for a future less reliant on fossil fuels.
He went out of his way to assure that his views are not those of fellow Democrats pushing a “Green New Deal,” such as New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Christian did not respond to our interview request.
Warford has a lot to learn to be truly effective in the role, but he has potential to be a fresh face and a disruptor on a commission that needs to be more confrontational about the problems in the industry it regulates.
The Railroad Commission employs more than 800 people with a budget of $144 million and is the state’s oldest regulatory agency. It’s governed by three board members who are elected statewide to six-year, staggered terms with one commissioner position on the ballot every two years. Early voting runs Oct. 24-Nov. 4.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREHey, who is behind these endorsements?
Members of the Editorial Board, which serves as the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s institutional voice, decide candidates and positions to recommend to voters. The members of the board are: Cynthia M. Allen, columnist; Steve Coffman, editor and president; Bud Kennedy, columnist; Ryan J. Rusak, opinion editor; and Nicole Russell, opinion writer.
Members of our Community Advisory Board may also participate in candidate interviews and offer their views, but they do not vote on which candidate to recommend.
Read more by clicking the arrow in the upper right.
How does the process work?
The Editorial Board interviews candidates, asking about positions on issues, experience and qualifications, and how they would approach holding the office for which they are running. Board members do additional research on candidates’ backgrounds and the issues at hand. After that, members discuss the candidates and generally aim to arrive at a consensus, though not necessarily unanimity. All members contribute observations and ideas, so the resulting editorials represent the board’s view, not a particular writer.
How do partisanship and ideology factor in?
We’re not tied to one party or the other, and our positions on issues range across the ideological spectrum. We tend to prefer candidates who align with our previously stated positions, but qualifications, temperament and experience are important, too.
This story was originally published October 19, 2022 at 3:35 PM.