Incumbent, Tea Party favorite in runoff for Railroad Commission Place 2
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At the core of Texas' economy is one agency that regulates the state energy industry--the Texas Railroad Commission made up of three elected officials.
Current Chairman Barry Smitherman is hoping to beat out Greg Parker in the runoff for the Place 2 seat.
“In looking at that office I saw that there was someone there who was really a convenient conservative,” Parker said.
Backed by Tea Party groups, Parker brings years serving on the Comal County Commissioner's Court and an education background in public policy administration with a focus on energy.
Gov. Perry appointed Smitherman to the commission last year after seven years on the Public Utilities Commission, including four years as chair. He says he has been focused on streamlining the agency, and more work awaits if him he's reelected.
“We do the permitting for gas, oil and lignite mining. We need to do that quicker and more responsibly,” Smitherman said. “We should not slow down the industry if they have presented us with a complete application.”
One contentious issue is the Environmental Protection Agency, the commission's federal counterpart whose relationship with the state has deteriorated during President Obama's tenure.
“Every time we sue the EPA and we get in front of a judge, we win. So we’ve beaten them on two successive occasions, and I think they’re beginning to understand that if they continue to go about it the wrong way, bad science, bad procedure, we’re going to win.”
Parker says the EPA needs to have more control.
“Everyone’s going to tell you we need to reign in the EPA. Well the fact of the matter is we need to work with our congressional delegation to make sure they understand they need to reign in the EPA,” Parker said.
Parker admits his biggest obstacle moving forward is money. Smitherman outspent him by millions of dollars leading up to the primary.
Now the two will rely on retail politics to get their name out there ahead of the July 31 race.
Greg Parker finished behind Barry Smitherman in the primary by 20 percentage points - equal to about 110,000 votes.
Extended interview with Barry Smitherman:
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Extended interview with Greg Parker:
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