defeated oil and gas lawyer Sarah Stogner Tuesday in the Republican runoff election for a seat leading the state agency that regulates the massive oil and gas industry.
The Texas Railroad Commission, the oldest state regulatory agency, employs more than 800 people and has a budget of $144 million this year. The agency is governed by three board members elected statewide who serve staggered, six-year terms. Only one seat is up for election this year. from Stogner 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.
Christian’s broad financial support from the oil and gas industry dwarfed Stogner’s fundraising; she did not accept political contributions. However, a West Texas rancher who has fought with the Railroad Commission over abandoned oil wells on her propertyinto TV advertisements supporting Stogner’s campaign during the race’s final stretch.