Jim Wright, oil and gas businessman from Orange Grove and political newcomer, is the newest member of the Railroad Commission of Texas. In Tuesday’s general election, he defeated Democratic candidate Chrysta Castaneda, lawyer and engineer from Dallas, by more than one million votes (about 10 percentage points). Wright, who owns an oilfield waste services company, upset incumbent commissioner Ryan Sitton in the Republican primary in March.
“Texas will determine its own energy future,” Wright said Wednesday, “and that is a future that includes an all-of-the-above approach led by fossil fuels. Together we will find new ways to improve our climate and environment.” Todd Staples, president of Texas Oil and Gas Association, added, “We are confident that as a commissioner he will continue to embrace science-based regulation and foster an environment that encourages investment and innovation.”
The state’s oldest regulatory agency, the commission oversees Texas’ oil and gas industry. Commissioners serve six-year terms with a salary of $141,000 per year. The elected three-member board has been all-Republican for at least 25 years.