(Art Hall is a BOR endorsed candidate. - promoted by Burnt Orange Report)
BOR endorsed Railroad Commissioner candidate Art Hall has now recieved the endorsements of four Texas State Senators. They are Sen. Rodney Ellis, Sen. Royce West, Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, and Sen. Carlos Uresti.
Much has been said over the value of endorsements but I do know that these four Senators represent a large portion of our state. If they get out and help stump for Art Hall, it could make a big difference. At the very least, I hope more people will pay attention to who sits in this very important position.
I met Art Hall when he headed up the Academic Excellence office at St. Mary's School of Law. I believe him to be a thoughtful and intelligent person that will be getting my vote.
Let me first state that despite his age and his lack of skill as a politico, I'm voting for Dale Henry for RR Commissioner. He knows the oil and gas industry from the ground up and will do an excellent job both for industry and consumers. The RR Commission regulates the oil and gas industry in Texas and we've had nothing but industry rubber stamps on it. It's time that we have someone there who'll actually do a good job for Texans and our environment.
That said, I didn't have much of problem with his opponent. Until now. Last night in Decatur, during a candidate forum, Art Hall was asked a direct question about a possible conflict of interest should he win. Specifically, he was asked if it was a conflict of interest for his wife to work for Valero Energy, one of the companies he would be regulating if elected. He stated that it wasn't and he knew it wasn't because he contacted Valero and asked them.
Wait... Art, you contacted Valero and asked them, the company you'd be regulating, if it was a conflict of interest?
As some of these candidates file or follow through (or not) with their stated intentions to run for Railroad Commission, here's a quick post pointing out where to find more information on the Democratic candidates seeking the nomination. There are 3 members of the commission, all Republican, and this year's incumbent is Michael Williams who will likely be the Republican nominee.
Note: We are aware that there may yet be other candidates that enter the race. There are rumors of a candidate concerned about global warming who may be willing to self-finance but those rumors are not the freshest and there are only 2 weeks left in the filing period.
Dale Henry
Today, December 18th, Dale Henry filed to official run for Railroad Commissioner while launching his new campaign website listed below. He was the Democratic nominee in 2006 against Elizabeth Ames Jones where he received 41.7%. In 2004, he ran in the Republican primary against incumbent Victor Carrillo receiving 14%. He will have the distinction of being the only candidate to have faced all 3 Republican Railroad Commissioners. He also has more than four decades of hands-on experience in the oil and gas industry. You can watch his speech at the 2006 TDP state convention here.
Art Hall, who has announced his intention to run for this office for some time as well, is a recently term-limited out African-American City Council member from San Antonio, representing District 8. He won the Republican leaning seat in 2003 by 50 votes in a runoff after placing second in the first round (also by 50 votes coincidentally). In 2001, he had run for Mayor of San Antonio, garnering 8.8% to place 3rd in a field of 11 candidates (when Ed Garza was elected). Hall is an attorney and investment banker and currently serves as Vice President of Popular Securities, the investment banking subsidiary of Banco Popular. He is also a partner in two private equity funds totaling $6.5 million, farming 30,000 acres of corn, soybean, and cotton in Brazil (Bahia), and his new venture is constructing a $50 million biodiesel plant in Brazil.
Carrillo, who is not related to Texas Rail road Commissioner Victor Carrillo, works for American Airlines as an aircraft technician. He has previously served on the Pon der Planning and Zoning Commission as a commissioner and as chairman. Along with his work with the city of Pon der, Jesus Carrillo has worked in the petroleum and utility industries, which he said offers him a unique perspective on the fuel industry.
(Great news, great man. - promoted by Matt Glazer)
It's soon-to-be official, former San Antonio City Councilman Art Hall will run for Railroad Commissioner. From the Express-News:
Fresh off his four years as the District 8 city councilman, Art Hall will formally announce this month his intent to run for the Texas Railroad Commission in next year's election.
But until the time comes, Hall's lips are sealed.
"I'll make a formal announcement in mid-October, and then I'll give you the details," Hall said Tuesday.
His campaign Web site, however, is a different story.
According to arthallfortexas.com, Hall, a Democrat, wants to bring balance to the Republican-dominated three-member commission, noting that the current commissioners initially were appointed rather than elected.
This is from a source with ears open and listening in San Antonio. Consider this the initial list of anyone who could potentially run and may be looking at their options, not a list of those that will end up in the much smaller list that we should have settle over the weekend.
Julian Castro (former City Councilman and Mayoral candidate), State Rep. David Leibowitz, former Congressman Ciro Rodriguez (for sure), SA City Councilman Art Hall (Dem who gave the opening invocation at the state convention in June, and who represents the North/Northwest portion of CD-23 in Bexar County), SA City Councilman Richard Perez, current candidate Rick Bolanos, and attorney Rene Barrientos.
Names are being thrown around like crazy right now. I can tell you for sure that SA City Councilman Roland Gutierrez is out (he's gonna be our next mayor... you heard it here first) and some crazy bastard just told me that Madla is thinking about running. My major question is, where is West Texas and border Rep. Pete Gallegos gonna stand?
Seriously, this is the first time in forever that we've had an open opportunity for a SA Dem to move up to Congress so they are coming out of the woodwork right now.
Early speculation? Ciro has early money, but I don't know if anyone else gives to him. I think that the two strongest candidates are Gallegos and Castro. And we need to be worried about too many Dems hopping in this race, fighting amongst themselves and letting Bonilla rise above the fray and take 50% plus 1 on November 7.
Absent from that is State Sen. Carlos Uresti. While his senate district almost exactly overlaps the new 23, he just got out of the primary beating incumbant Frank Madla this spring. While I'd love him, there is far less chatter about him. Now Pete Gallego in HD-73 which covers the western half of the district is certainly one I'll keep an eye on too... Remember, it's open filing and the prior filings are void. That means candidate Rick Bolanos has to physically refile if he wants to run; it doesn't automatically switch over.
But if you asked me right now, the short list I'd give you (in order) are Julian Castro, Ciro Rodriguez, and Pete Gallego...
