Today marked the start of early voting in the April 8 Democratic Primary runoff across this great state. I know many of my supporters--like me--went to their early voting locations this morning and have already voted in this race.
The runoff on April 8 is a very important election. It will determine whether or not Texas Democrats have someone on the ballot in November who has a real chance of defeating incumbent Republican Michael L. Williams.
I know I can defeat Michael L. Williams in November. I'm the most experienced candidate in the race and will run a campaign that holds the incumbent accountable for his failures. However, to do so, I must first win the runoff.
The climate is right to put a Democrat on the Texas Railroad Commission. The Commission's abject failure to safeguard Texans from dangerous underground pipelines to polluted underground is well documented and, at long last, the media is paying attention to the Commission's failures--and this Democrat's ability to win this seat in November.
Yesterday, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram revelaled that Railroad Commissioner Michael L. Williams accepted free Super Bowl tickets from a lobbyist for CenterPoint Energy back in 2004.
That might not seem like a big deal--even to the most die-hard football fan. But, it is. And, it shows why it is well past time for my "Texans First" campaign finance reform proposal for the Texas Railroad Commission.
For years, the Commissioners of the Texas Railroad Commission have accepted contributions from PACs and executives of major utility companies. Thousands upon thousands of dollars have flowed out of PACs and utility executives' checkbooks into the campaign accounts of Railroad Commissioners, including Michael L. Williams.
State Rep. Garnet Coleman (D-Houston) today announced his endorsement of Dale Henry for Texas Railroad Commissioner.
“I believe Dale to be the most progressive candidate in the race for Railroad Commissioner. Dale’s plan to put environmental protection and citizen safety at the forefront of the Commission’s agenda is something that should resonate with every Texan,” State Representative Coleman noted.
(We've been promoting candidate posts this week. Dale Henry is running for Railroad Commissioner. - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
For too long, the Texas Railroad Commission has put big oil and gas companies' interests ahead of those of the people of Texas. That must change.
It's time to start putting Texans first. That's why I'm running for Texas Railroad Commission. On Tuesday morning, I held a press conference at Texas Democratic Party Headquarters to announce my candidacy for the Railroad Commission.
Safety and environmental protection will be my top prorities as your next Railroad Commissioner. The Texas Railroad Commission has abdicated its responsibility as a regulatory body dedicated to protecting the interest of Texans like you and me. From dangerous underground gas couplings which have resulted in explosions and deaths in North Texas to salt water injection wells that are polluting our underground water supply, the Railroad Commission has shown a complete and utter disregard for the well-being of the people of Texas.
