We recommend Republican Ryan Sitton over Democrat Steve Brown and two minor party candidates for an open seat on the Texas Railroad Commission.
Sitton and Brown are knowledgeable and energetic candidates. Sitton’s experience as an oil and gas technology executive gives him a nod over Brown, a former Fort Bend County Democratic Party chairman.
Sitton, 39, would be the first engineer on the Railroad Commission in several decades. He has the technical and business expertise that would benefit the commission.
While his closeness to the oil and gas industry gives us some pause, we take at his word his pledge to fairly balance the commission’s dual roles as industry advocate and regulator. For example, Sitton backs a review to determine whether injection disposal wells at drilling sites are causing seismic tremors and would suspend such operations if the science finds a serious problem. He also would encourage drillers to recycle water used during hydraulic fracturing to reduce the demand for fresh water. He promises to make the agency’s operations more transparent.
Brown, 39, who is making his first run for statewide office, is consumer-oriented. Months ago, he called on the commission to consider a moratorium on the use of injection disposal wells. We like his instincts and could support him in another endeavor. Sitton’s is a more measured, science-based approach to problem solving.
Green Party candidate Martina Salinas, a construction inspector, and Libertarian Mark A. Miller, a petroleum engineer and small business owner, also are on the ballot.
