Consumer issues likely to play large role in Texas Railroad Commission race

By R.A. DYER - Star-Telegram Staff Writer - Mon, Feb. 11, 2008
AUSTIN -- With North Texas residents feeling the economic pinch -- and home energy prices on the rise -- consumer issues could take center stage in the race for the Texas Railroad Commission.

Agency Chairman Michael Williams, 54, a Republican, is seeking re-election. Three Democrats are also running in their party's March 4 primary: former San Antonio Councilman Art Hall, 37; retired chemical engineer Dale Henry, 76; and Mark Thompson, 48, a mobility specialist for the blind. Thompson lives in Hamilton.

Set against the backdrop of the race are several home heating rate increases authorized by the commission. In at least two major North Texas cases, Williams joined with other commissioners in setting rates higher than the agency's own panel of experts had recommended.

Williams said that while he sometimes disagrees with those experts -- they're administrative law judges, and they conduct hearings and consider evidence in rate proceedings -- he nonetheless strives to reject unwarranted requests by utilities.

"But we can have a difference of opinion with regards to policy questions," he said.

The three Democratic candidates say the commission and Williams are too close to the industry they regulate. Each Democrat lambasted the panel for not doing enough to protect consumers.

"Citizens need to get upset -- they need to write the Texas Railroad Commission and talk to them," Thompson said.

The Texas Railroad Commission, an agency little-understood by the public, regulates the oil and gas industry and is charged with ensuring pipeline safety. It also makes environmental decisions regarding oil wells and authorizes cost-of-service rates for natural gas utilities.

Each of the Democrats gave the commission poor marks when it came to protecting ratepayers.

But it's also clear that not all the Democrats are well-versed on commission responsibilities.

For instance, Thompson has claimed that the agency lacks authority to set municipal rates. "When you think about it, they don't control rates in the cities," he said.

Actually, the commission has great authority over cost-of-service rates charged within cities.

Likewise, Hall stated at one time on his Web site that he would make railroad safety an issue in the race. Despite its name, the Texas Railroad Commission has no authority over railroads.

But Hall also said he has received an earful of complaints from North Texas residents about high utility rates. He described the commission as a "rubber stamp" for industry.

"I think it'll definitely be an issue during the general election," he said.

Henry, the retired petroleum engineer, said, "The Railroad Commission of Texas should not sit idly by as energy companies stick bills for hotel rooms and cases of wine to their ratepayers through cost-of-service rate increases" -- a reference to various luxury items put in a recent rate case by Atmos Energy.

The North Texas utility removed the items after reports appeared in the Star-Telegram.

Henry also said the commissioner has not done enough to ensure that Texans pay only the appropriate commodity price of natural gas and has "not done a credible job in reviewing and approving cost-of-service rate increases for natural gas companies."

A recent analysis by the Star-Telegram found that annual home heating bills are about the same now as they were in 2005, even though the commodity price of natural gas has come down dramatically since two hurricanes disrupted supplies that year.

The reason that bills remain high is related, in part, to repeated cost-of-service increases authorized by the commission.

"They need to keep down rates so that they're more reasonable," Thompson said.
Read more in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram

State Rep. Garnet Coleman Endorses Dale Henry for Railroad Commissioner

Calls Henry "Most Progressive" Candidate In The Race


HOUSTON-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.

Rep. Coleman, who has served the people of House District 147 since 1991, is the immediate-past chair of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus and has served as the chair of the non-partisan Legislative Study Group since 2003. An outspoken, respected advocate for Texas families, Rep. Coleman said he is pleased to offer his endorsement of Dale Henry in the Democratic Primary.

"I'm very pleased to endorse Dale. With the difficult issues facing the Texas Railroad Commission today, we need someone like Dale," Coleman said.

Dale Henry, a Lampasas Democrat, has more than four decades of experience in the oil field service industry and holds a bachelors degree in petroleum engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. He has formerly served as City Manager of Lampasas, a county commissioner in Mills County, and as a member of the Lower Colorado Regional Water Planning Commission.

Henry faces Art Hall of San Antonio and Mark Thompson of Hamilton in the March 4 Democratic Primary. The winner of the March 4 Democratic Primary will face Commissioner Michael L. Williams in the general election. Photos of the press conference suitable for reprint may be obtained from the campaign by emailing media@electdalehenry.com

Texas needs qualified men and women of integrity in public service

By Faith Chatham - Oct. 9, 2007
Fielding candidates for public office who are unsuited for the job is counter productive to the welfare of the people of Texas. Selecting nominees who who can be "sold to the public" but who are incapable of functioning effectively once in office is detrimental bad political policy. This state has suffered through the incompetence of Susan Combs while she was Agriculture Commission and currently as State Comptroller of Public Accounts, she is an embarrashment. (Refusing to recognize the standards of public accounting, she urged lawmakers to vote that Texas would not comply with GAP!)

We have witnessed the Republican field ill-prepared individuals for stategic offices. Now the some Democrats are attempting to place the wrong candidate in the Rail Road Commission. Art Hall of San Antonio, an attorney/investment banker, who is Vice President of Banco Popular, an international corporation with vast financial holdings in many nations, has announced his intention of challenging Dale Henry in the Democratic primary for Rail Road Commissioner.

Hall has no professional credential which allow him to understand the complexities of oil and gas production/regulation. His background as an attorney is not in this field. His profession experience is not in mineral/energy production/regulation and unlike Henry, Hall is not trained as a petroleum engineer. Although Hall is a Harvard grad, he is a light weight when compared to Dale Henry when it comes to the experience, professional background, technical understanding and education required to exercise the responsibilities of this office with excellence.

Dale Henry has over 50 years training and experience as a petroleum engineer and businessman. He has developed tools which have revolutionized the oil industry. He is a man of integrity. He believes in reasonable regulation of the oil and gas industry. He values the integrity of neighborhoods and believes that oil/gas resources in Texas should be developed without compromising the water, health and welfare, and residential nighborhoods. Dale Henry's professional experience and education enables him to understand the processes and tools available in the oil and gas market which can jeporadize or benefit Texans. He knows what safeguards are needed and what regulations/processes are unnecessary. He's been around the block in the energy field several times and knows the landscape and the tricks and pitfalls.

He has been advising Texas homeowners of these pitfalls without renumeration. He is a champion, fighting to protect the property rights of Texans from exercise of eminent domain for private gain. He has traveled this state testifying at Texas Department of Transportation Hearings all over Texas.

Texas needs Dale Henry on the Rail Road Commission. Pipelines are a major facet of the proposed Trans Texas Corridor. Dale Henry opposes the Trans Texas Corridor. Art Hall is the husband of an attorney for Valero Energy. Valero Energy donated over $111,342.32 from November 2002 through December 2006 to Texas Legislators and Congressional candidates/incumbents PAC. All went to Republicans except for $2,000.00 which went to Paula Hightower-Pierson, a freshman Democrat from Arlington whose huband was a delegate to the National Republican Convention which nominated George W. Bush as President of the USA. Hightower-Pierson has a consistent records while on the Arlington City Council of supporting exercise of public domain for the private profit of George W. Bush. She celebrated when citizens of Arlington were taxed to build the Texas Ranger's stadium. When George W. Bush sold the Rangers he made the first profit he'd ever shown in any of his business enterprises. Valero, which probably hopes to have an interest in the pipelines associated with the Trans Texas Corridor, has contributed over $20,000.00 to Tom Craddick in the past two years.

Dale Henry is not pursuing any business which will involve proposed pipelines. He is not seeking to capitalize by stripping Texans of their farms, ranches, homes and businesses to build the NAFTA Super Highway. His wife is not an attorney with Valero Energy, which has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in Republican campaigns attempting to gain favor in future infrastructure projects and energy regulations.

Dale Henry has the right skill/education set.
Art Hall has active ties with special interests which should not have representation in the Rail Road Commission, the agency in Texas charged with regulation oil and gas/mineral production in Texas.

The Railroad Commission should not be filled with people with ties to ambitions international corporates. Representatives of companies seeking to profit from the decisions of the Commission should not be nominated by either political party. Citizens of Texas along all of the political spectrums should examine the affiliations of those seeking to regulate this state's energy market, production and/or delivery infrastructure. Along with the PUC and State Legislature, the Texas Railroad Commission sets policies which ultimately shifts the wealth of citizens of Texas from various pocketbooks. Right now utility bills of individuals and businesses is shifting a lot of dollars from everybody's bank accounts into those of a few. Railroad Commission policies sets safeguards during exploration and production. The PUC's policies (set through Legislation)impacts utilities and consumers.