Ryan Sitton
Ryan Christopher Sitton | |
---|---|
Texas Railroad Commissioner | |
In office January 5, 2015 – Incumbent | |
Governor | Greg Abbott |
Preceded by | Barry Smitherman |
Personal details | |
Born | 1975 Place of birth missing |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | Jennifer Sitton |
Children | Three children |
Residence | Friendswood, Texas |
Alma mater | Texas A&M University (B.S. in Mechanical Engineering) (1998) |
Occupation | Oil and gas engineer |
Religion | Episcopal Church |
Website | Ryan Sitton for Railroad Commission |
Ryan Christopher Sitton (born 1975) is a Republican politician and Commissioner sitting on the Texas Railroad Commission, having won his election on the November 4, 2014 general election. A resident of Friendswood outside Houston, Sitton handily won his party's nomination in a runoff election on May 27 against former State Representative Wayne Christian of Center in East Texas.
Political career
Involvement in the Party
Sitton is a conservative who is an active member of his local Republican Party and serves on the Board of Directors of the Associated Republicans of Texas and the Pasadena Conservative Citizens Club.
2012 Texas House of Representatives race
In 2012, Sitton lost a runoff contest with fellow Republican Greg Bonnen in Galveston County for the District 24 seat in the Texas House of Representatives. [1]
Texas Railroad Commissioner
2014 election
Then-Commissioner Barry Smitherman decided to retire from office to run, unsuccessfully, for state attorney general.
With 358,827 votes (30.5 percent), Sitton finished second in the GOP primary held on March 4, 2014, and hence qualified for the runoff slot. In the second round of balloting, Christian again polled 42.7 percent of the vote, the same as his primary tabulation in a field of four candidates.[2] Sitton, however, increased his total from the primary to the runoff election by nearly 27 percentage points.
The Houston Chronicle endorsed Sitton over Christian on May 12, prior to the runoff election.[3] Sitton also carried the backing of outgoing Texas Land Commissioner Jerry E. Patterson, who lost his own bid for lieutenant governor in the March 4 primary, and Heidi Thiess, a radio host associated with the Tea Party movement. Thiess said that Sitton will if elected "defend Texas industries from overreaching and unnecessary government regulations ... and lead the nation to energy independence."[4]
Sitton owns Pinnacle Asset Integrity Services, based in Pasadena, Texas. On April 16, 2014, he announced that he would place Pinnacle, an oil and gas engineering firm, in the control of a blind trust and step down as chief executive officer to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.[5]
Stitton polled 398,652 votes (57.3 percent) to Christian's 297,654 (42.7 percent).[6] Sitton outspent Christian by large amount.[7]
Sitton faced Steve Brown, an African-American Democrat businessman from Houston, Libertarian Party candidate Mark Miller, and Green Party candidate Martina Salinas.[8] Sitton won the general election with 58% of the vote.[9]
Tenure
Sitton was sworn in on January 5, 2015, succeeding outgoing Commissioner Barry Smitherman.[10][11]
Personal life
Sitton and his wife, Jennifer Lynn Sitton, have three children and they live in Friendswood, Texas.[12] He is Episocpalian and attends St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Pearland, Texas.[12]
Election history
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References
- ↑ "2012 Republican runoff election returns (House District 24)". elections.sos.state.tx.us. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
- ↑ "Republican primary election returns, March 4, 2014". Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
- ↑ For Railroad Commission: Ryan Sitton,Houston Chronicle, May 12, 2014.
- ↑ "Ryan Sitton for Railroad Commissioner", Campaign brochure, May 2014
- ↑ Railroad commissioner candidate Ryan Sitton to sever business ties, if elected, Dallas Morning News, April 17, 2014.
- ↑ Texas GOP Picks Ryan Sitton as Railroad Commissioner, KXAS-TV, May 27, 2014.
- ↑ Grissom, Brandi. Tea Party Conservatives Win Top GOP Runoff Contests, Texas Tribune, May 28, 2014.
- ↑ News App: The 2014 Election Brackets, Texas Tribune, May 29, 2014.
- ↑ "Office of the Secretary of State 2014 General Election Election Night Returns". Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
- ↑ (January 5, 2015) - "Ryan Sitton Sworn In as Railroad Commissioner". KVUE.com. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
- ↑ (January 5, 2015) - "Texas Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton Sworn-In". Weatherford Democrat. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Ryan Sitton, Personal Profile". Texas Tribune (Austin, Texas). Retrieved June 3, 2014.
- ↑ "2014 Republican Party Primary Runoff, Election Night Returns". Office of the Secretary of State (Austin, Texas: State of Texas). May 28, 2014. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
- ↑ "Race Summary Report, 2014 Republican Party Primary Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Austin, Texas: State of Texas). March 4, 2014. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
- ↑ "2014 Republican Party Primary Runoff, Election Night Returns". Office of the Secretary of State (Austin, Texas: State of Texas). July 31, 2012. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
- ↑ "Race Summary Report, 2012 Republican Party Primary Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Austin, Texas: State of Texas). May 29, 2014. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
External links
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