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Barry Smitherman
| Barry Smitherman | ||
 | ||
| Texas Railroad Commission | ||
| Incumbent | ||
| In office | ||
| July 2011 – Present | ||
| Term ends | ||
| 2018 | ||
| Years in position | 2 | |
| Party | Republican | |
| Elections and appointments | ||
| Last election | November 6, 2012 | |
| Next election | November 6, 2018 | |
| Campaign $ | $5,144,683 | |
| Appointed | July 8, 2011 | |
| Appointed by | Rick Perry | |
| Term limits | N/A | |
| Prior offices | ||
| Texas Public Utility Commission | ||
| Education | ||
| Bachelor's | Texas A&M University | |
| Master's | Harvard University | |
| J.D. | University of Texas School of Law | |
| Websites | ||
| Office website | ||
| Personal website | ||
| Campaign website | ||
Contents |
He was named Chairman of the Commission in February 2012, following the resignation of Elizabeth Ames Jones.[1]
A February 2013 article in Governing named Smitherman as one of the top state Republican officials to watch in 2013.[2]
Biography
Smitherman was a public finance investment banker from 1986 until 2002. He was hired as a prosecutor with the Harris County district attorney's office in 2003. In 2004, Rick Perry appointed him to the board of the Public Utility Commission. He was reappointed in September 2007, and the board elected him chairman in November 2007. He currently serves on the Department of Energy’s Electricity Advisory Committee (EAC). Barry is a member of the State Bar of Texas and Vice Chairman of the Governor’s Advisory panel on Federal Environmental regulation as well as the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissions (NARUC) Board of Directors and the Committee on Energy Resources and the Environment (ERE). [3]
Education
- Texas A&M University, B.A [3]
- Harvard University, M.P.A[3]
- University of Texas School of Law, J.D.[3]
Political career
- Texas Railroad Commission (2009-current)
- Public Utility Commission of Texas, Chairman (2004-2009)
Elections/Appointments
2012
Smitherman is running for re-election to the Texas Railroad Commission in 2012. He faced Greg Parker, Elizabeth Murphy-Kolb and Al Lee in the May 29 Republican primary. Since no candidate won more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two vote getters - Smitherman and Parker - faced off in a runoff election on July 31,[4] which Smitherman won.[5]
- Primary Runoff
| Texas Railroad Commissioner, Unexpired term, Primary Runoff, 2012 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Barry Smitherman Incumbent |
62.1% | 583,506 |
| Greg Parker | 37.9% | 355,480 |
| Total Votes | 938,986 | |
| Election Results Via: The Texas Secretary of State | ||
- Primary
| Texas Railroad Commissioner, Unexpired term, 2012 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Barry Smitherman |
44.2% | 497,100 |
| Greg Parker |
27.8% | 311,903 |
| Elizabeth Murphy-Kolb | 21.5% | 241,784 |
| Al Lee | 6.5% | 72,867 |
| Total Votes | 1,123,654 | |
| Election Results Via: The Texas Secretary of State | ||
Smitherman defeated Jaime Perez (Libertarian) and Josh Wendel (Green Party) in the general election on November 6, 2012.[6]
2011
Smitherman was first appointed to the Texas Railroad Commission by Governor Rick Perry on July 8, 2011.[7]
Campaign donors
Comprehensive donor information for Smitherman is available dating back to 2012. Based on available campaign finance records, Smitherman raised a total of $5,144,683 during that time period. This information was last updated on May 9, 2013.[8]
| Barry Smitherman's Campaign Contribution History | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Office | Result | Contributions | |
| 2012 | TX Railroad Commission |  |
$5,144,683 | |
| Grand Total Raised | $5,144,683 | |||
2012
Smitherman won re-election to the position of Texas Railroad Commissioner in 2012. During that election cycle, Smitherman raised a total of $5,144,683.
| Texas Railroad Commissioner 2012 election - Campaign Contributions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top contributors to Barry Smitherman's campaign in 2012 | ||||
| Barry Smitherman Campaign | $1,059,591 | |||
| Conservative Republicans of Texas | $176,345 | |||
| Charles J. Wilder | $105,000 | |||
| Curtis Mewbourne | $100,000 | |||
| Kelcy Warren | $85,000 | |||
| Total Raised in 2012 | $5,144,683 | |||
| Source:Follow the Money | ||||
Personal
Smitherman grew up in Highlands, Texas, and now lives in Austin with his wife and two of their four children. Their two oldest sons attend Texas A&M University.
See also
External links
- Official campaign website
- Texas Railroad Commission
- Barry Smitherman on Facebook
- Campaign contributions: 2012
References
- ↑ State Impact, "Meet the New Chairman of the Railroad Commission," February 28, 2012
- ↑ Governing, "State Republican Officials to Watch in 2013," February 6, 2013
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Commissioner Barry Smitherman"
- ↑ Houston Chronicle, "2 Railroad Commission seats headed toward runoffs," May 30, 2012
- ↑ '"Texas Secretary of State, "2012 Republican Party primary runoff: Election night returns," accessed July 31, 2012
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State "November 6, 2012 Results"
- ↑ Barry Smitherman Railroad Commissioner, "About Barry Smitherman," accessed May 29, 2012
- ↑ Follow the Money, " Career Fundraising for Barry Smitherman," accessed May 9, 2013
