Mark Watson (Texas)

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Mark Watson

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

March 3, 2020

Contact

Campaign website

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Mark Watson (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Texas Railroad Commission. He lost in the Democratic primary on March 3, 2020.

Watson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.

Elections

2020

See also: Texas Railroad Commissioner election, 2020

General election

General election for Texas Railroad Commission

James Wright defeated Chrysta Castañeda, Matt Sterett, and Katija Gruene in the general election for Texas Railroad Commission on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		James Wright (R)	53.0	5,831,263
		Chrysta Castañeda (D)	43.6	4,792,422
		Matt Sterett (L)	2.3	247,659
	Submit photo	Katija Gruene (G)	1.2	129,638

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 11,000,982
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Democratic primary runoff election

Democratic primary runoff for Texas Railroad Commission

Chrysta Castañeda defeated Roberto Alonzo in the Democratic primary runoff for Texas Railroad Commission on July 14, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Chrysta Castañeda	62.0	579,698
		Roberto Alonzo	38.0	355,053

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 934,751
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Texas Railroad Commission

Chrysta Castañeda and Roberto Alonzo advanced to a runoff. They defeated Kelly Stone and Mark Watson in the Democratic primary for Texas Railroad Commission on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Chrysta Castañeda	33.8	598,638
✔		Roberto Alonzo	28.7	506,748
		Kelly Stone	21.7	383,453
		Mark Watson	15.8	279,911

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,768,750
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Texas Railroad Commission

James Wright defeated incumbent Ryan Sitton in the Republican primary for Texas Railroad Commission on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		James Wright	55.3	991,593
		Ryan Sitton	44.7	801,904

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,793,497
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Green convention

Green convention for Texas Railroad Commission

Katija Gruene advanced from the Green convention for Texas Railroad Commission on April 18, 2020.

		Candidate
✔	Submit photo	Katija Gruene (G)

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for Texas Railroad Commission

Matt Sterett defeated Charlie Stevens in the Libertarian convention for Texas Railroad Commission on August 3, 2020.

		Candidate
✔		Matt Sterett (L)
		Charlie Stevens (L)

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2018

General election

General election for Dallas County Criminal District Court No. 7

Chika Anyiam defeated incumbent Stephanie Fargo in the general election for Dallas County Criminal District Court No. 7 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Chika Anyiam (D)	62.3	431,314
		Stephanie Fargo (R)	37.7	261,319

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 692,633
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Dallas County Criminal District Court No. 7

Chika Anyiam defeated Mark Watson and Heath Harris in the Democratic primary for Dallas County Criminal District Court No. 7 on March 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Chika Anyiam	52.5	57,123
		Mark Watson	28.9	31,413
	Submit photo	Heath Harris	18.7	20,315

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 108,851
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Dallas County Criminal District Court No. 7

Incumbent Stephanie Fargo advanced from the Republican primary for Dallas County Criminal District Court No. 7 on March 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Stephanie Fargo	100.0	53,663

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 53,663
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Selection method

See also: Partisan election of judges

Judges of the county courts are elected in partisan elections by the county they serve and serve four-year terms, with vacancies filled by a vote of the county commissioners.

Qualifications
To serve on a county court, a judge must:

• be at least 25 years old;
• be a resident of his or her respective county for at least two years; and
• have practiced law or served as a judge for at least four years preceding the election.

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Mark Watson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Watson's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a long time Texas attorney with experience in the Oil and Gas industry. I have worked for Exxon, J.Ray McDermott and the EPA. I am the only candidate who has put hard-earned money into drilling oil and gas wells as a working interest owner. I have lived in the same Dallas neighborhood for almost thirty-seven years. I decided to run for Railroad Commission to help hardworking families, landowners, and and small business owners.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• I will get flaring under control. Eight out of ten top counties (U.S) for childhood asthma are in Permian Basin.
• Regular and frequent inspection of pipelines to avoid dangerous leaks and environmental hazard.
• I will begin a program of accurate C02 and methane emissions which are currently underreported by approximately 50%.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I will work to restore balance to the Railroad Commission. Currently the Commission favors energy producers at the expense of hardworking Texas families, small business owners, and the Texas air we all breath.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

The RRC must reach a balance between the needs and wants of the oil and gas industry and the best interests of hardworking Texas families. The Commission is charged with being a good steward of Texas' natural resources, enabling the industry to find and produce oil and gas in a responsible manner, and looking out for the environment of Texas. Recently the Commission has allowed many companies in the energy industry to "flare" natural gas at 4-5 times historic rates. Flaring is the practice of burning natural gas produced in an oil well that is not sold or transported by pipeline or other means. The practice causes air pollution in our beautiful West Texas skies and is a major waste of energy. Texas needs smart energy policy. Many oil and gas professionals know the Commission is not balanced in its dealings with the oil industry vs. the public interest. I will work with other members of the Commission to reach reasonable decisions on energy production and exploration. This will maintain the long-term health of the energy business, protect Texas' great natural resources, and protect hardworking families and small businesses from harmful energy practices that occur from time to time in Texas.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Winston Churchill. He came of age and flourished in extraordinary times. Churchill served his country in the military and later in Parliament and as the Prime Minister. Churchill foresaw the coming war with Germany and was vocal in his warnings. His warnings fell on deaf ears for several years in the 1930s. Churchill turned out to be correct in his predictions regarding Germany. Shortly before the war, England began to rearm and to modernize her air forces and air defenses. His leadership was instrumental in the Allied victory in WWII. His speeches gave hope to the British people and helped keep up morale on the home front and in the military. After the Allied victory in WWII, he was defeated for reelection as prime minister in 1945 and was elected again in 1951. Churchill was a major world figure in the last 100 years. He was tenacious and would not quit even though he suffered many setbacks in his career.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

I will look after Texas' natural resources. I will make sure the industry uses best practices in the oil patch and mining reclamation. I will encourage energy companies to adopt the latest technology in drilling, production, and regular inspection of pipelines. I will encourage use of the latest technology in well casing design and materials to guard against accidental release of hydrocarbons. I will strike a fair balance in ensuring Texas folks get fair treatment from the Railroad Commission. I will make sure Texas stays a world leader in the production of oil and gas.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I was woking for a major oil company as a right-of-way agent. I was in the field updating maps of where people lived. We updated the maps periodically in case there was a need to evacuate families due to an explosion, or leak of hydrogen sulfide gas. I was sitting in my car listening to the launch of the first space shuttle, Columbia. I was about twenty-five years old at the time.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was a paperboy. I had the second biggest paper-route in the city at age 13. I would get up at 4:00 AM, fold my newspapers and deliver them on my motorcycle. I had the paper-route for about three years. At the same time I worked as a busboy about 20 hours a week. In the 9th grade I was elected student body president.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Lonesome Dove. It struck a chord with me. I couldn't put it down.

What responsibilities of this office do you personally consider the most important?

The Commission must balance the needs of the oil industry and the interests of hardworking Texas families and small business owners.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

The Commission constantly sends a message to the Energy Industry of what is important and what the Commission is willing to turn a blind eye to. The Commission can quickly establish what is expected of energy companies and get energy companies in compliance with expectations for the benefit of all Texans.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

Not necessarily. A good understanding of the oil industry, its history and where we are now, is more beneficial than government experience.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

I will bring "quiet leadership" to the Commission. Commission members know what the pressing issues are for Texas families and small business owners. They need a reminder from a fellow Commissioner to keep the interests of the public equal to interests of the oil and gas industry.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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