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Rich Wakeland
Rich Wakeland (Democratic Party) ran for election for Governor of Texas. He lost in the Democratic primary on March 1, 2022.
Wakeland completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Richard Wakeland was born in Bethesda, Maryland. Wakeland served in the U.S. Navy from 1980 to 2010. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University at College Station in 1980, a graduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1985, and a J.D. from the University of Texas at Austin in 1993. Wakeland's career experience includes founding and owning Emergency Restaurant Repair LLC.[1]
Elections
2022
See also: Texas gubernatorial election, 2022
General election
General election for Governor of Texas
The following candidates ran in the general election for Governor of Texas on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Greg Abbott (R) | 54.8 | 4,437,099 |
 | Beto O'Rourke (D) | 43.9 | 3,553,656 | |
 | Mark Tippetts (L)  | 1.0 | 81,932 | |
 | Delilah Barrios (G) | 0.4 | 28,584 | |
 | Jacqueline Abernathy (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 1,243 | |
 | Mark Goloby (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 394 | |
| Total votes: 8,102,908 | |||
| = 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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Reginald Jennings II (Independent)
- Jorge Franco (Independent)
- Jeremy Rios (Independent)
- Ricardo Turullols-Bonilla (Independent)
- Justin Cunneen (Independent)
- Sean Sharp (Independent)
- Demetra Wysinger (Independent)
- Chioma Okoro (Independent)
- Star Locke (Independent)
- Raul Cortina (Independent)
- Patrick Wynne (Reform Party)
- Jal Dennis (Independent)
- Deirdre Dickson-Gilbert (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Governor of Texas
Beto O'Rourke defeated Joy Diaz, Michael Cooper, Rich Wakeland, and Inocencio Barrientez in the Democratic primary for Governor of Texas on March 1, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Beto O'Rourke | 91.4 | 983,182 |
 | Joy Diaz | 3.1 | 33,622 | |
 | Michael Cooper | 3.0 | 32,673 | |
 | Rich Wakeland | 1.2 | 13,237 | |
| Inocencio Barrientez | 1.2 | 12,887 | ||
| Total votes: 1,075,601 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Governor of Texas
The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for Governor of Texas on March 1, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Greg Abbott | 66.5 | 1,299,059 |
 | Allen B. West | 12.3 | 239,557 | |
 | Donald Huffines | 12.0 | 234,138 | |
 | Chad Prather | 3.8 | 74,173 | |
| Rick Perry | 3.1 | 61,424 | ||
 | Kandy Kaye Horn | 1.2 | 23,605 | |
| Paul Belew | 0.6 | 11,387 | ||
 | Daniel Harrison | 0.6 | 10,829 | |
| Total votes: 1,954,172 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Green convention
Green convention for Governor of Texas
Delilah Barrios advanced from the Green convention for Governor of Texas on April 9, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Delilah Barrios (G) |
| ||||
| = 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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Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for Governor of Texas
Mark Tippetts defeated Fidel Castillo in the Libertarian convention for Governor of Texas on April 10, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| Fidel Castillo (L) | ||
| ✔ | | Mark Tippetts (L) |
| ||||
| = 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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Andrew Jewell (L)
- Daniel Behrman (L)
Campaign finance
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Rich Wakeland completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Wakeland's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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- Reliable electric power. Balanced mix of thermal and renewable generation coupled with regular operational testing of the grid and thermal generating units is necessary to ensure reliability. Abbott ignored written warnings provided to him in March 2015 regarding the reliability of the ERCOT grid while I was policy advisor to Commission Ken Anderson, Jr. of the Public Utility Commission. Abbott ignored these recommendations and caused the deaths of Texans.
- Growing the tech industry. Technology, the engine of progress and prosperity, is critical for our continued successs. Governor Abbott's actions, including the passage of SB 8 provide risk to our prospective labor force. We need these tech workers to flock to Texas, not be scared away by Byzantine laws.
- End divisiveness in politics. Too often our partisan differences create unacceptable barriers to progress. By governing with policy and stability instead of vitriol and anger, we can ensure better prosperity today, and tomorrow.
2. Effective communications with the staffs in Austin and workers in the field.
3. Technical competence to drive meaningful 21st century operations and reform.
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.
Campaign website
Wakeland's campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
Objective: Invest in Texas and focus on the middle class Reliable Electric Power Balanced mix of thermal and renewable generation coupled with regular operational testing of the grid and thermal generating units is necessary to ensure reliability. Abbott ignored written warnings provided to him in March 2015 regarding the reliability of the ERCOT grid while I was policy advisor to Commission Ken Anderson, Jr. of the PUC. Abbott was provided a roadmap of how to increase the grid reliability while simultaneously increasing renewable energy production. Instead he chose a course that six years later caused the collapse of the ERCOT grid. Electric Grid Reliability Abbott’s Destruction of ERCOT's Reliability
Keep Growing The High Tech Industry High tech is the white collar middle class central nervous system of Texas. Continue a positive business environment for the Texas high tech industry. Pro Business and Pro Individual Environment Additional Information A conservative business environment, one that favors the growth and expansion of tech businesses should not be confused with a conservative social environment. A conservative business environment is one where government intervention in businesses through regulation is minimized. Government intervention in the affairs of businesses should be limited to action necessary to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public. Failure to regulate effectively can produce catastrophic results. The failure of the ERCOT power grid in February 2021 is a perfect example of the failure of Abbott to plan and guard against just such an occurrence. The catastrophe of February 2021 could have been avoided had Abbott only headed the warnings given him when he first took office. Failure to take action to protect Texas agriculture from a repeat of the drought of 2011 is another catastrophe in the making. The high-tech industry does not offer up the same risk to the health, safety and welfare of the public as the ERCOT grid (or even Texas agriculture) does. Intrusive government regulation should be discouraged. This would be a conservative business environment and one that I support. A conservative social environment on the other hand leads to restrictions on individuals. Consider individuals that make up the high-tech work force. A conservative social environment, like one found in Saudi Arabia, would draw significant protests from high tech workers should a high-tech company announce a move there. One of Texas’ strengths is that it is a conservative state. But, by enacting laws that are socially restrictive, the blue and white collar workers in the high-tech industry are likely to become disgruntled. It’s not like moving to Saudia Arabia, but you get the point. The most significant concern is that the legislation signed into law were overt acts of restrictions on individuals. The attack on women’s rights and on voting rights. Couple those actions with the ridiculous claims by right wing zealots like Abbott, Patrick, Paxton, Bush as well as radical right members of the Texas House and Senate attacking the presidential election results of 2020 and you get a clear signal that individual’s liberties are at risk. None of those actions by the elected republicans, was taken for the health, safety and welfare of the public, they were taken merely to further their conservative agenda against individuals. These actions lead to unhappy workers, unhappy workers lead to unhappy employers. This is not good for the Texas economy or the Texas blue and white collar middle class. Protect Texas Farmers and Ranchers from drought The 2011 drought will repeat itself and Abbott has not prepared to combat the coming drought, just like he ignored the electric grid. Push through legislation allowing for cash crops. The Ogallala Aquifer Crisis This image was released on the public domain from Oklahoma State University on the declining water levels of the Ogallala Aquifer. The Ogallala Aquifer provides 66% of groundwater and 38% of total water used in Texas. The Ogalla Aquifer Normal recharge rate The Texas Ogallala requires 300,000 acre-feet per year to make up for normal recharge. Levels have dropped over 200 feet in some areas. To make up and replenish the aquifer, we need to run a water pipeline across the state delivering 300,000 acre-feet per year. Principle source of water in the panhandle Drought and irrigation demands have depleted the Ogallala such that Texas' farming and ranching is in danger. Cattle industry $12.3 billion/yr, Cotton $2.6 billion/yr. 50% of water used goes to producing cattle feed. Our Farmers and Ranchers deserve our help and support Texas farmers and ranchers toil with a silent determination year after year. This industry is vital for Texas. We need to give Texas farmers and ranchers an advantage over all others. We need to bring them water. This will lower their risk of crop loss, which will make it easier to finance their operations, lowering their cost of capital and lower their insurance costs. They will be able to borrow money at a lower interest rate because their likelihood of crop success is higher. Invest in Texas Invest in Texas means invest in Texas farming and ranching and invest in Texas infrastructure. A large infrastructure project producing many jobs over the life of the build, and ensuring the survival and dominance of Texas agriculture for centuries. Pumping stations power The pipeline pumping stations will be powered by both renewable energy and natural gas combined cycle plants. In the event of energy shortages in the ERCOT grid, the power normally used for water pumps will be available as back up power for the grid. A pipeline river flowing through north central Texas from the south and east. Along the way, take off stations are available to Texas agriculture when the drought becomes widespread. The objective is to fill the Ogallala, and suspend filling during time of serious drought to provide surface water as necessary to save our farming and ranching. A Potential Solution This image showing Texas' working lands was released on the public domain by Texas A&M AgriLife showing the concentration of agricultural production in the state. The blue areas show the demand for water by cropland. The more blue, the more water that is used. The red line is a potential water pipeline route. Drought Protection for Texas Farming and Ranching Move 300,000 ac-ft of water per year to central Texas and Panhandle Position Statements: All for protecting the middle class Support diverse, robust, and abundant energy sources Texas power needs, which are the largest in the United States, require diverse sourcing. This includes both emerging sources like wind and solar power, and legacy sources such as natural gas and oil. These both secure our industrial output and jobs for the millions of Texans that supply and depend on power. Since Abbott took office, we've lost without replacement over 3,000 MW of legacy power plants. He was warned this would happen and that grid reliability was in jeopardy. He did nothing. Return Texas to a cooperative, positive attitude place for business to be. Texas is in competition with all the other states and many foreign countries to attract new businesses and retain existing ones. I believe in giving credit when due. The early Abbott and his predecessors and the predecessors to the current Republican led legislature deserve credit for growing the Texas economy. Select learn more to see how the current Abbott and legislature have gravely damaged our ability to sustain that growth. The Tip of the Spear Additional Information Tip of the spear: Often I am thanked for my service to the country as a Navy veteran. I usually respond with “It was a privilege and honor to serve.” But sometimes the individuals are especially grateful in their appreciation. In those occurrences I tell them this: The defense of the country can be thought of as a spear. At the tip of the spear, we have military members directly exposed to combat. The spearhead is made up of the rest of the military that provide combat support, in other words, things that the front-line troops need to win on the battlefield. The spear's shaft is made up of the rest of American society, it is made of you. Without a strong shaft, the spearhead is worthless. The Spear's Shaft Has Become Fractured Additional Information What makes up the shaft? The shaft is made up of the middle class, blue and white collar who are back in the states. Service men and women appreciate the teachers, plumbers, electricians, farmers, ranchers, refinery hands, roustabouts, roughnecks, biologists, police, fire, EMTs, bankers, engineers, doctors, nurses, pizza delivery drivers, garbage men and everybody else that keep society functioning for their families. They know that while they are deployed, society is stable and functioning smoothly. Over the last decade a harmful shattering of the spear’s shaft has occurred. Caused by extreme positions on the right and left, fueled by greed for power and a desire to force their will on everyone else, the extremists are tearing apart the spear's shaft. The spear is held together by the blue and white collar middle class, it is the middle class that is being damaged by the extremists on both the left and right. This fractured shaft is not good for Texas or the United States. The blue and white collar middle class is rightly focused on things such as: 1. Having a strong and stable economy for work to provide financial security for their families. 2. A good school system for their children. 3. Safety and security in the home and in public. 4. An opportunity to enjoy an individual’s choice of leisure or recreation. The concept of “the health, safety and welfare of the public” is justifiably the focus of the middle-class Texan. Businesses also have these values because they wish to be located in a stable environment where their employees feel comfortable. The extreme right control of Texas politics is not good for business. Abbott and the Legislature have gone much too far to the right as evidenced by their attack on abortion and voting rights. Coupled with the failure to ensure ERCOT grid reliability, after having been warned in 2015, business growth in Texas is severely threatened. Mending the Fractured Shaft of the Spear Additional Information When Abbott embraced the polarizing extremes of the far right at the beginning of his administration, he chose to ignore the importance of the Texas electrical grid, the need to provide drought protection for Texas farming and ranching, the Texas oil and gas industry and Texas’ underfunded and broken school financing. All are critical to the middle-class Texan and the Texas economy. The shaft must be mended. This can only be accomplished by staying focused on blue and white collar middle class values and a commitment to listen to the views of the minority party, whichever that party may be. Radicals, either left or right, need to be politely ignored by concentrating on the middle class so that the spear’s shaft can be repaired. Innovate to advance Texas interests Electric car extension cord section. Not going to wait on the Federal govt. That is like a turtle walking backwards. Will not refuse money provided from them, but they will have to keep up with us because we are going to advance continuously. Highway infrastructure
Support and defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic This is part of the commissioning oath of a member of the U.S. armed services. It carries a deep meaning and commitment. Select "learn more" to see my feelings. Constitutional Rights The Second Amendment The Second Amendment- an express amendment incorporated into the Constitution to protect citizens and the states from tyranny of the federal government. Basically to protect against a tyrant king, or would be king. Throughout the 245 years of our nation, this cornerstone of protection was never really needed as the fundamental rule of law and the Constitution was respected with the peaceful and orderly transition of power from one administration to the next. On January 6, 2021 an overt attempt by a tyrant would be king was made to prevent this most critical constitutional process. Fortunately authorities were able to squelch the attempt to defy the constitution and the plotters are now being brought to justice. The actual need for an armed citizenry was never realized, BUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT WAS DEMONSTRATED. The right for a woman to terminate a pregnancy This right is an implied right under the Constitution as interpreted by the Supreme Court in the Roe v. Wade decision. Since the time of that decision, activists have attempted to limit or restrict the right granted to women by the Supreme Court. When a State's law that restricts that right goes into affect, it is usually challenged and the Federal Courts, sometimes the U.S. Supreme Court, further refine their ruling in Roe. It is clearly understood that the US Supreme Court interprets the Constitution and the laws of the United States and the States. If we are to support and defend the Constitution, then we must respect the decisions of the Court. Texas has passed a law that attempts an end around of Roe. It attempts to subvert the past and future decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court with regard to abortion rights. That law is a direct attack on the balance of power created under our Constitution, and is therefore a direct attack on the Constitution itself. Any person who supports the Constitution can see that this same end around approach could be used to attack other Constitutionally protected rights. Any supporter of the Second Amendment must be concerned by this attack on a woman's right to an abortion as the same method can be employed against the Second Amendment. Abbott and the Republicans in the Texas Legislature have attempted to subvert the Constitution by removing the power of the Courts, and have placed the Second Amendment at risk. I oppose this attempt by Abbott and the Texas Legislature because it is a direct attack on the Constitution, and if allowed to stand, can be used against all rights, including the Second Amendment. The Need for Voting Rights Protections In the early 1930's in Nazi Germany, Nazis rose to power by creating a propaganda campaign of fear in the populace. One of the early steps taken was restricting access to voting and limiting who among German citizens could vote. Voting is a constitutional right, found in both the U.S. and Texas Constitutions. It is given to individuals who satisfy the citizenship requirements of Texas and of the U.S. and those who regain those rights after losing them through criminal activity. Actions and laws passed by the Texas legislature and signed by Abbott are a step backward and are against the Voting Rights Act of 1965, championed by Texas conservative Democrat Lyndon Johnson. Laws that limit a church's ability to organize its parishioners to register to vote, and then to mobilize the vote is a step in the wrong direction. It is an attempt to consolidate power (like the Nazis) by limiting peaceful organizations with many members (the parishioners of the church) from participating in a constitutionally granted right (to vote). The State should not interfere with an organization's activities unless those activities threaten the health, safety or welfare of the public. The Republicans in the legislature and Abbott are demonstrating a fear of the cloth, of the Word, and of the strength of the belief of the parishioners. It is a fear of the Church's ability to deliver the message of God and to inspire its parishioners to vote in God's name. Our voting laws should not be restrictive. They should be designed to encourage people to register and then to vote. We need to "trust, but verify" to ensure all eligible voters, and only eligible voters (a voter from another state is not an eligible voter nor are those younger than 18) participate in this most important of constitutional rights. Terms and Conditions You must take charge of your life to protect your rights granted under the Constitution. This means registering to vote and then voting. It takes a determined person to go through the hassle of first registering, then going to the polls to vote. No one will do it for you. Reduce Undocumented Immigration While Helping Disadvantaged Texans A border wall is an ineffective, counterproductive and costly method of immigration control. We must not rely on the Federal Government to take action. We must provide our own approach to limiting undocumented immigration. Select learn more to see my approach for statewide immigration reform. Remove the economic incentive for undocumented immigration And use revenue generated to off set Robin Hood payments Abbott has failed to adequately address the undocumented immigrant situation. He relied on the federal government, instead of taking action on his own. And his solution, championed by the Republicans in the Texas legislature, is an expensive 12th century approach to solving a 21st century problem. The problem must be attacked much differently and more cost effectively. I claim the following: 1. The rush to the U.S. is driven by economic opportunity. Immigrants choose to come here to improve their standard of living. 2. They compete against our lower income citizens, harming our citizens standard of living. 3. They receive the benefit of years of improved infrastructure without having had to pay for any of the up-front investment.
These improvements in our standard of living did not come overnight. They came from years of sweat, toil and sacrifice by millions of Americans. An individual who enters our State who is not a U.S. citizen must be required to "buy in" to the improved conditions. This is not a new concept. It has existed in our society for a long time. Do you want to become a member at a fancy athletic club or golf course? You have to pay an up-front membership fee because the club you are wishing to join has invested a lot of money in the equipment and facilities. That is the cost of joining the club. Your monthly dues are to cover the monthly expenses of your monthly use. We don't currently charge immigrants to Texas a membership fee. We should. There are details to be worked out as this is a new concept, but don't let the Republicans dismiss this because they didn't come up with the idea. A few thoughts, but nothing is set in my mind, many people must contribute to figuring out how to achieve this.
How would I allocate the revenue this generates?
Again, these are just ideas. The basic concept is:
The net result? - Reduced costs for Texans and fewer undocumented immigrants. Or the republican plan: Spend $2.0 billion on a 12th century wall. Hell, we've already got a moat that doesn't work.[2] |
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| —Rich Wakeland's campaign website (2022)[3] | ||
See also
2022 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on January 11, 2022
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ WakelandforTexas, “Home,” accessed January 27, 2022
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