Jeff Weems for Railroad Commissioner

[sonias]

http://offthekuff.com/wp/?p=19636">Off the Kuff blog 6/30/09
Jeff Weems
Jun 30th, 2009
by Charles Kuffner.

We’ve been hearing plenty about the top of the ticket for Democrats in 2010, but there are still several slots to fill. One of them is the Railroad Commissioner seat held by Victor Carrillo. Via email to Carl Whitmarsh, here’s a name for you:

Jeff Weems is running for the Democratic nomination for Texas Railroad Commissioner in 2010, hopefully earning a chance to square off with Republican incumbent Victor Carrillo.

Jeff is currently the precinct Chair for Precinct 274. He is an oil and gas litigation attorney, representing exploration companies, service companies and landowners. Before becoming an attorney, he worked in the industry for years, first as a laborer on drilling rigs, next as a mud man, then as a landman. He has been an attorney for 19 years. He works with Harrison, Bettis, Staff, McFarland & Weems, a mid-sized Houston litigation firm.

Jeff is running because he knows the energy industry inside and out. He knows that the Railroad Commission can do so much more than it does now. The incumbent Republican commissioners are far too ready to take contributions from companies with matters pending before the commission, even when they are not up for election. Even more importantly, the current commissioners have demonstrated a bias toward the gas utilities when rate cases are heard, which ends up costing the citizens of Texas dearly. In addition, Jeff will balance the desires of the operators seeking to drill and complete wells with the need to protect Texas’ environment (such as in the Barnett Shale).

Thank you Jeff Weems for stepping up to run. This is going to be a great run.

Jeff is a regular DU member who has signed up with a new user name for his run at office - jeffweemsforRRC

:woohoo::bounce::toast::applause:

:dem:

Sonia

[jeffweemsforRRC]

1. Thanks Sonia

The early response has been great. I will have my site up and running during July. More soon.

[sonias]

2. You are most welcome

You're doing the hard part. I am very happy that we have such a great candidate running for RRC. Time the people of Texas had some representation on this very important energy commission.

Our whole future is at stake.

:hi:

Sonia

[jeffweemsforRRC]

3. The lack of vision is the most disturbing part

With five kids, I know there is one thing I know how to do - listen to both sides.

Next step - come up with creative solutions.

[jeffweemsforRRC]

4. I will file my Ethics Commission paperwork in the morning

Then we are off to the races. This is an exciting election season for democrats in Texas. I went to Barbara Ann Radnofsky's event in Fredricksburg on Friday evening, and she knocked it out of the park. Texas would be a much better place with her as AG.

This election cycle will make the pundits take a year off.

[sonias]

5. BAR would make a great AG

This next election cycle is certainly going to be exciting!

Here's to the Dems who are running!

:toast:

Sonia

[jeffweemsforRRC]

6. Paperwork is filed - I'm officially running

Now it is time to raise money and continue contacting folks.

[jeffweemsforRRC]

7. Great events in Harris County tonight

First, the Tejano Democrats met and were flooded with our recently revived judiciary contestants (Harris County has over 100 folks vying for the 50 or so positions available). The Reyes family was beyond gracious in having everyone over.

Next was the Harris County Young Democrats - probably more IQ per square inch among these fine young democrats than in any law firm, investment banking firm, or engineering firm in Houston. Dang it makes you proud to be a democrat!

[sonias]

8. We are the future

I'm happy to see the talent and smarts in the young on our side too. :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

Keep it going!


Sonia

[jeffweemsforRRC]

9. The Galleria Area Democrats are strong this year

They had a great event with Anise Parker (candidate for mayor) last night.

You ought to see these democratic club events. There are so many judicial candidates it is amazing. The energy is palpable.

We must, absolutely must, transfer this energy into voter registration, issue identification, and GOTV. Only 16 months until the 2010 Texas general elections - time to start your engines.

[sonias]

10. Get ready, set go!

I think this fall is going to be the real kicker. Things really start to pick up after Labor Day. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't already be working.

I just got the news that we're going to have a Democratic contender in the Texas Senate race in my district - which is held by a Republican right now.

:bounce:

Sonia

[sonias]

11. Jeff first big case breaking - illegal oil well plugging by Exxon

AAS 7/17/09
Land commissioner: Exxon’s "illegal" oil well plugging could lead to $1 billion in fines

By Chuck Lindell | Friday, July 17, 2009, 02:50 PM

UPDATE: The Texas Railroad Commission today sent this letter to Exxon directing the corporation to respond to Patterson’s allegations in writing by July 31. The letter, by agency general counsel Lindil Fowler Jr., said no action would be taken "pending receipt of Exxon Mobil’s response."

Accusing Exxon Corp. of sabotaging South Texas oil wells and then lying about it to the state, Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson has asked the Railroad Commission to launch an investigation that, he says, could lead to fines topping $1 billion.

Patterson said Exxon wastefully and maliciously clogged the wells in the early 1990s after pulling out of a Refugio County oilfield in a royalty dispute with the landowners — heirs of Thomas O’Connor, who arrived in Texas as a penniless Irish immigrant and died as the state’s richest man in 1887.

Seems like an opportunity to respond to the case.
:hi:

Sonia

[jeffweemsforRRC]

12. This is an interesting matter

This dispute has been around since the 90's. The RRC has known about the improper plugging reports since that time. Certainly they knew about it by 2000, when Judge Kelly in the 135th District Court (a very good judge, by the way) made his rulings and the jury found that there was illegal plugging and that the RRC forms that were filed were wrong (and possibly intentionally false - but that is the matter that has been remanded for a new trial). And now, 9-15 years later, the RRC finally sends a letter? And only after Jerry Patterson complains? What if he withdrew his complaint? This is the inertia of the RRC that has got to go.

The Supreme Court recently ruled on the case in another one of their result-oriented, convoluted reasoning decisions that has been widely panned. Although it is up for rehearing, we'll see what comes of it.

And why didn't the AG look into this? He's known all along too! C'mon, Barbara!

The key now is what the RRC does once it gets Exxon's response. Eager readers want to know.

Jeff

[sonias]

13. Fines topping $1 billion

We could use the money in Texas.

Sonia

[jeffweemsforRRC]

14. Self-promoting bump with news

Exxon responded to the letter from the RRC asking for their position on the illegal spiking of the wells by saying they didn't do anything wrong. Let's see if hearings are in our future.

Also today, Centerpoint announced it is dropping the rate it charges for the "actual cost of gas." It's still ridiculously high, almost 3 times the current market value for natural gas, but they likely are doing this in preparation for a rate increase request to raise the flat rate - you know, the one they collect no matter how good the individual consumer is at conserving energy.

[sonias]

15. Exxon claims they did nothing wrong - news at 11:00

Of course they did nothing wrong. They never do. Depends on what your definition of the word "wrong" is, right?

I'm not as familiar with Centerpoint, but if you grouped them in the same news story with Exxon they probably aren't a good company.

:hi:

Sonia

[jeffweemsforRRC]

16. Centerpoint is our natural gas utility in Houston

(and other parts of Texas too).

[jeffweemsforRRC]

17. Burnt Orange Report ran a very nice post on Monday

I interviewed with them on Friday. The mood in Texas is different than at any time in over a decade. It is an exciting time.

[sonias]

18. I'll provide the link to the BOR story

BOR diary 8/10/09
Jeff Weems to Run for Railroad Commissioner
Jeff Weems, an oil and gas litigation attorney and active Democrat in Harris County, will be a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Railroad Commissioner next year.

Weems appointed a campaign treasurer on July 6 and has begun raising money and traveling the state. When he was in Austin earlier this week, some of us at BOR had a chance to meet with him and I came away very impressed.

Hey fellow TX DUers, if you have a BOR account too, go give the story a nice post so we can get more people to see it!

:kick:


Sonia

[jeffweemsforRRC]

19. While on the trail of tireless self-promotion . . .

I have been endorsed by Jim Nugent and John Sharp - two former democratic railroad commisioners. The Oil Patch Democrats have endorsed me. I have 5 SDEC member endorsements. The campaign is growing and getting pretty feisty!

We have raised our planned budget for the campaign - the response we are getting from everyone is extraordinary.

You will love some of the news that will break soon.

Jeff

[jeffweemsforRRC]

20. My web site is - finally - up and running!

Please come visit and sign on so I can keep you up to date on the campaign developments.