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'''Christi Leigh Craddick''' (born 1970) is the newest member of the Texas Railroad Commission, the state's elected utility regulatory commission. A [[Republican]] originally from Midland, [[Texas]], Craddick handily won her seat in the [[general election]] held on November 6, 2012. She is the daughter of Texas State Representative [[Tom Craddick]] of Midland, who served as the House Speaker from 2003 to 2009.

'''Christi Leigh Craddick''' (born 1970) is the newest member of the Texas Railroad Commission, the state's elected utility regulatory commission. A [[Republican]] originally from [[Midland]], [[Texas]], Craddick handily won her seat in the [[general election]] held on November 6, 2012. She is the daughter of Texas State Representative [[Tom Craddick]] of Midland, who served as the state House Speaker from 2003 to 2009.

   

   

A graduate of Midland High School, Craddick obtained her undergraduate degree from the [[University of Texas]] and then her [[Juris Doctor]] from the University of Texas Law School, both in [[Austin, Texas|Austin]]. Like her parents, she is [[Roman Catholic]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/137832/christi-craddick|title=Christi Craddick|publisher=votesmart.org|accessdate=December 31, 2012}}</ref>

A graduate of Midland High School, Craddick obtained her undergraduate degree from the [[University of Texas]] and then her [[Juris Doctor]] from the University of Texas Law School, both in [[Austin, Texas|Austin]]. Like her parents, she is [[Roman Catholic]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/137832/christi-craddick|title=Christi Craddick|publisher=votesmart.org|accessdate=December 31, 2012}}</ref>

Craddick won the runoff held on July 31, 2012, against Chisum, 589,211 votes (59.8 percent) to 396,858 ballots (40.2 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://enr.sos.state.tx.us/enr/results/july31_162_state.htm?x=0&y=1397&id=463|title=Republican runoff election results, July 31, 2012|publisher=enr.sos.state.tx.us|accessdate=December 31, 2012}}</ref> Several other Republican candidates for the seat had beeneliminated in the May 29 primary. After she defeated Chisum, Craddick then prevailed over the [[Democrat]] Dale P. Henry (born 1930), a retired petroleum engineer from Lampasas,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://c3.thevoterguide.org/v/dallas12/race-detail.do?id=10254359|title=Voter Guide|publisher=c3.thevoterguide.org|accessdate=December 31, 2012}}</ref> who had previously run for the commission. Craddick polled 4,336,499 votes (56.2 percent) to Henry's 3,057,733 (39.6 percent). The remaining 4.2 percent was held by two minor candidates. Craddick ran some 233,000 votes behind the Republican presidential nominee, [[Mitt Romney]], and Henry ran more than 250,000 ballots behind his party's national standard-bearer, [[U.S. President]] [[Barack H. Obama]]. Hence, some 500,000 Texans who vote in the presidential race did not participate in the contest for railroad commission.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe|title=Texas general election returns, Novembver 6, 2012|publisher=elections.sos.state.tx.us|accessdate=December 31, 2012}}</ref>

Craddick won the runoff held on July 31, 2012, against Chisum, 589,211 votes (59.8 percent) to 396,858 ballots (40.2 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://enr.sos.state.tx.us/enr/results/july31_162_state.htm?x=0&y=1397&id=463|title=Republican runoff election results, July 31, 2012|publisher=enr.sos.state.tx.us|accessdate=December 31, 2012}}</ref> Several other Republican candidates for the seat had beeneliminated in the May 29 primary. After she defeated Chisum, Craddick then prevailed over the [[Democrat]] Dale P. Henry (born 1930), a retired petroleum engineer from Lampasas,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://c3.thevoterguide.org/v/dallas12/race-detail.do?id=10254359|title=Voter Guide|publisher=c3.thevoterguide.org|accessdate=December 31, 2012}}</ref> who had previously run for the commission. Craddick polled 4,336,499 votes (56.2 percent) to Henry's 3,057,733 (39.6 percent). The remaining 4.2 percent was held by two minor candidates. Craddick ran some 233,000 votes behind the Republican presidential nominee, [[Mitt Romney]], and Henry ran more than 250,000 ballots behind his party's national standard-bearer, [[U.S. President]] [[Barack H. Obama]]. Hence, some 500,000 Texans who vote in the presidential race did not participate in the contest for railroad commission.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe|title=Texas general election returns, Novembver 6, 2012|publisher=elections.sos.state.tx.us|accessdate=December 31, 2012}}</ref>

   

   

Craddick fills the seat that Elizabeth Ames Jones of [[San Antonio]] vacated in February 2012. Jones instead ran unsuccessfully for the District 25 seat in the Texas Senate, a position ultimately won by the Republican physician [[Donna Campbell]], who unseated incumbent Senator [[Jeff Wentworth]], a moderate Republican. The interim commissioner, H. S. "Buddy" Garcia, an appointee of Governor Perry,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.texasroyaltycouncil.com/2012/04/gov-rick-perry-has-appointed-h-s-buddy-garcia-of-austin-to-the-railroad-commission-of-texas-for-a-term-to-expire-at-the-next-general-election/|title=Gov. Rick Perry has appointed H.S. Buddy Garcia of Austin to the Railroad Commission of Texas for a term to expire at the next general election|publisher=Texas Royalty Council, April 12, 2012|accessdate=May 9, 2012}}</ref>  stepped down after the 2012 general election, and Perry named Craddick to fill the remaining days of the original Jones term.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.christicraddick.com/posts/statement-from-christi-craddick-on-her-appointment-by-governor-perry-to-the-railroad-commission-of-texas|title=Statement from Christi Craddick on her Appointment by Governor Perry to the Railroad Commission of Texas, December 12, 2012|publisher=christicraddick.com|accessdate=December 31, 2012}}</ref>

Craddick fills the seat that Elizabeth Ames Jones of [[San Antonio]] vacated in February 2012. Jones instead ran unsuccessfully for the District 25 seat in the Texas Senate, a position ultimately won by the conservative Republican physician [[Donna Campbell]], who unseated incumbent Senator [[Jeff Wentworth]], a moderate Republican. The interim commissioner, H. S. "Buddy" Garcia, an appointee of Governor Perry,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.texasroyaltycouncil.com/2012/04/gov-rick-perry-has-appointed-h-s-buddy-garcia-of-austin-to-the-railroad-commission-of-texas-for-a-term-to-expire-at-the-next-general-election/|title=Gov. Rick Perry has appointed H.S. Buddy Garcia of Austin to the Railroad Commission of Texas for a term to expire at the next general election|publisher=Texas Royalty Council, April 12, 2012|accessdate=May 9, 2012}}</ref>  stepped down after the 2012 general election, and Perry named Craddick to fill the remaining days of the original Jones term.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.christicraddick.com/posts/statement-from-christi-craddick-on-her-appointment-by-governor-perry-to-the-railroad-commission-of-texas|title=Statement from Christi Craddick on her Appointment by Governor Perry to the Railroad Commission of Texas, December 12, 2012|publisher=christicraddick.com|accessdate=December 31, 2012}}</ref>

   

   

Also in 2012, Railroad Commission chairman Barry Smitherman, formerly of Houston, won election to a two-year on the panel. However, he must run again in 2014 for a regular six-year term. The third commissioner, David J. Porter of Giddings in Lee County, formerly of Midland, won a full term on the panel in 2010. All commissioners have been Republican since 1995. Two of the three commissioners now have a direct background from the oil-rich [[Permian Basin]] in the Midland/[[Odessa, Texas|Odessa]] area.<ref name=midland/>

Also in 2012, Railroad Commission chairman Barry Smitherman, formerly of Houston, won election to a two-year on the panel. However, he must run again in 2014 for a regular six-year term. The third commissioner, David J. Porter of Giddings in Lee County, formerly of Midland, won a full term on the panel in 2010. All commissioners have been Republican since 1995. Two of the three commissioners now have a direct background from the oil-rich [[Permian Basin]] in the Midland/[[Odessa, Texas|Odessa]] area.<ref name=midland/>