Ryan Sitton

Ryan Christopher Sitton
Texas Railroad Commissioner
Assumed office
January 5, 2015 (2015-Jan-05)
Governor Greg Abbott
Preceded by Barry Smitherman
Personal details
Born 1975 (age 4041)
Irving, Texas
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Jennifer Sitton
Children Three Children
Residence Friendswood, Texas
Alma mater Texas A&M University (B.S. in Mechanical Engineering) (1998)
Occupation Texas Railroad Commissioner
Religion Episcopalian
Website Campaign Website

Ryan Christopher Sitton (born 1975) is a Republican politician and current Texas Railroad Commissioner at the Texas Railroad Commission. A resident of Friendswood outside Houston, Sitton handily won his seat on the Railroad Commission over Democrat Steve Brown on the November 4, 2014.

Political career

Involvement in the Party

Sitton is an active member of his local Republican Party and serves on the Board of Directors of the Associated Republicans of Texas and the Pasadena Conservative Citizens Club.

2012 Texas House of Representatives race

In 2012, Sitton lost a runoff contest with fellow Republican Greg Bonnen in Galveston County for the District 24 seat in the Texas House of Representatives.[1]

Texas Railroad Commissioner

2014 election

Then-Commissioner Barry Smitherman decided to retire from office to run, unsuccessfully, for state attorney general.

With 358,827 votes (30.5 percent), Sitton finished second in the GOP primary held on March 4, 2014, and hence qualified for the runoff slot. In the second round of balloting, Christian again polled 42.7 percent of the vote, the same as his primary tabulation in a field of four candidates.[2] Sitton, however, increased his total from the primary to the runoff election by nearly 27 percentage points, attributed to strong fundraising from industry professionals.

The Houston Chronicle endorsed Sitton over Christian on May 12, prior to the runoff election.[3] Sitton also carried the backing of outgoing Texas Land Commissioner Jerry E. Patterson, who lost his own bid for lieutenant governor in the March 4 primary.

Sitton polled 398,652 votes (57.3 percent) to Christian's 297,654 (42.7 percent).[4] Sitton outspent Christian by large amount.[5]

Sitton faced Steve Brown, an African-American Democrat businessman from Houston, Libertarian Party candidate Mark Miller, and Green Party candidate Martina Salinas.[6] Sitton won the general election with 58% of the vote.[7]

Tenure

Sitton was sworn in on January 5, 2015, succeeding outgoing Commissioner Barry Smitherman.[8][9]

Personal life

Sitton and his wife, Jennifer Lynn Sitton, have three children and they live in Friendswood, Texas.[10] He is Episocpalian and attends St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Pearland, Texas.[10]

Election history

References

  1. "2012 Republican runoff election returns (House District 24)". elections.sos.state.tx.us. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
  2. "Republican primary election returns, March 4, 2014". Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  3. For Railroad Commission: Ryan Sitton,Houston Chronicle, May 12, 2014.
  4. Texas GOP Picks Ryan Sitton as Railroad Commissioner, KXAS-TV, May 27, 2014.
  5. Grissom, Brandi. Tea Party Conservatives Win Top GOP Runoff Contests, Texas Tribune, May 28, 2014.
  6. News App: The 2014 Election Brackets, Texas Tribune, May 29, 2014.
  7. "Office of the Secretary of State 2014 General Election Election Night Returns". Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
  8. (January 5, 2015) - "Ryan Sitton Sworn In as Railroad Commissioner". KVUE.com. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
  9. (January 5, 2015) - "Texas Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton Sworn-In". Weatherford Democrat. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
  10. 1 2 "Ryan Sitton, Personal Profile". Texas Tribune. Austin, Texas. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  11. "2014 Republican Party Primary Runoff, Election Night Returns". Office of the Secretary of State. Austin, Texas: State of Texas. May 28, 2014. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
  12. "Race Summary Report, 2014 Republican Party Primary Election". Office of the Secretary of State. Austin, Texas: State of Texas. March 4, 2014. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
  13. "2014 Republican Party Primary Runoff, Election Night Returns". Office of the Secretary of State. Austin, Texas: State of Texas. July 31, 2012. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
  14. "Race Summary Report, 2012 Republican Party Primary Election". Office of the Secretary of State. Austin, Texas: State of Texas. May 29, 2014. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
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