Ryan Sitton

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Ryan Sitton

| image = Ryan Sitton.png

| caption = Sitton in 2013

| office = Railroad Commissioner of Texas

| governor = Greg Abbott

| term_start = January 5, 2015

| term_end = January 4, 2021

| predecessor = Barry T. Smitherman

| successor = Jim Wright

| birth_name = Ryan Christopher Sitton

| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1975}}

| birth_place = Irving, Texas, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Republican

| spouse = Jennifer Sitton

| children = 3

| education = Texas A&M University (BS)

| website = {{url|RyanSitton.com|Campaign website}}

}}

Ryan Christopher Sitton (born 1975) is an American politician affiliated with the Republican Party. He was a member of the Texas Railroad Commission from 2015 to 2021.

Personal life and education

Sitton was raised in Irving, Texas with his three siblings by his mother and father, both high school science teachers. Sitton displayed a talent for math and science. Sitton attended Cistercian Preparatory School{{Cite web|url=https://www.cistercian.org/school/publications/continuum_pdfs/Fall%202010%20Continuum.pdf|title=Fall 2010 Continuum|last=|first=|date=|website=|accessdate=}} and went on to study Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University where he met his wife, Jennifer, also a mechanical engineering major.{{Cite news|url=http://www.ryansitton.com/about|title=About Ryan|newspaper=Ryan Sitton for Texas Railroad Commissioner|accessdate=2017-02-16|language=en}}

They now have three children and are active members of St. Andrews Episcopal Church.{{Cite news|url=http://www.oilandgasawards.com/guestofhonor/commissioner-ryan-sitton/|title=Commissioner Ryan Sitton|newspaper=Oil & Gas Awards|accessdate=2017-02-16|language=en-us}} In his spare time, Sitton is an avid fitness enthusiast, does P90X every day and maintains a collection of over 100,000 Legos.Helman, Christopher. [https://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2016/12/09/texas-oil-regulator-trump-epa-pick-is-good-at-breaking-down-worthless-organizations/#13d7aba54a73 "Texas Oil Regulator: Trump EPA Pick Is Good At 'Breaking Down Worthless Organizations.'"] Forbes. Dec. 9, 2016.

Business career

Sitton spent his early career working for oil and gas companies, including ALCOA, Oxy, Marathon, and Berwanger Engineering and Consulting.{{Cite news|url=http://www.ryansitton.com/about|title=About Ryan|work=Ryan Sitton for Texas Railroad Commissioner|access-date=2017-02-27|language=en}} In 2006, the Sittons founded PinnacleART, an engineering and technology company.{{Cite news|url=http://pinnacleart.com/who-we-are-comprehensive-reliability/our-history/|title=Our History - Pinnacle Advanced Reliability Technologies|work=Pinnacle Advanced Reliability Technologies|access-date=2017-02-27|language=en-US}} PinnacleART operates on solar power with natural gas backups.

Political career

=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.{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe|title=2012 Republican runoff election returns (House District 24)|publisher=elections.sos.state.tx.us|accessdate=February 28, 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109062336/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe|archivedate=January 9, 2014}}

=Texas Railroad Commissioner=

{{main|Texas elections, 2014#Railroad Commissioner|2020 Texas elections#Railroad Commission}}

Incumbent officeholder Barry Smitherman decided to run, unsuccessfully, for state attorney general, thus creating an open seat. Sitton announced his candidacy for the Railroad Commission.

Sitton polled 398,652 votes (57.3 percent) to Christian's 297,654 (42.7 percent).[http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/politics/Texas-GOP-Picks-Ryan-Sitton-as-Railroad-Commissioner-260858611.html Texas GOP Picks Ryan Sitton as Railroad Commissioner], KXAS-TV, May 27, 2014. Sitton outspent Christian by a large amount.Grissom, Brandi. [http://www.texastribune.org/2014/05/28/tea-party-conservatives-win-top-gop-runoff-contest/ Tea Party Conservatives Win Top GOP Runoff Contests], Texas Tribune, May 28, 2014.

Sitton faced Steve Brown, a Democratic businessman from Houston, Libertarian Party candidate Mark Miller, and Green Party candidate Martina Salinas.[https://www.texastribune.org/2014/elections/brackets/ News App: The 2014 Election Brackets], Texas Tribune, May 29, 2014. Sitton won the general election with 58% of the vote.{{cite web |url=https://team1.sos.state.tx.us/enr/results/nov04_175_state.htm |title=Office of the Secretary of State 2014 General Election Election Night Returns |publisher=Texas Secretary of State |accessdate=March 3, 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105175126/https://team1.sos.state.tx.us/enr/results/nov04_175_state.htm |archivedate=November 5, 2014 }}

Sitton was sworn in on January 5, 2015, succeeding outgoing Commissioner Barry Smitherman.(January 5, 2015) - [http://www.kvue.com/story/news/politics/2015/01/05/ryan-sitton-sworn-in-as-railroad-commissioner/21285505/ "Ryan Sitton Sworn In as Railroad Commissioner"]. KVUE.com. Retrieved March 3, 2015.(January 5, 2015) - [http://www.weatherforddemocrat.com/news/texas-railroad-commissioner-ryan-sitton-sworn-in/article_91175f3c-952c-11e4-a3db-3f734f86d2e8.html "Texas Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton Sworn-In"]. Weatherford Democrat. Retrieved March 3, 2015. He is the first mechanical engineer to serve on the Commission in 50 years.{{Cite web|url=http://ryansitton.com/about/|title=About Ryan – Ryan Sitton|website=ryansitton.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-04-05}}

In December 2016, Sitton praised President Donald Trump's choice for EPA head, Scott Pruitt, predicting that Trump and Pruitt's reduction of federal regulations would lead to an oil boom.

In 2017, Sitton voted in favor of Exxon Mobil in a regulation issue. He did not, however, disclose that Exxon Mobil is a client of his company, PinnacleART. {{Cite web|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2017/02/06/how-blind-is-this-texas-oil-regulator-s-blind-trust-managed-by-his-brother-in-law/|title=How blind is this Texas oil regulator's blind trust, managed by his brother-in-law?|date=February 6, 2017|website=Dallas News}}

In 2019, Sitton was passed over for Railroad Commission chairman, a break from tradition since the incumbent closest to re-election is usually chosen.{{Cite web|url=https://www.statesman.com/news/20190621/why-railroad-commissioners-broke-with-tradition-and-skipped-over-ryan-sitton-for-top-spot|title=Why Railroad commissioners broke with tradition and skipped over Ryan Sitton for top spot|first=Asher|last=Price|website=Austin American-Statesman}}

In 2020, Sitton lost the Republican primary for reelection to Jim Wright, despite having the support of the Texas governor, lieutenant governor, and both of the state's senators. Sitton's campaign had raised $2 million more than Wright's $13,000 campaign.{{Cite web|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2020/03/04/Ryan-sitton-loses-republican-primary-railroad-commission-upset/|title=Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton concedes Republican primary in surprising upset|first=Emma|last=Platoff|date=March 4, 2020|website=The Texas Tribune}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.texasobserver.org/upset-incumbent-railroad-commissioner-ryan-sitton-ousted-by-newcomer/|title=Upset: Incumbent Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton Ousted by Newcomer|date=March 4, 2020|website=The Texas Observer}}

Sitton played a significant role in the 2020 Russia–Saudi Arabia oil price war.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-04/a-lame-duck-regulator-who-became-the-face-of-shale-in-oil-wars|title=A Lame-Duck Regulator Who Became the Face of Shale in Oil Wars|newspaper=Bloomberg |date=April 4, 2020|via=www.bloomberg.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/business/energy/article/Railroad-Commissioner-Ryan-Sitton-invited-to-15146887.php|title=Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton invited to OPEC's June meeting|first=Sergio|last=Chapa|date=March 20, 2020|website=Chron}}

In 2020, Sitton returned to work as CEO at PinnacleART.

Election history

{{hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#cff|title=Ryan Sitton electoral history|contentstyle=border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;}}

;2014

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Railroad Commission, Republican Party Primary Runoff, May 27, 2014{{cite news |author= |title=2014 Republican Party Primary Runoff, Election Night Returns |url=https://team1.sos.state.tx.us/enr/results/may27_173_state.htm?x=0&y=0&id=587 |newspaper=Office of the Secretary of State |location=Austin, Texas |publisher=State of Texas |date=May 28, 2014 |accessdate=May 31, 2014}}

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Ryan Sitton

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 239,251

| percentage = 60.20

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Wayne Christian

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 158,147

| percentage = 39.79

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 696,821

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Railroad Commission, Republican primary results, March 04, 2014{{cite news |author= |title=Race Summary Report, 2014 Republican Party Primary Election |url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |newspaper=Office of the Secretary of State |location=Austin, Texas |publisher=State of Texas |date=March 4, 2014 |accessdate=May 31, 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109062336/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |archivedate=January 9, 2014 }}

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Wayne Christian

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 503,634

| percentage = 42.68

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Ryan Sitton

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 360,125

| percentage = 30.52

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Becky Berger

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 198,672

| percentage = 16.83

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Malachi Boyuls

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 117,511

| percentage = 9.95

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 1,179,942

| percentage = 100

}}

;2012

{{Election box begin no change

| title = State Representative District 24, Republican Party Primary Runoff, July 31, 2012{{cite news |author= |title=2014 Republican Party Primary Runoff, Election Night Returns |url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |newspaper=Office of the Secretary of State |location=Austin, Texas |publisher=State of Texas |date=July 31, 2012 |accessdate=May 31, 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109062336/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |archivedate=January 9, 2014 }}

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Greg Bonnen

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 8,608

| percentage = 57.72

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Ryan Sitton

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 6,305

| percentage = 42.27

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 14,913

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = State Representative District 24, Republican primary results, May 29, 2012{{cite news |author= |title=Race Summary Report, 2012 Republican Party Primary Election |url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |newspaper=Office of the Secretary of State |location=Austin, Texas |publisher=State of Texas |date=May 29, 2014 |accessdate=May 31, 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109062336/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |archivedate=January 9, 2014 }}

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Greg Bonnen

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 6,951

| percentage = 45.06

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Ryan Sitton

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 5,035

| percentage = 32.63

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Heidi Thiess

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 3,440

| percentage = 22.3

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 15,426

| percentage = 100

}}

Awards

2015: Houston Business Journal's 40 under 40 list.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/2014/09/hbj-reveals-the-2014-40-under-40-winners.html|title=HBJ reveals the 2014 40 Under 40 winners |website=www.bizjournals.com |accessdate=2017-02-19}}
2015: Distinguished Engineering Alumnus, Texas A&M University.{{Cite web|url=http://engineering.tamu.edu/news/2015/04/02/mechanical-engineering-distinguished-alumni-visit|title=Mechanical Engineering Distinguished Alumni Visit {{!}} News & Events {{!}} College of Engineering|last=Communications|first=Texas A&M Engineering|date=2015-04-02|website=engineering.tamu.edu|language=english|accessdate=2017-02-16}}
2016: Hearst Energy Award for Government Service.{{Cite news|url=http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/oil/article/20th-annual-annual-Hearst-Energy-Awards-winners-10597388.php|title=20th annual annual Hearst Energy Awards winners|newspaper=San Antonio Express-News|accessdate=2017-02-15}}