Wayne Christian
{{short description|American politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Wayne Christian
| image = Wayne Christian.jpg
| office = Railroad Commissioner of Texas
| governor = Greg Abbott
| term_start = January 3, 2017
| term_end =
| predecessor = David J. Porter
| successor =
| state_house1 = Texas
| district1 = 9th
| term_start1 = January 9, 2007
| term_end1 = January 8, 2013
| predecessor1 = Roy Blake Jr.
| successor1 = Chris Paddie
| term_start2 = January 14, 1997
| term_end2 = January 11, 2005
| predecessor2 = Jerry Johnson
| successor2 = Roy Blake Jr.
| birth_name = Walter Wayne Christian
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1950|9|26}}
| birth_place = Center, Texas, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Republican
| spouse = {{marriage|Lisa Lemoine|1975}}
| children = 3
| education = Stephen F. Austin State University (BBA)
}}
Walter Wayne Christian (born September 26, 1950){{cite web|url=https://lrl.texas.gov/legeLeaders/members/memberDisplay.cfm?memberID=164&searchparams=chamber=&city=&countyID=0&district=&first=Wayne&gender=&last=Christian&leaderNote=&leg=&party=&roleDesc=&Committee=|title=Legislative Reference Library - Legislators and Leaders - Member profile|website=lrl.texas.gov|access-date=March 20, 2019|archive-date=December 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202163757/https://lrl.texas.gov/legeLeaders/members/memberDisplay.cfm?memberID=164&searchparams=chamber%3D%26city%3D%26countyID%3D0%26district%3D%26first%3DWayne%26gender%3D%26last%3DChristian%26leaderNote%3D%26leg%3D%26party%3D%26roleDesc%3D%26Committee%3D|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.txdirectory.com/online/person/?id=28280|title= Rep. Wayne Christian (R)|date=January 26, 2007|access-date=November 28, 2024|website=Texas State Directory}} is an American politician and financial planner who has served as a member of the Railroad Commission of Texas since 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.rrc.texas.gov/about-us/commissioners/commissioner-list/|title=Railroad Commissioners Past through Present|access-date=April 3, 2024|website=www.rrc.texas.gov}} A member of the Republican Party, Christian formerly served in the Texas House of Representatives for the 9th district, which included Jasper, Nacogdoches, Sabine, San Augustine, and Shelby counties in East Texas.{{cite web|url=http://www.waynechristiancampaign.com/|title=Wayne Christian for State Representative|publisher=waynechristiancampaign.com|access-date=July 5, 2011|archive-date=November 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123071948/http://waynechristiancampaign.com/|url-status=dead}}
In June 2019, Christian was elected commission chairman by his two colleagues, fellow Republicans Christi Craddick and Ryan Sitton.{{cite news|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/wayne-christian-elected-as-railroad-commission-chairman/ar-AAD749Y|title=Wayne Christian elected as Railroad Commission chairman|author=Sergio Chapa|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|date=June 19, 2019|access-date=June 19, 2019|archive-date=June 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190619170136/https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/wayne-christian-elected-as-railroad-commission-chairman/ar-AAD749Y|url-status=live}}
Background
Walter Wayne Christian{{cite web |title=Texas Legislators: Past & Present - Mobile |url=https://lrl.texas.gov/mobile/memberDisplay.cfm?memberID=164 |website=lrl.texas.gov |access-date=19 December 2019 |archive-date=June 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608135141/https://lrl.texas.gov/mobile/memberDisplay.cfm?memberID=164 |url-status=live }} was born in Center but reared in nearby Tenaha. In 1975 he married the former Lisa Ruth Lemoine. The couple has three daughters: Liza, Lindsey, and Lauren.{{cite web|url=http://www.waynechristiancampaign.com/wayne|title=About Wayne Christian|publisher=waynechristiancampaign.com|access-date=July 5, 2011|archive-date=July 4, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100704100306/http://www.waynechristiancampaign.com/wayne|url-status=live}}
In the 1970s, Wayne was the leader of a successful Southern gospel band, The Singing Christians.{{cite web |url=http://www.uniqware.com/magazine11/level2htm/Christian1.htm |title=The Singing Christians |website=Uniqware.com |access-date=2020-04-03 |archive-date=March 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327101219/http://www.uniqware.com/magazine11/level2htm/Christian1.htm |url-status=live }} In 1979, Wayne and his bandmates created the Mercy River Boys.{{cite web |url=https://www.rrc.state.tx.us/about-us/commissioners/christian/ |title=Texas RRC - Chairman Wayne Christian |website=Rrc.state.tx.us |date=2019-06-18 |access-date=2020-04-03 |archive-date=March 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327005035/https://www.rrc.state.tx.us/about-us/commissioners/christian/ |url-status=live }} They were twice nominated for a Grammy Award by the National Academy Of Recording Arts and Sciences.{{cite web |url=https://www.txdirectory.com/online/person/?id=57294&office=17052 |title=The Honorable Wayne Christian - Texas State Directory Online |website=Txdirectory.com |access-date=2020-04-03 |archive-date=March 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327090654/https://www.txdirectory.com/online/person/?id=57294&office=17052 |url-status=live }} Wayne Christian was inducted into the Texas Gospel Music Hall Of Fame in November 2015.{{cite web |url=https://scttx.com/articles/texas-gospel-music-hall-fame-inducts-singing-christiansmercy-river-boys |title=Texas Gospel Music Hall of Fame Inducts The Singing Christians/Mercy River Boys | Shelby County Today |website=Scttx.com |date=2015-11-25 |access-date=2020-04-03 |archive-date=March 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326173641/https://scttx.com/articles/texas-gospel-music-hall-fame-inducts-singing-christiansmercy-river-boys |url-status=live }}
Image:Wayne Christian Financial Services, Center, TX IMG 4012.JPG Courthouse in Center, Texas.]]
Christian is an agent of Woodbury Financial Services.{{cite web|url=http://www.waynechristian.com/waynechristian.aspx|title=Wayne Christian & Associates|publisher=waynechristian.com|access-date=July 5, 2011|archive-date=February 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110207114607/http://waynechristian.com/waynechristian.aspx|url-status=live}} He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, where he minored in marketing.{{cite web|url=http://www.texastribune.org/directory/wayne-christian/|title=Wayne Christian|publisher=texastribune.org|access-date=July 5, 2011|archive-date=June 8, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608034742/http://www.texastribune.org/directory/wayne-christian/|url-status=live}}
Political life
Christian became a member of the Texas House of Representatives for District 9 on January 14, 1997.{{cite web|url=https://lrl.texas.gov/legeleaders/members/memberDisplay.cfm?memberID=%20164|title=Wayne Christian|access-date=March 21, 2024|website=Legislative Reference Library of Texas}} He is a conservative Christian and opposed to abortion. He is the former president of the Texas Conservative Coalition, a bipartisan caucus of conservative legislators. He was also a board member of the Texas TEA Party Caucus. During his tenure in the legislature, Christian was heavily involved in energy and oil and gas issues, serving on the Energy Resources Committee and as Vice Chairman of the Regulated Industries Committee.{{cite web|url=https://capitol.texas.gov/Committees/Membership.aspx|title=Texas Legislature Online - Committee Membership|website=capitol.texas.gov|access-date=March 20, 2019|archive-date=March 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325092438/https://capitol.texas.gov/Committees/Membership.aspx|url-status=live}} He also served as Vice Chairman of the Criminal Jurisprudence committee and on the Ways and Means Committee.
Throughout his years as a member of the Texas House, Christian received numerous awards for his conservative voting record.{{cite web|url=http://easttexastowns.com/siteMOL/EArticlePrint2SG.cfm?ident=christian1347|title=Rep. Wayne Christian Receives Endorsement From Texans For Fiscal Responsibility|access-date=March 20, 2019|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304032358/http://easttexastowns.com/siteMOL/EArticlePrint2SG.cfm?ident=christian1347|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.texastribune.org/directory/wayne-christian/|title=Commissioner Wayne Christian|first=The Texas|last=Tribune|website=The Texas Tribune|access-date=March 20, 2019|archive-date=March 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324222042/https://www.texastribune.org/directory/wayne-christian/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.yct.org/rep-christian-receives-yct-2011-torch-of-freedom-award/|title=Rep. Christian Receives YCT 2011 Torch of Freedom Award|website=Young Conservatives of Texas|date=February 22, 2011 |access-date=March 20, 2019|archive-date=June 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629173555/https://www.yct.org/rep-christian-receives-yct-2011-torch-of-freedom-award/|url-status=live}}
The Texas Supreme Court has since sided with the private landowners in the area and upheld the private property protections put in place by Hamilton's amendment.{{cite news |title=Danny Yadron, "Post-Hurricane Ike amendment would let legislator rebuild," June 5, 2009 |newspaper=Austin American Statesman |url=http://www.statesman.com/search/content/region/legislature/stories/06/05/0605beach.html |access-date=July 5, 2011}}
Under the 2012 redistricting plan for the Texas House, Christian's home in Center was placed in a district in which approximately 80 percent of the constituents were new to him. He was one of several senior House Republicans who were either paired with other members of their party or relocated into largely new population districts.{{cite web|url=http://whiteforeasttexas.com/?p=253|title=A Word from James White|publisher=whiteforeasttexas.com|access-date=July 5, 2011|archive-date=March 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326160626/http://whiteforeasttexas.com/?p=253|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://everythingnac.com/?p=15924|title=Nacogdoches County Republicans Meeting Today, June 28, Tune in today and hear U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert|publisher=everythingnac.com|access-date=July 5, 2011|archive-date=March 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320151435/http://everythingnac.com/?p=15924|url-status=live}}
Christian was unseated in the Republican primary held on May 29, 2012, by the Straus-endorsed Chris Paddie, 8,552 votes (47.8 percent) to 9,327 ballots (52.2 percent).{{cite web|url=http://enr.sos.state.tx.us/enr/results/may29_160_state.htm|title=Republican primary election returns, May 29, 2012|publisher=enr.sos.state.tx.us|access-date=May 30, 2012|archive-date=June 10, 2012|archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20120610141810/http://enr.sos.state.tx.us/enr/results/may29_160_state.htm|url-status=live}}
Candidacy for Texas Railroad Commission
=2014=
Christian ran unsuccessfully for one of the three elected seats on the Texas Railroad Commission in the Republican runoff election held on May 27, 2014.{{cite news |url=http://www.statesman.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/texas-digest-wayne-christian-announces-for-railroa/nZrZ8/ |title=Texas Digest: Wayne Christian announces for railroad commissioner; feds nix Texas waiver to reduce tests for high-performing students |newspaper=Austin American Statesman |date=September 9, 2013 |access-date=November 24, 2013 |archive-date=December 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224141815/http://www.statesman.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/texas-digest-wayne-christian-announces-for-railroa/nZrZ8/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe|title=Republican primary election returns, March 4, 2014|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|access-date=March 5, 2014|archive-date=January 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102180003/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe|url-status=live}}{{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 |access-date=February 28, 2014 |archive-date=January 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102180003/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |url-status=live }}{{cite news|url=http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2014/03/railroad-commission-candidates-await-early-voting-results.html/|title=David Barer, "Railroad Commission primary: Brown wins Democratic side, Christian and Sitton heading to Republican runoff", March 4, 2014|newspaper=Dallas Morning News|access-date=March 7, 2014|archive-date=March 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140308080348/http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2014/03/railroad-commission-candidates-await-early-voting-results.html/|url-status=live}}
=2016=
In 2016, Christian became the Republican nominee for the commissioner spot held by David J. Porter, who did not seek re-election to a second term. In the Republican primary on March 1, Christian finished second among seven candidates with 408,629 votes (19.8 percent). Businessman Gary Gates of Richmond, Texas, led the balloting with 586,253 votes (28.4 percent).{{cite web|url=https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/mar01_273_state.htm?x=0&y=5802&id=99|title=Republican primary returns|date=March 1, 2016|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|access-date=March 2, 2016|archive-date=March 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306111149/https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/mar01_273_state.htm?x=0&y=5802&id=99|url-status=dead}}
In December 2015, Christian temporarily suspended his campaign to care for his elderly mother but was soon back soliciting supporters.{{cite news |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2016/01/07/after-hiatus-christian-resumes-railroad-commission/ |title=After Brief Hiatus, Wayne Christian Resumes Run for Railroad Commission |newspaper=The Texas Tribune |date=January 7, 2016 |last=Malewitz |first=Jim |access-date=November 13, 2018 |archive-date=November 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114010839/https://www.texastribune.org/2016/01/07/after-hiatus-christian-resumes-railroad-commission/ |url-status=live }} He was endorsed by the political action committee, Texas Patriots Tea Party.{{cite web |url=http://www.texaspatriotspac.com/state-elections-1/ |title=Endorsements: Railroad Commissioner |publisher=texaspatriotspac.com |access-date=February 21, 2016 |archive-date=February 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220112948/http://www.texaspatriotspac.com/state-elections-1 |url-status=live }}
Christian polled 4,648,841 votes (53.1 percent); Yarbrough, 3,362,041 (38.4 percent); Miller, 462,251 (5.3 percent), and Salinas, 287,105 (3.2 percent).{{cite web |date=May 24, 2016 |title=Election Returns |url=https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/may24_316_state.htm?x=0&y=696&id=292 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160609211108/https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/may24_316_state.htm?x=0&y=696&id=292 |archive-date=June 9, 2016 |access-date=May 25, 2016 |publisher=Texas Secretary of State}}{{cite web |title=Wayne Christian, Grady Yarbrough advance to general election for Railroad Commission seat |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/morning_call/2016/05/wayne-christian-grady-yarbrough-advance-to-general.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611061323/http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/morning_call/2016/05/wayne-christian-grady-yarbrough-advance-to-general.html |archive-date=June 11, 2016 |access-date=May 25, 2016 |publisher=bizjournals.com}}{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist319_state.htm|title=General Election Results|date=November 8, 2016|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|access-date=December 16, 2016|archive-date=December 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228183151/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist319_state.htm|url-status=live}}
References
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
External links
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-tx-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=Jerry Johnson}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from the 9th district|years=1997–2005}}
{{s-aft|after=Roy Blake}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=Roy Blake}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from the 9th district|years=2007–2013}}
{{s-aft|after=Chris Paddie}}
|-
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=David J. Porter}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the Texas Railroad Commission|years=2017–present|alongside=Christi Craddick, Jim Wright}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}
{{Current Texas statewide political officials}}
{{Railroad Commissioners of Texas}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Christian, Wayne}}
Category:21st-century members of the Texas Legislature
Category:Businesspeople from Texas
Category:Canaan Records artists
Category:Christian country singers
Category:Members of the Railroad Commission of Texas
Category:People from Center, Texas
Category:People from Tenaha, Texas
Category:Republican Party members of the Texas House of Representatives