Tom Slocum Jr.
Republican Candidate for Railroad Commissioner
Slocum/Photo by Campaign
Question: What is your age?
Answer: 38
Q: What is your educational background? Please list any degrees or certificates earned and any institutions attended.
A: Texas A&M - Bachelors of Science, Political Science
Q: What is your occupation?
A: Engineering Consultant
Q: If you are a business owner, please list the business or businesses that you own. (If this question is not applicable, please note that below.)
A: I do not own a business at this time.
Q: Please list any civic boards or commissions (non-profit, government, union, political, etc.) on which you have served as a board member or equivalent.
A: Founder, Texas Well Protected Energy Foundation
Q: Have you previously held or do you currently hold any elected office? If so, what office(s)?
A: None.
Q: If your campaign has any online campaign resources where voters can learn more about you, such as social media accounts or a website, please list them below.
Q: Why did you decide to run for this office in 2022?
A: Texas needs real conservatives at the RRC that can eliminate our debt, make everyone more money, enrich the state of Texas with more tax revenue, and leave us with a cleaner environment at the end of the day. The current leadership is not getting the job done and will not protect Texas Energy Independence if they continue down the current path. The time for change is now. I am Texas educated, 5th generation Texan (mother’s side), and 4th generation oil & gas. I care about our industry and also the cattle ranchers and farmers. I am here to be everyone’s Railroad Commissioner. I want more freshwater for every Texan, and believe we will pump it around the State one day like we do with oil. Freshwater is like gold. We need water to make money and for life to flourish, lets make it happen!
Q: If elected, what will be your top three priorities in office?
A: Eliminate all 6,000+ Orphaned wells (eliminate the debt and liability).
Insure the power grid has the natural gas it needs to keep the lights on.
End the flared gas tax completely which will open up the free market to help end all flaring without draconian government regulations that liberals want to see enacted.
Q: What is an issue you believe has gone overlooked in your race and how will you address it if elected?
A: The Orphaned wells issue - Texas has over 6,000 orphaned wells and plugs around ~ 1400 a year, only to have an additional ~ 1400+ a year added back on the list. We take two steps forwards and two steps back.
Texas has $200MM+ in orphaned well liability and the number is getting bigger every year. We can’t kick the can down the road like politicians in Washington D.C. do everyday. Texas is better than that. We take care of our own.
I will work with all of the non-profits that specialize in plugging wells across the nation, to eliminate orphaned wells in Texas and supplement our orphaned well programs with plugging activity from these nonprofits. These nonprofits raise money from the public and industry voluntarily. None of the money raised by them is taxpayer money coming from the State of Texas or money coming from the Railroad Commission budget.
This is the conservative solution to the orphaned well problem. The money can be raised and the problem eliminated without raising bonding and without using taxpayer money. Republicans should not be raising bonding on operators. They should be eliminating the liability completely, as fast as they can, making Texas as “Energy Strong” as possible.
Q: Why are you the best candidate for voters to support for this position?
A: I know the regulations because I have worked as a compliance manager handling regulatory issues for dozens of operators across the Gulf Coast. Knowing the regulations, why we have them in the first place, and knowing how to make small tweaks in them if need be is essential to executing the office of Railroad Commissioner. I promise the voters I will deliver like non have before and represent all Texans as their Railroad Commissioner.