4 candidates seeking seat on board that regulates oil and gas industry

In the race for a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission, the agency that regulates the state’s oil and gas industry, candidates differ on hydraulic fracturing’s environmental impact, the agency’s transparency and the state’s relationship with the federal government.

Commission Chairwoman Christi Craddick faces one opponent in the Republican primary, Weston Martinez, a former commissioner of the Texas Real Estate Commission. In the Democratic primary, two candidates — Chris Spellmon and Roman McAllen — hope to be in Craddick’s place come 2019.

The winner wouldn’t necessarily become the commission chair. That role is decided by the members. Election day is Tuesday. Martinez paints Craddick as a “liberal Republican” who made decisions on the job that benefited herself and industry donors. Martinez said he’s the clear conservative in the race, who wants to lower fees and “drain the swamp,” a phrase President Donald Trump popularized during the 2016 presidential campaign.

“I know that I’ll have great success with the Trump administration on making Texas energy-independent and making Texas energy-secure,” said Martinez, a water supplier in the oil and gas industry from San Antonio.

In a Tuesday announcement, though, Trump endorsed Craddick and all other Texas Republicans who lead executive agencies and are on the ballot this year.

Craddick touts information technology upgrades, making resources easier to find online and expanding the agency’s communications team. She denied having conflicts of interest or voting to benefit herself.

“Every decision I make at the Railroad Commission is solely