Railroad Commission director resigns under pressure
AUSTIN — Two days after a member of Texas’ energy regulatory commission accused the chairman of being a “dictator” for moving to force out the agency’s executive director, the embattled director resigned on Thursday.
The resignation escalated a fight that had already gone public over the departure of Kimberly Corley, with one commissioner questioning whether Chairman Christi Craddick overstepped her legal authority to terminate Corley without consulting the other two members of the commission.
Corley, who has been the commission’s top staff official for the past 18 months, said in a one-page letter that her resignation came “pursuant to the meeting with Chairman Craddick on Monday . ... ” She said her resignation is effective on Nov. 7.
In recent months, Corley has been working on the problem of Texas not inspecting hundreds of thousands of oil and gas wells for at least five years, in what has become a politically ticklish issue.
Part of the problem has been a shortage of inspectors, as well as antiquated computer systems, officials have said.
‘Different direction’
In a statement Thursday, Craddick said only that “the agency needed to move in a different direction under the leadership of the commissioners.” Craddick did not specifically detail Corley’s status, but other officials said Corley had offered her resignation.
Two days ago, during a commission meeting that was live-streamed online, Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton accused Craddick of trying to oust Corley without consulting the commission’s two other members.
“This isn’t a dictatorship,” Sitton told Craddick at one point.
Craddick said during the meeting that she met with Corley and indicated she was given an option to resign. She scolded Sitton for bringing up the issue in public.
“I think it’s unfortunate that you decided to embarrass yourself and Kim, frankly, today and have this conversation,” Craddick said.
Craddick’s and Sitton’s offices declined to comment following the meeting.
Corley, who was not present at Tuesday’s meeting, could not immediately be reached Thursday.
Sitton on Thursday asked Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton whether Craddick’s handling of the matter violated the state’s Open Meetings Act, whether Craddick had the authority to deliver a job ultimatum to Corley and whether she has the authority to select an interim executive director.
In his letter, Sitton cited the following chain of events: “Kim Corley ... said she was abruptly summoned Monday to ... Craddick’s office.
Craddick, accompanied by two of the commission’s lawyers, told her she could resign or the agency would begin the process of firing her, Corley said in an interview.”
“She said, ‘We’re just moving in a different direction,’ Corley said,” according to the letter.
“If any one Railroad Commissioner can call any employee into their office at any time and give them a “choice” of “resign or you’ll be fired,” this deficiency must be addressed,” Sitton states in his letter to Paxton.
“... Is telling an employee to ‘resign or (you’re) fired’ (effectively a) termination? If so, would the action Chairman Craddick has confirmed she took not require the posting of an open meeting giving the employee an opportunity to request public discussion related to their performance and employment?”
Discussion promised
In a statement Thursday, Craddick said: “The agency needed to move in a different direction under the leadership of the Commissioners. I had a private conversation with the executive director regarding this matter. My conversation took place under the advisement of counsel and was compliant with all applicable law. I will discuss my views on this matter in an upcoming open meeting where the subject of the issue has been properly posted in order to provide sufficient notice to the public.”
Added Craddick: “... I think it’s unfortunate that a Commissioner has used this situation as an opportunity for political gain.”
Sitton was reported traveling and could not immediately be reached.
Corley has held the $180,000-a-year post since February 2016, coming to the Railroad Commission after retiring from Shell Oil Co., where she held leadership positions.
Before joining Shell, she held various executive positions with oil and gas and pipeline companies, including Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, El Paso Corp. and Tenneco Energy, according to her online biography.