Berger Endorses Sitton in Railroad Commission Race

Republican Ryan Sitton, in a runoff in the race for Texas Railroad Commission, has drawn support from a former opponent.

Becky Berger, who finished third in the four-way primary, endorsed the oil and gas engineer in his upcoming runoff against former state Rep. Wayne Christian, Sitton’s campaign announced Monday.

“Ryan is the only one left in the race that daily interacts with and actually works in the oil and gas industry,” Berger, a geologist, said in a statement. “Contrary to claims that ‘we need a politician’ in that position, I firmly believe someone who is used to meeting a budget and can understand the land/mineral owner concerns, as well as the companies’ issues at the commission, is the best person for this seat.”

Several Tea Party groups have backed Christian, who led Sitton by 12 percentage points in the initial balloting. Last week, the former lawmaker announced endorsements from Grassroots America-We the People, a group based in Tyler, and from Kelly Shackelford, president of the Plano-based Liberty Institute.