Chairman
Texas Railroad Commission
Austin, TX
In November 1998, Texas voters chose Tony Garza as the first Hispanic Republican elected to a statewide office. Less than a month later, his colleagues elected him chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission. He has participated actively in the presidential electioneering of Texas Governor George W. Bush, accompanying the candidate on a summer swing through California. Mr. Garza also serves as second vice-chairman of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, one of the nation's oldest and largest interstate groups, which brings together 39 oil and gas producing states.