Todd Staples

Last updated
Unknown
​
(divorced)​
Janet Wendel Thorn
​
(m. 1994)​
Todd Staples
11th Texas Agriculture Commissioner
In office
January 4, 2007 [1]  –November 16, 2014
Children4
Alma mater Texas A&M University (BS)
Occupation Real estate, ranching

Douglas Todd Staples (born August 24, 1963) [2] is the President of the Texas Oil & Gas Association, the oldest and largest oil and gas trade association in Texas representing all facets of the industry including production, pipelines, refineries and export facilities. [3] Staples is the former two-term Texas Commissioner of Agriculture and served with distinction in the Texas Senate and House of Representatives for 12 years. [4] He unsuccessfully ran for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor in 2014.

Contents

Background

Staples was reared in Palestine, the seat of government of his native Anderson County in East Texas. He graduated from Palestine High School, where he was an active member of the Future Farmers of America. While in college, he served from 1981 to 1982 as state vice-president of the FFA. He attended Texas A&M University in College Station and graduated magna cum laude in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics. [5] He started a plant nursery and later became involved in cattle ranching with his family. He also owned a real estate business. For a time, he was an instructor at Trinity Valley Community College in Palestine.

Staples has two adult children from his first marriage, which ended in divorce. [6] [7]

Staples is a Southern Baptist deacon in his local church.

Leading the Texas Oil & Gas Association

After a national search, Staples was selected to lead the Texas Oil & Gas Association (TXOGA) in 2014 because of his broad range of experience and leadership capabilities, according to the TXOGA Board of Directors. [8] [9] Representing the largest oil and national gas state in the nation, Staples implemented a multi-faceted approach to educate voters and elected officials on the industry's operations, commitments and contributions including regular communications with the media, educational events, speaking engagements across Texas and robust digital outreach efforts. [10] [11]

During his tenure, Staples has led several bipartisan efforts, including the creation and funding of TexNet Seismic Monitoring Program at the University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology and the creation of the Texas Methane and Flaring Coalition, an industry-led effort to reduce methane emissions in oil and natural gas operations. [12] [13] He created regional Energy Summits featuring leaders like the Mayor of Houston and the President of Nasdaq and an annual Energy Elevated Technology Showcase to highlight industry innovation. [14] [15]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Texas Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Railroad Commission called on Staples to serve in leadership roles to enable Texas to recover from the pandemic's impact on the economy. [16] [17]

He serves as an expert witness for the Texas Legislature. [18]

Political career

Staples served on the non-partisan Palestine City Council from 1989 to 1991. In February 1995, he was elected to the Texas House of Representatives District 11 seat in a special election to replace Elton Bomer, who had been appointed state insurance commissioner by newly elected Governor George W. Bush. In a contest against two Democrats, Staples avoided a runoff by about sixty votes, having collected 50.6 percent of the vote.

In 2000, Staples entered the race for the District 3 seat in the Texas Senate, vacated by Drew Nixon. Despite personal scandal surrounding Nixon, Staples held the seat for the Republican Party, having received more than 60 percent of the vote in the general election. He represented Anderson, Angelina, Cherokee, Hardin, Henderson, Jasper, Nacogdoches, Newton, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby and Tyler counties, and portions of Montgomery and Smith counties.

In the Senate, Staples was the chairman of the Transportation & Homeland Security Committee, the Workers Compensation Select Interim Committee and the Texas Senate Republican Caucus. Staples sponsored and helped to pass a state constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman. He was the vice-chair of the State Affairs Committee and the Veteran Affairs & Military Installations Committee.

Staples was unopposed for the Republican nomination for Agriculture Commissioner in 2006 when the incumbent Susan Combs instead was elected Texas Comptroller to succeed Carole Strayhorn. Staples defeated Democrat Hank Gilbert and Libertarian Clay Woolam in the November 7, 2006, general election. He received 2,307,406 votes (54.77 percent), a margin of 547,000 votes over Gilbert. [19]

In 2010, Staples ran for re-election as Agriculture Commissioner and won with more than 60 percent of the votes, again against Democrat Hank Gilbert. [20] [5]

Staples explained that in his role as commissioner he is compelled to tell the story of agricultural success: "It's up to us to engage with consumers because we know there are those who do not appreciate the work that's being done and what that means for available and affordable food supply." [5]

Staples was recognized by Texas A&M University as an accomplished public servant and enthusiastic champion for rural Texas and was noted for protecting consumers by initiating an unprecedented sweeping investigation into fraudulent operators of convenience stores suspected of defrauding unaware buyers of fuel. He partnered with then-Attorney General Greg Abbott, who obtained a jury verdict of $30 million against a Houston-based owner of convenience stores. [21] [22]

On September 18, 2014, Staples announced his resignation as Texas Agriculture Commissioner to become the president of the Texas Oil & Gas Association.

2014 primary for lieutenant governor

Though Staples enlisted baseball great Nolan Ryan as his campaign chairman, he finished third in the primary for lieutenant governor with 235,981 votes (17.8 percent). [23] [24] [25]

Positions

Same-sex Marriage

In 2003, Staples sponsored a bill that prohibited the State of Texas from recognizing same-sex marriages, then again in 2005, sponsored and campaigned for another bill that successfully amended the Texas Constitution to limit marriage to one man and one woman.

"Meatless Mondays"

In 2014, Staples criticized school districts that adopted "meatless Monday" policies, stating that "restricting children's meal choice to not include meat is irresponsible and has no place in our schools." [26] [27]

Electoral history

2014
2014 Texas Lieutenant Governor Republican Primary Election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Dan Patrick 550,76941.45
Republican David Dewhurst (Incumbent)376,19628.31
Republican Todd Staples235,98117.75
Republican Jerry Patterson 165,78712.47
2010

Texas general election, 2010: Texas Commissioner of Agriculture [28]

Election
PartyCandidateParty votes%
  Republican Todd Staples2,953,77560.82
  Democratic Hank Gilbert1,738,45635.80
  Libertarian Rick Donaldson164,0353.38
Majority——
Turnout4,856,266——
2006
Texas general election, 2006: Texas Commissioner of Agriculture [29]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Todd Staples2,307,40654.77−4.77
Democratic Hank Gilbert 1,760,40241.79+3.97
Libertarian Clay Woolam 144,9893.44+2.26
Majority547,00412.98−8.74
Turnout 4,212,797−4.85
Republican hold
2002
Texas general election, 2002: Senate District 3 [30]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Todd Staples119,99388.23+27.59
Libertarian Michael Carter 16,00111.76+11.76
Majority103,99276.47+55.18
Turnout 135,994−45.92
Republican hold
2000
Texas general election, 2000: Senate District 3 [31]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Todd Staples152,51460.64+10.55
Democratic David Fisher 98,97639.36−10.55
Majority53,53821.29+21.10
Turnout 251,490+20.88
Republican hold
2000
Republican primary, 2000: Senate District 3 [32]
CandidateVotes %±
Van Brookshire 4,87511.08
Les Tarrance 8,81618.05
✓Todd Staples20,36770.15
Majority21,52252.10
Turnout 29,183

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References

  1. ↑ "Looking back". Palestine Herald. 29 December 2007.
  2. ↑ Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) (2002-09-13). "State Senate Candidates for 2002 General Election". Archived from the original on 2008-02-13. Retrieved 2006-12-26.
  3. ↑ Hiller, Jennifer (April 12, 2018). "Texas Power Broker Staples moves from agriculture to oil".
  4. ↑ "Todd Staples" . Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 "Beth Brown, Agriculture commissioner says industry isn't getting message across". Bryan-College Station Eagle . Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Peggy Fikac, "Despite experience, Staples still defining himself for voters," February 14, 2014". Houston Chronicle . Retrieved February 26, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Frank Lee Wendel". easttexasnews.com. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Staples to step down as commissioner of agriculture". Tyler Morning Telegraph. 18 September 2014. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  9. ↑ Malewitz, Jim (September 18, 2014). "Staples Leaving Ag Commissioner Post Early to Head Oil and Gas Association". Texas Tribune.
  10. ↑ White, Andrew (September 18, 2014). "Staples Leading TXOGA through centennial celebration". Bic Magazine. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Texas - State Energy Profile Overview". EIA. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  12. ↑ Najmabadi, Shannon (November 24, 2017). "New state-funded sensors are tracking earthquakes across Texas". Texas Tribune.
  13. ↑ Davis, Carolyn (September 21, 2021). "Texas Oil, Gas Operators Using Innovations to Reduce Flaring, Methane Emissions". Natural Gas Intelligence.
  14. ↑ Estrada, Rachel (September 27, 2024). "2024 TXOGA Houston Energy Summit Features Houston Mayor John Whitmire, NASDAQ President Nelson Griggs, and TXOGA President Todd Staples". CW39. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  15. ↑ Estrada, Rachel (September 27, 2024). "Texas TXOGA Hosts Energy Elevated Technology Showcase in San Antonio". CW39. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Railroad Commission forms task force on oil economic recovery". Midland Reporter-Telegram. April 21, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  17. ↑ Exarheas, Andreas (April 23, 2020). "TXOGA Leader Appointed to Governor Strike Force". Rigzone. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  18. ↑ Rodriguez, Gilbert (May 5, 2024). "TXOGA President Todd Staples & Chief Economist Dean Foreman Testify at Hearing of House Select Committee on Protecting Texas LNG Exports". Texas Insider. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Texas Roundup". burntorangereport.com. Archived from the original on January 2, 2010. Retrieved October 12, 2009.
  20. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2006-12-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  21. ↑ "The Tyrus R. Timm Honor Registry - Todd Staples". Texas A&M University. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  22. ↑ "Gas stations accused of cheating customers". ABC 13 News. July 22, 2008. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  23. ↑ "Beth Brown, "GOP lieutenant governor candidates reach out to Bryan-College Station voters," January 9, 2013". Bryan-College Station Eagle. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  24. ↑ "Republican primary election returns, March 4, 2014". team1.sos.state.tx.us. Archived from the original on March 7, 2014. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  25. ↑ "Texas Oil & Gas Association Welcomes Robust Oversight by Experts at the Railroad Commission". Texas Oil and Gas Association. August 22, 2016. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
  26. ↑ Klein, Rebecca (September 10, 2014). "Texas Official Is Freaking Out About School 'Meatless Monday'". Huffington Post. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  27. ↑ Staples, Todd (September 4, 2024). "Staples: Keep "Meatless Mondays" Campaign Out of Schools" (PDF). Texas Department of Agriculture. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  28. ↑ "Election 2010". New York Times. November 2010.
  29. ↑ "2006 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2007-01-02.
  30. ↑ "2002 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2007-01-01.
  31. ↑ "2000 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2007-01-01.
  32. ↑ "2000 Republican Party Primary Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2007-01-01.
Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for Agriculture Commissioner of Texas
2006, 2010		Succeeded by
Texas House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from District 11  (Palestine)
1995–2001		Succeeded by
Texas Senate
Preceded by Texas State Senator
from  District 3 (Palestine)
2001–2007		Succeeded by
Preceded by Texas Agriculture Commissioner
2007-2014		Succeeded by
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