The following are the complete and unedited responses submitted by the candidate listed below to the Amarillo Pioneer’s Candidate Questionnaire.
Culbert/Photo via campaign
Name: Katherine Culbert
Office Sought: Railroad Commissioner
Party Affiliation: Republican
Age: 50
What is your educational background? Please list any degrees or certificates earned and any institutions attended.
BS, Paper Science & Engineering, SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry at Syracuse
MBA, University at Albany
MS in Law, Northwestern University Pritzer School of Law
LBJ Women's Campaign School at UT Austin
What is your occupation?
Process Safety Engineer for an Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Company
Please list any civic boards or commissions (non-profit, government, union, religious, political, etc.) on which you have served as a board member or equivalent.
Women's Energy Network - Membership Committee
Houston Marathon Committee
past President of the Society of Women Engineers Houston Area Section
Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Texas Gulf Coast chapter
Have you previously held or do you currently hold any elected office? If so, what office(s)?
N/A
If your campaign has any online campaign resources where voters can learn more about you, such as social media accounts or a website, please list them below.
www.katherine4texas.com
facebook.com/katherine4texas
instagram.com/katherine4texas
Why did you decide to run for this office in 2026?
I am running to help operate the Oil & Gas industry safer to protect our workers and our communities and to protect all of Texas to make sure we have a healthy environment for our children to grow up in.
If elected, what will be your top three priorities in office?
Affordability - Texans should have access to an energy system that is reliable and cost-conscious. The RRC should pursue policies that help prevent unnecessary rate burdens and ensure that families, businesses, and local communities benefit from a stable and efficient energy market.
Adaptability - Texas must be prepared for a rapidly changing energy landscape. From new technologies to shifting market demands, the RRC must be capable of modernizing operations and planning for long-term resilience.
Accountability - The RRC needs greater transparency in the agency's regulatory processes. Texans deserve clear oversight, responsible stewardship of natural resources, and a Commission that is open about how decisions are made and how public input is used.
What is an issue you believe has gone overlooked in your race and how will you address it if elected?
Gas utility rates - The RRC has the final say over gas utility rates in Texas and the process is not very transparent. I will make sure the process of reviewing gas utility rates is better communicated to the affected communities to allow for greater public input.
Do you have any notable endorsements you would like to highlight for voters? If this question is not applicable, please write N/A.
N/A
Why are you the best candidate for voters to support for this position?
I am a licensed Chemical Engineer who has spent my career in Process Safety Engineering helping companies operate safely to protect communities and workers and follow regulations. I work for an oil & gas company, and I understand the importance of the O&G industry to our economy and our workforce. It is important to have regulators who understand the industry, not those that are enriched by industry activities.