s
THE BATTALION
THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 1980
Page 7
Conflict sparks races
it for RR Commission
By LAURA CORTEZ
“‘'N' ; City Staff
lie l The Railroad Commission race has
Siiiel | become one of the hottest races in
'Mtlmi; Texas this election year.
The three-member commission,
fell*! originally created to regulate rail
roads, is responsible for regulating
oil and gas production, pipelines and
distribution of natural gas. It also
continues to regulate the transporta
tion industry including railroads,
mtipy "trucking and bus lines.
I lie *: ; Texas voters will elect two com-
fee I? y. missioners this year — one to fill a
Mli ifull six-year term and one to serve
Naiasot’ the remaining two years of an unex-
ntbiwi . pired term.
, The big rivalries lie in the Demo
cratic race, in which Railroad Com
mission Chairman John Poemer is
being challenged by Rep. Buddy
Temple of Diboll for the foil term.
Incumbent James E. “Jim” Nu
gent, appointed by Gov. Dolph Bris-
in 1977 to serve out Jon Newton’s
unexpired term, is running against
former Texas Observer editor Jim
Hightower for the remainder of the
nexpired term.
Poerner said he plans to continue
with his duties as a “sound conserva-
ipus wist five state administrator, and as an
inthepi advocate of a strong Texas eco-
:said,M nomy.”
leofth
Agricli
he'd
He has said at various press con
ferences around the state that he
feels Texas needs to make more
agressive efforts in developing all
forms of energy, including gasohol,
synthetic fuel, lignite, coal, and solar
and nuclear energy.
Poerner has ordered a study of
high speed “bullet trains” to connect
Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and
San Antonio. He said the Japanese
have had success with this system,
which moves passengers at a rate of
130 miles per hour, for the past 15
years.
Bullet trains will help eliminate
traffic congestion and will save on
high fuel costs, he said.
But his opponent has lashed out
against the bullet train idea, calling it
a “folly.”
Temple said Poemer has failed to
provide much information about
how the electic-powered, 750-mile
rail system would be financed, and
added that there is no reason for the
commissioner to make the proposal
unless he plans to propose some type
of government fonding for it.
Temple also said Poerner claims it
will cost $6 million for the bullet
trains, and added that this figure is
“way too low.”
One of the more controversial
dI a ms' ’
?ineeriii
Icoholism program
scheduled for Friday
By NANCY ANDERSEN
City Staff
™|f| The Brazos Valley Development
11 Council will sponsor an all-day prog-
1 ram titled, “Alcoholism: What Can
ommunities Do?” at the Brazos
lenter Friday.
In its fourth year, the program will
iture guest speakers from across
Bexas in six one-hour workshops on
getting up community alcohol insti
tutes. Registration is from 8-8:30
im. The public is invited.
■IT
versity will discuss the process of
putting together a health program,
and Dr. George Bates of the Texas
A&M biochemistry department will
discuss how the body metabolizes
alcohol — what it does and how long
it takes to work itself out of the body.
Other workshops, “Employee
Assistance Programs” and “Inter
vention: Hope for the Suffering
Family,” will be held at 4 p.m., by
Robbie Scott of the Texas Commis
sion on Alcohol and Pat and John
O’Neil of Shoal Creek Hospital.
The workshop will charge a $5 reg
istration fee.
The 8:45 a.m. keynote address,
“Councils on Alcoholism,” will be
given by Fain Williams, former ex-
i ecutive director of the East Texas
Jfcouncil on Alcoholism and Drug
®buse. Her address on outlines for
getting up a council will be further
Retailed in a workshop at 10 a.m.
B Theother 10a.m. workshop, “And
Now A Word From Our Sponsors,”
|yill allow the co-sponsors of the
■vent to discuss their alcohol treat
ment programs. These are Contem
porary Health Management, Inc. of
Austin, Starlite Village Hospital of
penter Point, Texas Commission on
Icoholism of Austin and Villa De-
tejas Treatment Center of San
Antonio.
Workshops on the health planning
process and the metabolism of alco
hol are scheduled for 1 p.m. Dr.
Donald Sweeney of Texas A&M Uni-
m
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Dope smugglers convicted
issues in the Nugent-Hightower race
is campaign funding.
Hightower has claimed that 90
percent of Nugent’s fonds come from
people involved in the business he
regulates as a railroad commissioner,
while Nugent has claimed that a
large portion of Hightower’s funding
comes from out of state.
A spokesman for Nugent defended
the commissioner in a telephone in
terview Tuesday: “His (Nugent’s)
position is that he will accept from
whoever wants to take part in the
political process, without asking who
they are or what they are.”
He also said 70 percent of the con
tributions to Nugent’s campaign
have been for $100 or less.
A spokesman for Hightower said
there have been fund raisers in New
York and Washington, but they have
been given rtiostly by “Texas expatri
ates.” He added that only about 17
percent of Hightower’s funding has
come from out of state.
The Republicans whose names
will appear on the ballot in the May 3
primary are, for the full term, John
Thomas Henderson, Austin, Henry
C. Grover, Houston, and E.E. “Bil
ly” Kidd, Weatherford. Running for
the unexpired term is H.J. “Doc”
Blanchard, Austin.
United Press International
GALVESTON — Four men have
been convicted by a federal court
jury of various roles in the smuggling
of100,000 pounds of marijuana into a
Surfside marina.
Barry Phinous Stockton, 52, of
Pearl, Miss.; Danny Sherman, 22, of
Richland, Miss.; Edward Becton,
31, of St. Louis, and Jeffey Sara-
gosey, 30, of New York, were con
victed Monday. Stockton was con
victed of a conspiracy to smuggle
charge. Becton, Saragosey and Sher
man were convicted of possession
and of conspiracy. Officers seized the
marijuana-laden boat, five tractor-
trailer trucks and a motorized con
veyer belt being used by smugglers
in the raid in which 35 persons were
arrested.
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