AUSTIN - The incumbent has held the office just 12 months, but there's little doubt she enjoys the inside track in this year's race for Texas Railroad Commission.

Commission Chairwoman Elizabeth Ames Jones, whom Gov. Rick Perry appointed to serve out the term of a commissioner who resigned, wants a full term of her own. She has one opponent in the Republican primary, retired Army Maj. Buck Werner of Duncanville. The winner faces a Democrat and a Libertarian in the fall.

Ms. Jones, 49, a two-term GOP House member from San Antonio, is an oilman's daughter who credits former Houston congressman Bill Archer and White House political chief Karl Rove with helping her get hooked on politics. Her years in the GOP trenches are paying off.

In December, she held a fundraiser at the Dallas home of her old boss, former Gov. Bill Clements. Mr. Perry attended the event. Reports show Ms. Jones has raised about $800,000 for her campaign.

Ms. Jones has stressed boosting production of oil, gas and other forms of energy in Texas as a "security" move to reduce oil imports from unstable countries. Her two colleagues elected her chairwoman last September.

Mr. Werner, 63, a Kimball High School ROTC instructor, supports greater use of wind and solar power, along with experiments with hydrogen to generate electricity. The former comptroller of Army hospitals also wants to modernize the commission's business practices.

The winner will take on retired petroleum engineer Dale Henry, 74, of Lampasas, the only Democratic candidate. He ran as a Republican for another commission seat in 2004 but switched parties.

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