Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Barry Smitherman


 * The following discussion is an archived debate of the proposed deletion of the article below. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review).  No further edits should be made to this page.

The result was   no consensus. — Crisco 1492 (talk) 15:27, 9 July 2012 (UTC)

Barry Smitherman

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promotional & propagandistic article for minor public orfficial  DGG ( talk ) 07:11, 14 June 2012 (UTC)


 * Strong delete - per DGG's nomination, nothing to add. ukexpat (talk) 13:39, 14 June 2012 (UTC)
 * Delete. Doesn't appear to meet WP:POLITICIAN, the gentlemen seems of purely local interest, and I agree with the nominator that this seems intended as promotional material. Ubelowme (talk) 14:59, 14 June 2012 (UTC)
 * Note: This debate has been included in the list of Texas-related deletion discussions.  • Gene93k (talk) 15:36, 14 June 2012 (UTC)
 * Note: This debate has been included in the list of Politicians-related deletion discussions.  • Gene93k (talk) 15:36, 14 June 2012 (UTC)


 * Delete per WP:POLITICIAN. Incidentally, it appears to me that the article's creator, User:Chrismg956, has an editing history similar to that of sock User:Billy Hathorn who created the articles of other TRC members, David J. Porter and Victor G. Carrillo. Location (talk) 15:44, 14 June 2012 (UTC)
 * Keep. I am uncertain why everyone here has assumed that he failsWP:POLITICIAN; it appears to me that he passes. No doubt the current draft of the article is promotional and needs some NPOV treatment, but he holds a statewide elective office and Texas Railroad Commission  (which, as y'all know, of course, regulates oil and gas, not railroads) is "historically one of the most important regulatory bodies in the nation" and still "an important actor on the national energy stage".    There's also actual coverage (275 hits on HighBeam), including not only coverage of his activities on the Railroad Commssion but also about public controversy over how he got fired from his high-level Bank One job for writing an op-ed piece that his bosses didn't like, coverage of his days running the Texas PUC, and some sources about his role in a protest of "aggressive" TSA patdown practices --Arxiloxos (talk) 01:31, 15 June 2012 (UTC)
 * According to the article Smitherman was appointed to the commission, not elected, and according to the first source he was elected chairman by the members of the commission, i.e. an electorate of himself and two others. This all suggests that he is a bureaucrat rather than a politician. Phil Bridger (talk) 22:17, 15 June 2012 (UTC)
 * It's an elected, statewide position; he was appointed because there was a vacancy, and he is right now running for election to fill the spot for the rest of the current term. (He got 46% of the vote in the first round, and is now in an upcoming runoff against the second-place candidate.)) This is an important elected position in Texas government. He also passes WP:GNG: I've added a number of sources to the article, as well as getting rid of the promotional text.  --Arxiloxos (talk) 22:31, 15 June 2012 (UTC)
 * I stand corrected. Phil Bridger (talk) 09:46, 16 June 2012 (UTC)


 * Comment. This position is analogous to a judgeship, and bodies such as the Texas Railroad Commission are sometimes referred to as quasi-judicial tribunals. Judges are usually notable. Eastmain (talk • contribs) 01:22, 16 June 2012 (UTC)
 * I would accept this for the head of the commission; otherwise, I do not regard quasi-judicial to  =   judicial. Is every member of every statewide regulatory agency notable?  DGG ( talk ) 23:31, 16 June 2012 (UTC)


 * Relisted to generate a more thorough discussion so a clearer consensus may be reached.


 * Please add new comments below this notice. Thanks, The Bushranger One ping only 18:39, 21 June 2012 (UTC)

 
 * Speedy delete without prejudice to recreation - created by block-evading sock confirmed by CU. Nikkimaria (talk) 13:58, 28 June 2012 (UTC)
 * This article has been substantially edited by other editors (see for changes since the last edit by the original creator) so I don't believe WP:CSD applies. --Arxiloxos (talk) 16:07, 28 June 2012 (UTC)
 * Relisted to generate a more thorough discussion so a clearer consensus may be reached.


 * Please add new comments below this notice. Thanks, — Crisco 1492 (talk) 07:41, 29 June 2012 (UTC)


 * Strong keep - as noted by Arxiloxos, this is a statewide elective office. WP:POLITICIAN clearly states a person holding a statewide office is notable.  In addition, the Texas Railroad Commission regulates oil and gas production in Texas, and the chairman of the RRC, whether elected or not, would be notable under WP:GNG.  The RRC is one of the most powerful commissions in state government in Texas and is extremely influential in national energy politics.  There are plenty of refs listed, plus many more available, including refs from before he became a member of the RRC.  If promotional, clean it up.  GregJackP   Boomer!   22:22, 7 July 2012 (UTC)
 * The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.