As a young girl, she worked for 65 cents an hour in the fields. Now, she's the first Latina to ever become a Texas Railroad Commissioner, monitoring the state's $57 billion oil, gas and transportation industries. But that's not all...

By Yvette Lozano
May 1992; pages 22, 36
Tejas

On the flashing television screen flicker images of a national political convention, captivating a 10-year-old girl from the small farming community of Mission, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley.

"Look, father," she exclaims, "there is Mr. Bentsen from down the street!" "No, mija," he responds, "that is Senator Bentsen."

Twenty-two years later, Lloyd Bentsen still represents Texas in the U.S. Senate. But that small girl from Mission now sits as chair of the powerful Texas Railroad Commission.

Lena Guerrero, 34, is the first Latina to become a Commissioner in this 100-year-old agency.

But Guerrero has achieved many firsts in her rapidly escalating career; for example, she was the first-ever Texas representative to become pregnant during a regular legislative session.

Discovering Lena Guerrero is often the key to understanding the Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates the mythical celluloid world of Dallas oilman J.R. Ewing and the infamous Petroleum Club. In real life, its decisions touch every Texan.

The Lone Star State historically ranks as the most powerful oil and gas state in the nation, listing 11th in world oil production. Established in 1890 to "correct the abuses and prevent unjust discrimination and extortion in the rates of freight and passenger tariffs on the different railroads in this state," the Railroad Commission is also the state's oldest regulatory agency.

The modern Commission also monitors energy, transportation, public safety and environmental protection, enforcing strict environmental protection codes in the petroleum-and energy industries.

At the helm of the Railroad Commission are three commissioners, who are elected for six-year terms. They oversee Texas' $57 billion oil, gas and transportation industries.

Guerrero was appointed to the Railroad Commission by Gov. Ann Richards, replacing John Sharp, who was elected as State Comptroller. Guerrero became Gov. Richards' first appointment.

Born in 1956 to Alvaro and Adela Guerrero, Lena Guerrero grew up in a small home with eight brothers and sisters. Her father managed a lumberyard, but always monitored local and national politics.

This political consciousness transferred to his daughter. "I grew my appreciation for government and politics by watching and listening to him. Everyone in the town respected him, because he was so knowledgeable about what was happening in the world."

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"I learned a lot about life when I was out in the fields . . . Those days are my motivation, my incentive to work and do the best that I am able to do."

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Guerrero's father died of cancer when she was 11. The family subsequently traveled north every fall as migrant farmworkers.

"I learned a lot about life when I was out in the fields on scorching hot days making 65 cents an hour," she says. "I would dream about making a better life for myself and my family. Those days are my motivation, my incentive to work and do the best that I am able to do.

"Working in the fields taught me the value of hard work. I find that I am not unlike the people who run the various industries we regulate. Most of them have had tough lives, but they struggled and they survived," Guerrero says.

She graduated from Mission High School with honors, earning a scholarship to the University of Texas. "Mom would not even take me to Austin. She was so upset that I was leaving the Valley," Guerrero recalls.

"I was the oldest of the five who remained at home and had helped her with the household ever since my father died. But I knew I had to go, so I packed a trunk and rode a bus 10 hours to Austin."

Guerrero worked odd jobs during her college years, including stints as a resident assistant at Jester Dormitory. She graduated from UT in 1980 with a BA in Communications. She wanted to become a journalist; instead, she detoured into politics.

While in college, she volunteered for several campaigns, finally becoming president of the Young Democrats of Texas. Guerrero was the first Latina to ever hold this post. After graduation, she became the executive director of the Texas Women's Political Caucus.

She married Lionel Aguirre nine years ago. They met at a Mexican American Business Women Association meeting in 1980. Both discovered that they were fascinated with politics. Just a few days after their honeymoon, she announced her candidacy for Austin's District 51 state representative race.

Guerrero served through three consecutive terms, becoming vice-chair of the State Affairs and Sunset Committees, which audits the life expectancy of state agencies. During her last term she passed more bills than any other non-chair and was selected as one of the "Ten Best Legislators" by Texas Monthly Magazine.

Despite her hectic schedule, Guerrero works equally hard to preserve a strong family unit. Guerrero and Aguirre have a three-year-old son, Leo. "She has a solid devotion to her family," Aguirre says. "Lena feels that family is very important; we keep her going."

Aguirre holds a top executive position at the State Comptroller's office. He traveled the state extensively for Bob Bullock's campaign for Lieutenant Governor. "Lena and I were very busy during the '90 campaign. There were actually a couple of times when we ran into each other at the Houston airport."

Guerrero is now fighting to keep her post on the Railroad Commission. She is at the top of the Democratic ballot, which gives her campaign the added responsibility of drawing a strong Democratic showing during a Republican presidential incumbency.

Political analysts say that she has the potential to damage possible Republican straight ticket voting. Bob Slagle, chairman of the Texas Democratic Party, agrees: "Lena has the strength and ability to charm some Republicans to her candidacy."

Greg Hartman, executive director of the Unity '90 campaign, a statewide Democratic strategy effort, describes Guerrero as a hardball player: "She is driven, ambitious and intelligent. To be a Latina running for statewide office, if you are anything less, you don't have a prayer."

Guerrero acknowledges that she has traveled far since her induction ceremony on Jan. 23, 1991 in the Capitol rotunda. Her reputation as a youthful liberal and environmental activist did not win her immediate acceptance with the "good 'ol boy" industry fraternity she now regulates.

But her diversity has prompted a new approach at the Commission.

"The businessmen I work with now bring their female associates to meetings or lunches," Guerrero says. Sharp adds: "Lena is good for the industry. She can expose the industry to people who have never been exposed to it before such as minorities and women. She can also generate support for the industry among groups who were never supportive before."

Sharp recalls a phone call he received from a veteran oilman concerned about Guerrero's appointment to the Railroad Commission.

"Who the hell is this Leonard Guerrero?" he demanded. Sharp sat back in his seat with a grin and responded: "Wait, it gets worse. Six weeks later he called back and said, I gotta tell you this Lena Guerrero is the best damn Railroad Commissioner we ever had.'"

Guerrero's quick wit is also a political asset. Gov. Richards, who is often the subject of Guerrero's jokes, approves. "Lena communicates an energy of involvement," she says. "She's experienced and she's bright, but her sense of humor is what I encourage her to show."

In her first keynote speech as Commissioner, just two weeks into her new position, she spoke at a trucking convention. During the question-and-answer session, one of 80 men in the audience asked: "What's your bra size?" As officials stumbled to apologize, she interrupted: "Hold on, someone finally asked a question I know something about."

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"I owe it to those who feel that they will never get out of the trenches to make government responsive to them"

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Guerrero committed herself to meet with all 1,000 employees of the Railroad Commission during her first early months in office.

She also tries to meet as many industry officials and workers as possible. "What they do not realize is that I am as grateful for their time as they are of mine."

Guerrero admits that there was a lot to learn about her new job. "It is very technical," she says. "I have learned the difference between sweet, sour and crude oil. I've traveled deep out to the Gulf of Mexico and tested oil. I've visited shallow, deep oil wells and watched saltwater injected into the well site."

She also challenged the status quo at the Railroad Commission.

Guerrero questioned the huge yearly imports of Wyoming coal into the state, when Texas has the largest natural gas reserves in the country. She is now planning to market Texas' natural gas supply for widespread consumer use, particularly for automobiles. She is also spearheading the engineering of a cost-efficient, streamlined lignite mining operation, which is burned to produce electricity.

Guerrero also worried about the nation's lack of a comprehensive energy plan. Tired of waiting on federal leadership, she initiated her own Texas version, to be unveiled in 1993.

She was also named one of the top rising Latino leaders in the country by Newsweek, and USA Today listed her as the potential first woman president of the United States.

"I started in the trenches and I worked in the trenches," Guerrero says. "If I am ambitious it is because I know that life is not fair, but government should be. I owe it to those who feel that they will never get out of the trenches to make government responsive to them."