Who is Rich Paces?
Rich Paces is the incumbent Kerr County Commissioner for Precinct 2 and a lifelong Christian and fiscal conservative. He is a proud Republican who fully supports the party's stated priorities, and a registered professional engineer who has spent decades in leadership roles in industry and his community in Kerr County, Texas.
- Christian and fiscal conservative
- Proud Republican
- Registered Professional Engineer
- Resident of Kerr County, Texas
Summary of Work Experience
- Graduated from The Ohio State University in 1979 with B.Sc. Chemical Engineering & minor equivalent in Petroleum Engineering
- 36+ years of oil and gas E&P experience working in the USA, India (10+ yrs), Equatorial Guinea (4 yrs), Egypt (3 yrs), Australia, China, Trinidad, Russia, and Kazakhstan
- Extensive executive management experience
- Track record of successful project execution
Companies Associated With & Positions Held
- Director Development & Operations, Cairn India Limited
- Chief Operating Officer, Oilex Ltd
- VP & Country Manager, Equatorial Guinea (Marathon & Noble Energy)
- Chief Operating Officer, Reliance Oil & Gas Division
- Chief Operating Officer & Executive Director, Cairn Energy India Pty Ltd
- Petroleum Engineer – Production GM, Gulf of Suez, Amoco Production Co. (19 yrs)
Operating / Management Expertise
- General management, operations, production, development, project management, exploration, exploitation, reservoir engineering, drilling, testing, plants, process facilities, and maintenance
- Projects ranging from $50M to >$2B, including FPSO, LNG, platforms, gas plants, infrastructure, etc.
- Managed annual budgets > $1 billion (opex), > $2 billion (capex)
- Government relations, including numerous meetings with Heads of State
- Production Sharing Contracts, Joint Ventures, Strategic Partnerships, Procurement
What is his professional background?
Rich brings 36+ years of upstream oil and gas experience to Kerr County, starting as a petroleum engineer and finishing with more than 16 years in executive management. He has personally studied the geology of Kerr County's aquifers and groundwater movement to protect this resource for future generations.
- 36+ years in upstream oil and gas
- Started career as a petroleum engineer
- 16+ years in executive management roles
- Studied Kerr County aquifer geology and groundwater movement
How has Rich Paces served the community?
Rich's record of service goes well beyond the Commissioners Court. He has served Kerr County and the surrounding region in multiple volunteer and leadership roles for years.
- Precinct 2 County Commissioner for the last 3 years
- President of the Chapter 391 Sub-Regional Planning Commission, leading the fight against Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) in Kerr, Kendall and Gillespie Counties
- Volunteer firefighter with Center Point Volunteer Fire Department
- Current President of the Center Point Area Historic Preservation Association
- Active member of Hosanna Lutheran Church — Bread of Life mission and Adopt-a-Highway coordinator
- Director and Treasurer of the Hidden Hills Ranch Owners Association
Why is Rich Paces running for re-election?
Rich is running for re-election to continue serving Kerr County and finish what he started: helping residents recover from the July 4th flood, standing up an effective Flood Warning System, defeating BESS, completing the AG Barn improvements at roughly half the original $8 million bond cost through grants or visitor-funded venue taxes, and keeping property taxes as low as possible.
- Finish flood recovery and rebuild work after the July 4th flood
- Stand up an effective Flood Warning System so no lives are lost in future floods
- Continue the fight against Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
- Complete the AG Barn improvements at roughly half the original $8 million bond cost — using grants or a visitor-funded venue tax, not burdening taxpayers
- Keep property taxes as low as possible
What did Rich Paces do during the July 4th flood?
The July 4th flood tested all of Kerr County. Rich Paces was on the ground at 6:00 a.m. knocking on doors warning people to get to higher ground, and stayed engaged through every phase of the response and recovery.
- Knocked on doors at 6:00 a.m. warning residents to evacuate to higher ground
- Helped with search and rescue and search and recovery efforts
- Helped with debris cleanup
- Helped procure needed services and supplies
- Conducted door-to-door welfare checks and delivered information to flood victims
- Helped flood victims access financial assistance
"Kerr County needs strong leadership and right now we need continuity. I am the man for the job, and I thank you in advance for your vote." — Rich Paces