Lone Star Deep Dive

In episode 49, Tonya Kleuskens is talking with Mark Nair the Democratic Candidate for Texas 13th Congressional District.

The League of Women Voters has a 106-year commitment to non-partisan voting advocacy in the United States. We educate voters on how to register, where to vote, who is on the ballot and the public policy’s being discussed, supported or challenged in the voting cycle that we are in. We believe that educated voters are the bedrock of our democracy!

After discussion with our co-Presidents of the Amarillo LWV, I agreed to only extend invitations to the candidates for our US Congressional District 13, after the deadline for responding to the LWV Amarillo Candidates Forum, that deadline was September 21st. When it became clear that we are not having both candidates for our Forum, I sent an email invitation to both Representative Ronny Jackson and Candidate Mark Nair on September 23rd. Looking ahead to our ability to get these episodes published before early voting begins, I ask that each candidate let us know by September 28th. I also offered two dates for recording, September 29th and 30th.

Mark Nair responded quickly reserving September 30th for this episode. When I had not heard from Representative Jackson on September 28th, I called his Amarillo office to verify that they had received the invitation and Daniel passed the information to Evelyn Coleman, who responded to my invitation that day, September 28th at 6:15pm, saying that Representative Jackson was unable to make it happen, because of previous commitments. Both the invitation and responses are provided in Dive Deeper for your review! Out of caution and respect, the email address portion of the emails are intentionally excluded.

Representative Jackson has answered the questions asked of both candidates for publishing in the League of Women Voters Amarillo, Voters Guide. Watch for a copy at local libraries, grocery stores and coffee shops, but if you miss their availability, you can read the Voters Guide on Vote411.org, along with candidates’ responses from the additional races on our ballot. Remember Vote411.org

Mark Nair is a senior member of the National Academy of Inventors, a mentor for the Texas Tech Innovation Hub, a National Science Foundation iCorp mentor, and has an extensive patent portfolio on a variety of innovative technologies. He previously served on the Amarillo City Council.

Mark is a co-founder of Giant Atom Inc., Bicycle Guy Studios, MusicGram, and Oasis Microgrids. As president of Redigi, Inc, he built the world’s first used digital marketplace. Mark has taught micro and macroeconomics, app development, and web development at the college level and won the faculty excellence award at Amarillo College in 2020. He has also produced one of the internet’s earliest and largest live-streaming events for Nick Lachey and 98 Degrees, as well as producing innovative digital marketing campaigns for Willie Nelson, Stephen King, and many other well-known artists. He’s worked with Thomas Dolby and Headspace Labs on the design of early polyphonic ringtones; he worked with Nokia in Helsinki on content for their early digital smartphone prototypes; and he collaborated with Phillips Electronics in Eindhoven on smart audio waveform interpretation for digital compression and has worked with Quanta in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Shenzhen, China to design a new type of e-book reader, based on dynamic LCD light-sensitive displays.

Please see Lone Star Deep Dive Episode 49 for more on Mark and additional details about this podcast.

In episode 48, Tonya shares a recording of the September LWV of Amarillo Monthly Membership Meeting that took place on Saturday, Sept. 26th. (Hot tip: if you've never attended one of our meetings, PLEASE COME! Standby for the date and speaker!) The topic of this discussion is "Everything You Need to Know about Elections (but Were Afraid to Ask)," and it featured two of the foremost experts on elections: our local county Elections Administrations: Christy Benge (Potter County) & Shannon Lackey (Randall County)*.

And there were A LOT OF QUESTIONS! Just a note about the audio on this episode: some of the sound on those questions is a little rough due to sound setup; howver, you will be able to discern the question from the answer -- and THIS INFORMATION IS CRUCIAL. Please listen, please share, and please join us at the upcomign Nonpartisan Candidate Forum on Thurs., October 15th at the Happy State Bank in downtown Amarillo (Vigirl Patterson Auditorium, basement -- on 7th and Taylor). Park in the garage, and enter through the glass doors; volunteers will direct you to the auditorium.

ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS:

Christy Benge has a long history with city elections. She has been serving as the Potter County Elections Administrator since 2023, replacing Melynn Huntley—but her service to the office dates back to 2013. Prior to that, Christy worked in the Randall County Clerk’s office for four years. She is a native of northeastern Louisiana, but she married a Texan who brought her to Amarillo. She has two grown children and seven grandchildren. Christy loves to serve the voters of the Texas Panhandle, almost as much as she loves diving into a new book.

Shannon Lackey is the Randall County Elections Administrator. She was appointed as Randall County’s first Election Administrator in December of 2012, though she began her career in elections in 2006. She was appointed as the Election Manager in the County Clerk’s office and served under two county clerks before the appointment to Elections Administrator. Shannon is a Texas Registered Election Official (TREO) and CERA (Certified Election/Registration Administration). (CERA is the highest National certification that can be achieved in the Election Administration profession.) She currently serves on the Legislative Committee for Texas Association of County Election Officials (TACEO), the Election Education Committee for Texas Association of Counties (TAC), and Shannon has served on the Board of the Texas Association of County Election Officials.

*Please see our recent episode with Shannon as well, where we talk about ALL THINGS ELECTION ADMINISTRATION!

DIVE DEEPER!

Potter County Election Administration

Randall County Election Administration

LWV Vote411 Texas

Texas State Law Library - Voting in Texas

Texas Secretary of State

In episode 47, Tonya talks with Lon Burnam about the Tarrant County, Texas proposal to remove 44% of the polling sites in their county, which encompasses the major metro area of Fort Worth. Lon spoke against removing these polling locations at the County Court in August and was arrested when he picked up the microphone to speak. The vote was then postponed to the September 1st County Commission meeting -- which is the exact day that we spoke with Lon!

And we have an update: there has since been a decision. After eight hours, Tarrant County voted 2-3 to remove access to 92 polling locations. The Texas Tribune reports, “The approval came after commissioners heard testimony from more than 100 speakers, the majority of whom were opposed to the site cuts during a meeting that lasted over eight hours.” Listen to Lon's story about this propsal and why his opposition stems directly from his dedication to voting access equality for all citizens that are eligible to vote.

Lon Burnam is a former member of the Texas House of Representatives for District 90, initially elected in 1996, having served for 18 years. District 90 encompasses downtown Fort Worth, Texas, and surrounding areas. Lon holds an undergraduate degree in government from the University of Texas at Austin and a graduate degree in municipal and regional planning from the University of Texas at Arlington. He is also the former executive director of the Dallas Peace Center. Lon has always been a supporting member of the League of Women Voters! He is also a board member for March to the Polls, which was primarily organized to promote voter registration and civic engagement in high schools.

DIVE DEEPER!

The Texas Tribune

Fox 4 News Dallas/Fort Worth

Current Election Information Tarrant County

Vote 411 LWV Texas

Vote 411 - Information for registering to vote, candidates for your ballot and more.

In episode 45, Tonya talks to Tim Judson, Executive Director of the Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS), about thefour Executive Orders President Trump signed on May 23, 2025, to quadruple U.S. nuclear capacity by 2050 and overhaul the nuclear safety and radiation standard practices. These changes target the linear no-threshold model and the “as low as reasonably achievable” radiation exposure standard, known as the ALARA Principle.

Tim Judson, joined NIRS September 2013 as Associate Director, and has served as Executive Director since 2014. Tim leads NIRS’s work on nuclear reactor and climate change issues, and has written a series of reports on nuclear bailouts and sustainable energy. Chair of the Board of Citizens Awareness Network, one of the lead organizations in the successful campaign to close the Vermont Yankee reactor; co-founder of Alliance for a Green Economy in New York.

DIVE DEEPER!

Companion Slide Presentation

Nuclear Information and Resource Services

Executive Order 14300

In Episode 46, Tonya talks with Randall County Texas Election Administrator, Shannon Lackey, who answers all the big questions about the registration process and the abundance of misinformation showing up in our inboxes and social media.

As Tonya has mentioned a lot on this podcast, voting rights and voting education are what the League of Women Voters was organized around and dedicated to for the past 106 years. Remember that you can always find an abundance of voting information at the League's nonpartisan voter info portal, Vote411.org. Find out how to register, check your registration status, learn who will be on your ballot, and access the full Nonpartisan Voters Guide online. So when our local libraries, coffee shops, and grocery stores run out of print copies of the LWV Voters Guides, just know that it's always available online at Vote411.org.

Shannon Lackey is the Randall County Elections Administrator. She was appointed as Randall County’s first Election Administrator in December of 2012, though she began her career in elections in 2006. She was appointed as the Election Manager in the County Clerk’s office and served under two county clerks before the appointment to Elections Administrator.

Shannon is a Texas Registered Election Official (TREO) and CERA (Certified Election/Registration Administration). (CERA is the highest National certification that can be achieved in the Election Administration profession.) She currently serves on the Legislative Committee for Texas Association of County Election Officials (TACEO), the Election Education Committee for Texas Association of Counties (TAC), and Shannon has served on the Board of the Texas Association of County Election Officials.

DIVE DEEPER!

Randall County Election Administration

LWV Vote411 Texas

Texas State Law Library Voting in Texas

Texas Secretary of State

Vote 411 - Information for registering to vote, candidates for your ballot and more.

On Episode 44, we are featuring a beautifully-presented talk by Colorado-based author and columnist, Melissa Musick Nussbaum. It's titled Eden Bleeding: Reflections on a Century of Groundwater Use. Melissa reflects on her family and memories of growing up in Swisher County, Texas, recalling a life when water from the Ogallala Aquifer gushed from the earth. (The original talk was given at the Conference on Community Water in February of 2026. Watch the video with her slideshow of memories from her time growing up, before the resource of water was critically endangered.

Melissa Musick Nussbaum is a teacher, author and speaker. She is a regular columnist for the National Catholic Reporter and Celebration. Melissa grew up in Swisher County in the town of Tulia, TX; she has lived for many years in Colorado Springs, CO.

DIVE DEEPER!

Ogallala Commons (YouTube)

Ogallala Common (Website)

National Catholic Reporter

VOTE 411

In episode 43, we listen to Dr. Chris Grotegut from Deaf Smith County, TX, where he recently spoke at the 2026 Community Water Conference, presented by Ogallala Commons. As Chairman of the Hereford Economic Development Corporation, Chris maps out the vision for replenishing community water by establishing a 60,000-acre aquifer replenishment zone.

Watch the YouTube video here.

We apologize for the places in the audio that cut out a bit. The content of the conversation can be helpful for other communities facing the same water concerns, so we are using the audio that we have.

Chris is a first-generation son of German immigrants, now living in Deaf Smith County, TX with his wife and two sons. He and farm manager, Eugenio Porres, have been transitioning an 11,000-acre irrigated farm to native perennial grasslands since 2013. The Grotegut family also owns and operates a veterinary clinic in Hereford, TX.

DIVE DEEPER!

Hereford Economic Development Corporation

City of Hereford

High Plains Underground Water Conservation District

Drought Monitor

In episode 42, we are listening in on fifth-generation cattle rancher Fernando Falomir from Chihuahua, Mexico; he recently spoke at the 2026 Community Water Conference, presented by Ogallala Commons. On the Falomir Ranch, they have learned to manage their land with an average of four inches of annual rainfall. What Fernando has to say should make the 17-inch annual rainfall in the High Plains feel like a tropical rainforest!

You can view Fernando’s video presentation, complete with slides here.

Spanish version video here.

Fernando Falomir studied biogeochemistry at the University of Colorado and got involved with holistic management in 2004. In 2017, after many years of hard work following regenerative principles, as well as the utilization of animals as the primary tool for land restoration, the family ranch reached a productivity of 40 acres per animal unit.

DIVE DEEPER!

All of the speakers at the Community Water Conference are listed here.

• Ogallala Commons
• Adaptive Grazing: Managing Drought
• Restoring Ecosystem Function

In Episode 41, Tonya presents the first speaker from the Community Water Conference, organized by Ogallala Commons, earlier this year. Dr. Mace, speaks about Water and Texas Policy.

To view the video of Dr. Mace’s presentation, including slides, you can find it here.

Dr. Robert Mace is the Executive Director and Chief Water Policy Officer at The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment and a Professor of Practice in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at Texas State University. Robert has over 30 years of experience in water resources and policy.

DIVE DEEPER!

Ogallala Commons

The Meadows Center for Water an the Environment

In Episode 40, Tonya offers a webinar produced by the League of Women Voters of Texas earlier this year. Teri Marsh, Water Advocacy Chair for LWV Texas, hosts "From Aquifers to Policy." More information about our presenters, Natalie Ballew (Groundwater Division Director at the Texas Water Development Board) and Adam Foster [Executive Director of Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts, can be found below. Additionally, please scroll down to Dive Deeper for a link to the full video on YouTube, which includes some highly informational slides.

Natalie Ballew is the Groundwater Division Director at the Texas Water Development Board, bringing expertise in groundwater resources and policy development. They provide direction and guidance for the TWDB Groundwater Division, which encompasses Groundwater Monitoring, Groundwater Modeling, Brackish Resources Aquifer Characterization System (BRACS), and Groundwater Technical Assistance. Their work supports the collection, interpretation, and provision of accurate information on Texas's groundwater resources to various stakeholders.

Adam Foster became the Executive Director of TAGD in February 2024, bringing over 15 years of experience in groundwater science and regulation. In this role, he oversees the day-to-day operations of the organization and serves as the primary point of contact for TAGD members, the Texas Legislature, state agencies, and other organizations on groundwater-related issues. Before joining TAGD, Adam served as the Program Hydrologist for the Water Well Program at the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation (TDLR), where he worked closely with groundwater conservation districts on a wide range of groundwater management and policy matters. Prior to his tenure at TDLR, he was a hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, Adam holds a Master of Science in Chemistry from Texas State University, where he also earned dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Chemistry and Mathematics.

DIVE DEEPER!

From Aquifers to Policy - Video with slides

Explore Texas Water Development Board

State Water Planning

Planning Group Schedule: Find you region!

Region A (Panhandle) Reports

Aquifers Map

Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District

PGCD Rules & Meetings Schedule

PGDC helpful links