AUSTIN -- Two attorneys are vying for the Democratic nomination to sit on the Railroad Commission of Texas, an agency that both say has become largely irrelevant, according to the Houston Chronicle.

"It's really kind of lost its focus," said Sherry Boyles of Austin.

"If we don't change its mission pretty dramatically, the Railroad Commission has outlived its useful life and should be folded into the executive branch," said Paul C. Looney of Houston.

The winner of the March 12 Democratic primary will face Republican incumbent Michael Williams, who serves as chairman of the three-member commission and is unopposed in the GOP primary. The other two commission seats are not on the ballot this year.

Also in the November general election will be Green Party candidate Charles L. Mauch, a retired engineer from Houston, and Libertarian Party candidate Nazirite Flores Perez of San Antonio.

The commission was established in 1891 to prevent price gouging by railroad barons, but today it regulates oil and gas production, gas utilities, intrastate pipelines, lignite mining and rail safety.

Boyles said she would like to see the Railroad Commission merged with the Public Utility Commission, which oversees electricity and telecommunications issues. She said a merger would create an agency to set energy policy for the state.

"I don't think the Railroad Commission has really taken an active role in strategic planning," said Boyles, adding that she will be unveiling detailed proposals for the commission in the coming weeks.

Boyles wants the commission to promote sustainable energy, including ethanol, wind and solar power.

"Texas is on the brink of becoming an importer and dependent on foreign oil," she said.

Boyles also has promised to support high-speed rail and has advocated increased pipeline security in Texas in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Boyles, 31, is the former executive director of the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault, an organization that has helped win increases in state funding for women's safety initiatives and tougher laws against sexual predators. She also is a former executive director of the Texas Democratic Party and an aide to Democratic state legislators.

Looney said he entered the race to promote his idea of storing oil reserves in empty caverns that have been drained of Texas oil.

"Texas is uniquely in a position worldwide to become an inventory powerhouse," Looney said.

Other states such as Pennsylvania have empty caverns but only Texas has the seaportfacilities that could make it a storage center for the United States and other countries.

Looney believes his idea could help stabilize world oil prices and reduce OPEC's influence.

"I have a passionate desire to see if Texas can lead the way in creating an inventory buffer on petroleum products," he said.

Looney envisions parallel pipelines that would transfer salt water out of the caverns and allow oil to be reinjected. He admits there could be environmental concerns about his proposal.

Looney, 47, practices child custody and criminal law with the firm Lamson & Looney.

In 1995, Looney and lawyer Brent Liedtke went on national television saying they had been hired by Timothy McVeigh's family to defend him on charges in connection with the Oklahoma City bombing. But McVeigh rejected their legal help.

Looney also represented repeat child molester Larry Don McQuay, who asked to be surgically castrated. The request eventually was denied.

Looney said that before attending law school he worked for financial companies raising money for oil field projects.

Candidates for the Railroad Commission frequently are criticized for accepting campaign contributions from the oil and gas industries. But that is not much of an issue in the Democratic primary.

"It's not like industry is clamoring to support me," said Boyles, who reported in January that she had raised $21,732. Her money came mostly from Democratic activists in Austin and included a $10,000 loan from her mother.

Looney said he is keeping campaign expenses down by flying his plane around the state. He said he expects to spend $50,000 to $70,000 in the race, with about two-thirds of the money coming from his pocket.