T. Boone Pickens to run for water board

AMARILLO, Texas, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Texas billionaire T. Boone Pickens Jr., long known for his contributions to Republican candidates, plans to run for a place on a water district board.

If he wins, Pickens would represent Roberts County on the Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District board, the Amarillo Globe-News reported.

"During the past decade, I have worked diligently to make dramatic improvements in the area through a variety of conservation and wildlife initiatives, and by helping increase property values throughout the county by ensuring landowners have the right to market their stranded and surplus groundwater," Pickens said in a filing with the district.

C.E. Williams said that he does not expect Pickens, who would be one of nine directors, to change the way the board operates if he is elected. Williams said that the board usually reaches consensus on most issues.

In recent years, Pickens' company, Mesa Water, has acquired water rights for 200,000 acres in Roberts County. Pickens, who made a fortune with Mesa Petroleum, has been a major contributor to President George Bush and helped fund the Swift Boat campaign against U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., during the 2004 presidential race.