Around the Capitol / On the Move
Legislative Budget Board Director Ursula Parks has announced she will be leaving that position at the end of October.
Morgan Hendon, who previously worked for Texas Lobby Solutions and the Comptroller of Public Accounts, has a new position as Senior Manager of Corporate Relations and Development at the US Chamber of Commerce in DC.
Bridget Hartin, former Chief of Staff for Rep. Greg Bonnen, has started a new position as Director of the Senate Education Committee
Kate Raetz, former Deputy Legislative Director for Gov. Greg Abbott, has started a new position as Director of Governmental Relations at UT Austin.
Lola Fender is the new General Counsel for Sen. Charles Schwertner. She previously worked for the Senate State Affairs Committee.
Harold Stone is the new Chief of Staff for Sen.- elect Pete Flores. Stone will start immediately after Sen.-elect Flores’ swearing in on October 12th. Stone previously served as Director of Inter-Governmental Relations at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Michael Toth, a lawyer who previously worked for Attorney General Ken Paxton, was sworn in recently as a justice on the 3rd Court of Appeals after getting appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott. (h/t Texas Tribune The Blast)
Jennifer Rabb, a former adviser to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, was recently named as director and fellow of the McNair Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Growth at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. (h/t Texas Tribune’s The Blast)
Sponsored Post
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network invites you to join us at the Texas Research Breakfast hosted by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network on Thursday, October 25, 2018, 7:00-9:00 AM at Hotel Zaza in Houston.
Featured speakers include:
Texas A&M Chancellor and Hurricane Harvey Recovery Czar John Sharp, Guest of Honor
Texas House of Appropriations Chairman John Zerwas, M.D.
Division Head and Chairman of Pediatrics at MD Anderson Richard Gorlick, M.D.
Former NBC Correspondent Janet Shamlian
The ACS CAN Texas Research Breakfast is a premier event that will bring together leaders from business, academia, health care, government, and life sciences to highlight Texas’ impressive role behind the latest advances in cancer research – and to support the mission of ACS CAN.
Lobby/Association News
Todd Webster has joined HillCo Partners. He’s had his own consulting firm for the last 4 years and has also been a Principal at Texas Star Alliance.
The Apartment Association of Greater Dallas has named Jason Simon as Director of Government Affairs. Simon had previously worked for US Rep. and former state Rep. Kenny Marchant as well as Hill + Knowlton Strategies.
Colby Nichols, senior associate at Underwood Law Firm, has joined the Texas Association of School Administrators Governmental Relations team as a consultant. He will work on issues related to school finance, special education, taxation, bond elections, and school discipline. Nichols also worked previously for former Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock.
Sophie Phillips has been named the new CEO of TexProtects, a children’s advocacy organization, replacing Madeline McClure. Phillips has worked for TexProtects since 2014 as Director of Research.
John Mccord has been hired as NFIB’s state legislative director. John previously served as Chief of Staff for Rep. Cindy Burkett.
Sandy Frizzell Batton has been named Executive Director at Providers Alliance for Community Services of Texas, the association of long term care providers. She previously was the organization’s Director of Policy Development.
Steven Schar, former policy advisor to Governor Greg Abbott and House staffer will be the Special Assistant to the new Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Executive Director Toby Baker. (h/t Quorum Report)
Caitlin Dempsey will be Rep. John Raney’s new legislative director, replacing Austin McCarty. Dempsey previously worked with the Texas Humane Legislation Network. (h/t Quorum Report)
The Texas Public Policy Foundation has announced several changes in its communications department. Brian Phillips has been promoted to chief communications officer, Alicia Pierce is the new VP of marketing, Sarah Silberstein the new press secretary and Alex Billups the new marketing and multimedia associate. (h/t Quorum Report)
State Agency News
Becky Levy and Amy Barden have announced their retirements from the Texas Ethics Commission. Levy worked 40 years with the state and Barden was with the Ethics Commission since its formation. (h/t Quorum Report)
Victor Kuykendoll has been named chief of law enforcement of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Kuykendoll has served as acting chief of law enforcement since last year while also working as regional supervisor for TABC’s Central Texas Law Enforcement Office. (h/t Texas Tribune’s The Blast)
Shout Outs
Congratulations to Mattie Heath, Legislative Director for Sen. Kelly Hancock, on the birth of her baby boy, Lincoln.
Happy Birthday!
October 6th — Denise Davis, Rep. Geanie Morrison
October 8th — Rep. Four Price, Julia Rathgeber
October 9th — Rep. Trent Ashby
October 10th — Rep. Eric Johnson, Rep. Chris Turner
October 11th — Judd Messer, Tim Graves
October 13th — Shelly Botkin, Chrissy Camacho Borskey
October 14th — Fmr. Rep. John Otto
October 16th — Pamela McPeters, Chuck Rice, Scott Stewart
October 17th — Craig Casselberry
October 18th — Kristi Tonn, Joel Romo
October 19th– Rep. Diego Bernal, Gaylord Hughey
October 20th — Michelle Apodaca, Steve Kester
October 21st — Hank Clements, Patricia Vojack
October 22nd– Rep. Charlie Geren
October 23rd — Fmr. Chief Justice Tom Phillips, Chris Hosek
October 24th — Luke Legate, Allison Griffin, Chris Wilson
October 25th- Rep. Donna Howard
October 26th- Rep. Carol Alvarado, Ana Rodriguez DeFrates
October 27th- Rep. Ryan Guillen, Rep. Richard Raymond, Rep. Drew Springer, Rep. Diana Arévalo. Leo Aguirre
October 29th- Rep. Abel Herrero, Sen. Borris Miles
October 30th- Rep. Mary Gonzalez, Fmr. Justice Bob Pemberton
October 31st — Fmr. Sen. Kip Averitt, Jamie Dudensing
In Our Thoughts
Condolences to the family and friends of Terry Young. Young worked for years with Julian Read at Read-Poland Public Relations. During his time there he worked with politicians including former Lt. Gov. Ben Barnes, former US Treasury Secretary and Texas Gov. John Connally and former President and Texas Gov. George W. Bush.
Janice Heflin, wife of former Rep. Talmadge Heflin, passed away this past week.
Miscellaneous
Influence Texas and Texans for Public Justice have partnered together to release Influence Texas, OS, an open source web app that creates further transparency between taxpayers and Texas state politicians by providing elected officials’ campaign finance and voting records.
Contact us at txpoliticstoday@gmail.com or text us at 512-431-5385 to let us know of other moves, birthdays, lobby sign ups, birth announcements, events, and happenings that you and your Capitol colleagues would like to read about.
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