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Editor’s Note: Please be sure to send us news of departures, promotions, births, marriages and other milestones, so we can share it with the Capitol community. Also add us to your press release email list.
Around the Capitol / On the Move
Shane Saum, who most recently was the principal consultant for Altruant Consulting is
now the Legislative Director for Rep.Geanie Morrison.
Marco Mancillas is the new COS for Rep. Ana-Maria Ramos. He previously had his
own strategic consulting firm and was the CEO of the Texas College of Emergency
Physicians.
Paige Higerd is the House Ways and Means Committee’s chief clerk. She worked for
Rep. Todd Hunter as Calendars Committee Clerk last session. Jimmy Skipton will be
the Committee’s Policy Director.
Lobbyist and former State Board of Education member Thomas Ratliff is running for
mayor of Mt. Pleasant. The election is in May.
Former Sen. Hector Uribe has a starring role in the movie Tejano, which has received
positive reviews and which you can buy now on Amazon. (h/t Reb Wayne)
Democrat Ray Lopez defeated Republican Fred Rangel in the special House election to
replace former Rep. Justin Rodriguez, who left to become a Bexar County
Commissioner.
James Bernsen has taken a position with the Lower Colorado River Authority as a
Senior Communications Specialist. He previously was VP for Corporate Affairs at
Crosswind Communications
Lobby/Association News
Bill Jones, former General Counsel to Governor Rick Perry has started his own public
affairs and governmental relations firm. He was most recently at Barnes & Thornburg
LLP.
Longtime legislative consultant Chris Hughes has joined Husch Blackwell Strategies in
its Austin Office.
Homero Lucero has launched his own lobby firm, Capitol Dome Advocacy. He
previously worked with the Texas Commercial Airports Association and the Texas Travel
Industry Association.
Claudia Tijerina has left the Sunset Commission and has begun a position with HHSC
as a Government Relations Specialist.
Ryan Paylor who was the Policy Director for former Sen. and current US Rep. Van
Taylor is now the Director of Government Affairs for the Texas Independent Producers
and Royalty Owners Association.
Tessa Zavala, who served as general counsel for former Rep. Beverly Wooley, and
has had her own law/consulting firm is the co-founder of BeeHive Partners, a
management consulting company building socially conscious business strategies,
perceptions, & momentum.
Former Rep. Ron Simmons is joining the Texas Public Policy Foundation as a
distinguished senior fellow. (h/t The Blast)
State Agency News
Jennifer Deegan, who most recently was the Budget Director for former Speaker Joe
Straus, has returned to the The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
as the Vice President for Health Policy and Systems Strategy.
Mike Morath has been reappointed as Commissioner of Education by Gov. Greg
Abbott for a term set to expire on January 16, 2023. Morath has served as
Commissioner since January 2016
Shout Outs
Congratulations to Corbin Casteel and Nicole Neal on the birth of their son Beck
Edward Casteel.
Former Speaker Joe Straus will receive the Center for Public Policy Priorities 2019
Texas Legacy Award at its Legacy Luncheon in October.
Happy Birthday!
March 14-Jason Modglin, Ellen Williams, Robert Eckels
March 15- Rep Brooks Landgraf, Rep. Justin Holland, Stephen Raines, Teresa Spears,
Ashley Morgan
March 16 -Warren von Eschenbach
March 18- Sen. Kirk Watson, Mark Vane, Sarah Tays, Chuck Courtney
March 19- Rep. Rick Miller
March 20-Amy DeWeese, Peggy Fikac, Fmr. Rep. Jim Jackson
March 21-Ken Luce
March 22-Sam Carlson Stinnett, Matthew Bentley, Frank Santos
March 23- Rep. Gene Wu, Ben Melson
March 24- Rep. John Zerwas, Todd Smith, Duke Bodisch
March 25- Rep. Lyle Larson, Mike Toomey
March 26-Stephanie Schmutz Simpson, Jim Harrison, Bee Moorhead
March 27- Rep. Ina Minjarez
March 29- Rep. Dennis Paul, Frank Galitski
March 31-Katrina Daniel
In Our Thoughts
Condolences to Deece Eckstein and his family on the passing of his sister, Marion
Groves.
Condolences to the friends and colleagues of former UT-Austin President Bill Powers,
who passed away this week.
Former State Sen. and US Rep. Ralph Hall, the oldest person to serve in the US House,
died earlier this month at the age of 95. He served in the State Senate for 10 years.
Former Rep. Tom Uher passed away earlier this week. Uher represented Bay City for 35
years and served as speaker pro tempore for 10 years.
Miscellaneous
Deborah Ingersoll of Legislative Solutions has officially launched a new Online Lobby
Guide.
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Tanner Long, legislative affairs specialist for the Texas Association of Realtors, has
launched a new podcast about the legislature called “Under the Pink Dome.” You can
find it on your favorite podcast source. (h/t The Blast)
House members office and phone list
Senate members office and phone list
House Chief of Staff List
Senate Chief of Staff List
House Committees
Senate Committees
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Dates of Interest:
Friday March 8 — last day for unrestricted filing of bills
Monday May 27 — last day of regular session
June 16 — last day for governor to act on bills
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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