Rep. Frank Corte Jr., R-San Antonio, will soon be on his way to Iraq -- not on a political junket, but as a member of the Marine Corps Reserve.He's one of a handful of state legislators on part-time military status, and the second called to full-time duty in recent months; Rep. Rick Noriega, D-Houston, returned late last year from a tour with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan. Noriega's wife, Melissa Noriega, served in his place in the House while he was overseas. Corte says he'll name his wife, Valerie Corte, as "temporary acting representative" to hold his spot should there be a special session while he's in the Middle East. That session is expected between now and June 1, the date by which the Texas Supreme Court expects the Legislature to enact a constitutional school finance plan. Related: Harrison Keller, the director of research and top education wonk for House Speaker Tom Craddick, joined the Navy Reserve and expects to go into Naval Intelligence training. He'll still be around for a special session on school finance (and denies that's why he signed up) and for other momentous events, like the pending birth of his first child.

Former state Rep. Glen Maxey of Austin, a political and policy consultant and the only openly gay lawmaker in state history, might run for chairman of the Texas Democratic Party.He says he's thinking about it and wants to hear from other Democrats. In the meantime, one of the bloggers with the Burnt Orange Report -- Karl-Thomas Musselman of Austin -- has registered and fired up a website to promote Maxey's candidacy (www.draftmaxey.com). Maxey says Texas Democrats need to work on grassroots organizing and local JP and constable and county commissioner races. He's also interested in putting new technologies into the mix. But, he says, it's early and he's not sure he'll jump in. Current TDP Chairman Charles Soechting has said he won't seek another term at the state convention in June. Boyd Ritchie, an attorney from Graham, Charlie Urbina Jones, an attorney from San Antonio, and Sherry Boyles, who recently left Annie's List and moved to Dallas, have all indicated some interest in the job.

Wright, Mullins, Smith, Horn, and StewartFormer Dallas ISD Superintendent Linus Wright and Phillip Mullins, a utilities station operator at the University of Texas, are Gov. Rick Perry's latest picks for the board of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas. Wright, who's now a consultant, is a reappointee; Mullins is new to the board. Rep. Wayne Smith, R-Baytown, will chair the House County Affairs Committee. Speaker Tom Craddick named him to replace Rep. Ray Allen, R-Grand Prairie, who resigned. Rep. John Otto, R-Dayton, will take the vice chair spot Smith had held. Addie Horn is the new commissioner of the Department of Aging and Disability Services, known to state employees as DADS. She had been the deputy commissioner and replaces Jim Hines, who retired. Deaths: Former state Rep. Vernon Stewart, who represented Wichita Falls from 1952 to 1972 and helped turn Midwestern State University into a publicly funded institution. He was 76.