Larry Faulkner is retiring as president of the University of Texas at Austin, with his departure timed for next March. He's been at it since 1998, and that's a longer run than all but one of his predecessors at the school. The search is on for a replacement.
Kent Caperton, a former state senator who's been lobbying and advising at Public Strategies Inc. for the last several years, is leaving that Austin-based company for a new venture. He, former Texas House speaker and lite Guv Ben Barnes, and Washington lawyer Jim Sharp are starting a new company. Caperton says they'll do some lobbying, some advising, and hope to work on some business deals on the side.
We're late to mention this, but the Texas Federation of Teachers elected Linda Bridges to be its first new president in 24 years. John Cole, who's held the job for more than two decades, is retiring. Bridges, a former special education teacher, has most recently been president of TFT's Corpus Christi affiliate. She's officially on the job as of July 1.
Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, will become president-elect of the National Conference of State Legislators, a trade group for lawmakers from all over the country, at that group's August convention in Seattle.
Alexis DeLee is House Speaker Tom Craddick's new press secretary, replacing Heather Tindall, her old boss. Tindall, who joined Craddick's staff before the regular session, said in an email that she hasn't decided what she'll do next.
Sittin' in a tree, K.I.S.S.I.N.G.: Amy Brownlee, who works for Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, is getting married to David Phillips of Belton. No date set.
DEATHS: Felton West, a longtime government and politics reporter for the Houston Post who in his retirement ran for city council, after a bout with cancer. He was 79. He was at the paper for more than 50 years, working as bureau chief in both Austin and Washington, as city editor, and as a columnist.
Runners, non-runners and their enablers. State Rep. Terry Keel, R-Austin, will run for a spot on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals that's currently occupied by Republican Charles Holcomb. Holcomb's running, too, but would be required to retire halfway through the term, when he reaches age 75. And Dallas district Judge Robert Francis, also a Republican, will be in the hunt for that same spot on the court. • Susan Combs checked off another couple of boxes on her Things to Do list, netting endorsements from two state senators -- Robert Duncan of Lubbock and Kel Seliger of Amarillo -- and from 41 of the 62 members of the State Republican Executive Committee. Her campaign says she's also got Bill Crocker, one of the state's national GOP committee members, and Bob Long, the Texas GOP's chaplain, on her side. Combs, the state's agriculture commissioner, is still the only declared candidate for comptroller from either party. • In a memo to fellow Democrats, former U.S. Rep. Martin Frost, D-Dallas, encouraged them to support state Rep. Richard Raymond, D-Laredo, in a challenge against U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, according to the San Antonio Express-News. Raymond hasn't officially declared his candidacy. And former U.S. Rep. Ciro Rodriguez, D-San Antonio, is looking for a rematch against Cuellar, who beat him last year. • Strike Harris County Judge Robert Eckels from your rising ambitions list, for now. He told the Houston Chronicle that Kay Bailey Hutchison's decision to seek reelection ended the game of musical chairs -- at least the chairs that interested him. He's leaning toward a reelection bid. • Sen. Frank Madla, D-San Antonio, says he'll seek reelection next year. He became a state representative in 1973 and a state senator 20 years later. Potentially in the wings should he change his mind: Reps. Pete Gallego, D-Alpine, and two San Antonio Democrats, Robert Puente and Carlos Uresti. • Ann Quirk signs on as a consultant to Bob Reeves' campaign for Texas Senate. Reeves, a Republican from Center, is one of four Republicans who've said they want to succeed Todd Staples of Palestine, who's running for agriculture commissioner. Quirk's a longtime political operative and knows that area: She worked for Drew Nixon, who held that spot in the Senate before Staples. Another Republican businessman in that SD-3 race, Robert Nichols, took his next step, resigning from the Texas Transportation Commission before that panel's latest meeting. He was a George W. Bush appointee who got a second term there from Gov. Rick Perry. One more from that same contest. Frank Denton of Conroe is on his way to Austin next week for a fundraiser starting the race. His hosts? Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, and former Sen. Bill Ratliff, R-Mt. Pleasant.