Former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regional administrator Al Armendariz will join the staff of the Sierra Club in mid-July as senior campaign representative for the organization’s Beyond Coal campaign.

Mike Walz, communications director for Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, will be leaving at the beginning of July to join InfraREIT Capital Partners, LLC, based in Dallas.

Fred Shannon is hanging out his own lobbying and public affairs shingle after seven years with Hewlett-Packard. He'll keep that company as one of his clients and will work for others, too, in government procurement, legislation and such.

Jason Sabo has left United Ways of Texas after almost nine years to launch his own lobbying and consulting firm, Frontera Strategy.

Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, announced two major changes to her staff: Bill Wilson has been hired as director of the Veteran Affairs and Military Installations Committee, which Van de Putte chairs, and current staffer Heidi Kluber has been given new duties as the committee's clerk and as a legislative assistant.

Gov. Rick Perry appointed:

• Alan Nash of Stephenville as district attorney of the 266th Judicial District in Erath County for a term to expire at the next general election. Nash is an attorney and shareholder at Coan and Elliot P.C. and an adjunct professor at Tarleton State University.
• Jason Cashon of Stephenville as judge of the 266th Judicial District Court in Erath County for a term to expire at the next general election. Cashon is district attorney of the 266th Judicial District in Erath County and an adjunct professor at Tarleton State University.
• James L. “Jim” Bayless Jr. of Austin to the Texas State Cemetery Committee for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2017. The three-member committee oversees the day-to-day operations of the Texas State Cemetery.