The governor set a November 6 special election for the unexpired term of state Rep. Veronica Gonzales, who resigned to take a job with the University of Texas-Pan American. Whoever wins the HD-41 seat will hold the position until the winner of the regular election held that same day takes the oath of office in January.

Michael Kelley joins the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation as a government relations officer. He's most recently been teaching at Central Texas College, and worked at several state agencies and the Texas Senate before that.

Jeff Hillery joins Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, as communications director after six years with the Fox News talk radio operation in New York City (and 15 years in Dallas radio).

Gov. Rick Perry appointed Matthew Kreisle III to chair the Texas Historical Commission. Kreisle is an executive with Page Southerland Page in Austin. He also appointed Michael Donegan of Rockwall and August Harris III of Austin to that board. Donnegan works at El Dorado Chemical; Harris is president of Covenant Financial Solutions.

The governor named Erik Salwen of Houston to the Texas Southern University Board of Regents. Salwen is president of Oak Research and also works for the Dallas Theological Seminary.