Former U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings, a top aide to George W. Bush throughout his tenure as Texas governor and U.S. president, will take over as head of the eponymous foundation and institute associated with the George W. Bush Presidential Library in Dallas.

Two-term state Rep. Stefani Carter, R-Dallas, told The Dallas Morning News she is considering a run for an unspecified statewide office in 2014.

Will Hurd will make another run for Congress in the state’s CD-23, where U.S. Rep. Pete Gallego, D-Alpine, is the incumbent. Hurd, a Republican, lost to Francisco “Quico” Canseco in the 2010 Republican primary runoff. 

Debra Wanser is retiring as commissioner of the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services. She's been in that post since 2011 and was the agency's number two exec before that. Veronda Durden, currently an assistant commissioner at the Department of Aging and Disability Services, will take over the top job at DARS on July 1. She previously worked at the Department of Human Services, the Department of Health, and the Office of the Attorney General.

The Texas Department of Public Safety promoted Rhonda Fleming to inspector general, Amanda Arriaga to assistant director of administration, and James “Frank” Woodall Jr. to assistant director of the education, training and research division.

Gov. Rick Perry appointed:

• Pamela Jo “PJ” Ellison of Brenham, Robert Lewis of Elgin, Tom Martine of Cypress Mill, Franklin “Scott” Spears Jr. of Austin, and Tim Timmerman of Austin to the Lower Colorado River Authority board. Ellison is owner of Ellison’s Greenhouses. Lewis is president of Elgin Veterinary Hospital. Martine is president of Martine Properties. Spears is an attorney. Timmerman is a private real estate investor and developer.
• Glenn Martin of Edna, Scott Sachtleben of Ganado, Leonard Steffek of Edna, and Charlie Taylor of Palacios to the Lavaca-Navidad River Authority board. Martin is president of M.O.R. Sachtleben is a landman and rancher. Steffek works at Energy Transfer in San Antonio. Taylor is retired from Culp Aluminum Alloys.
• William Carbonara of Cuero, Darrell McLain of Gonzales, and Don Meador of San Marcos to the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority board. Carbonara works at JHC Insurance Agency. McLain is founder and CFO of Kitchen Pride Mushroom Farms. Meador is a retired rancher and engineer.
• Henry Borbolla III of Fort Worth, Amanda Davis of Buffalo, Valerie Ertz of Dallas, Tom Fordyce of Huntsville, Jess Laird of Athens, David Leonard of Liberty, Jim Neale of Dallas, Amir Rupani of Dallas, Ana Laura Saucedo of Dallas, Dudley Skyrme of Palestine, and C. Dwayne Somerville of Mexia to the Trinity River Authority board. Borobolla is vice president of BB&T. Davis is a retired school administrator. Ertz is owner and president of VEE Services. Fordyce is retired director of the Texas Criminal Justice Agribusiness Department. Laird is president and CEO of First State Bank in Athens. Leonard is co-owner of Liberty Dayton Chrysler. Neale is president of Quorum Energy. Rupani is present and CEO of Texas Prince Properties. Saucedo is a retired real estate investor. Skyrme is retired from United Bilt Homes. Somerville owns several businesses.

• Brigadier General William “Len” Smith as assistant Adjutant General for Army.