Debra Ibarra Mayfield was named judge of the 165th Judicial District Court in Harris County by Gov. Greg Abbott for a term to expire at the next general election.

David Daniel was named deputy chancellor of the University of Texas System on Wednesday. In a press release, Chancellor Bill McRaven said Daniel will be McRaven's "right-hand man." Daniel is the current president of the University of Texas at Dallas. In other UT personnel news, Steven Leslie, the former UT-Austin provost, has been named vice chancellor for academic affairs.

Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia announced Wednesday that he’s running for mayor of Houston, joining an already crowded field that includes state Rep. Sylvester Turner, former Congressman Chris Bell and Houston attorney and businessman Bill King. On Thursday, state Rep. Allen Fletcher, R-Cypress, said he will forgo a re-election bid in an effort to replace Garcia, who must resign his post.

Deaths: Jim Wright, 92, whose 34-year congressional career culminated in being elected speaker of the House in 1987. An ethics controversy led to the Fort Worth Democrat's resignation from Congress in 1989. Another legacy was his sponsorship of the Wright Amendment, which for many years protected Dallas/Fort Worth Airport from competition from Dallas Love Field.

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