Chairman Carlos Rubinstein announced that he is stepping down from the Texas Water Development Board at the end of August. He was appointed by Gov. Rick Perry in August 2013, just months before voters approved $2 billion from the state's Rainy Day Fund to help pay for water projects such as pipelines and treatment plants.
Bech K. Bruun was named Rubinstein's immediate successor as Texas Water Development Board chairman by Gov. Greg Abbott for a term to expire at the pleasure of the governor. Bruun has served as a TWDB member since September 2013.
Abbott appointed John V. “Vic” Lattimore, Jr. of Plano, Nolan Perez of Harlingen and he re-appointed Ann McGinity of Pearland to the Texas Woman’s University Board of Regents for terms to expire on Feb. 1, 2021.
David Porter will take over as chairman of the Railroad Commission of Texas after he was unanimously elected at a meeting of the agency this week. He succeeds Christi Craddick in the post.
Amanda Carpenter is stepping down next month as communications director for U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. Prior to her stint with Cruz, Carpenter worked for U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C. Her plans include a return to writing conservative commentary.
Steve Lonegan has been named chairman of GOP presidential candidate Ted Cruz's campaign in New Jersey. Lonegan lost to Cory Booker in the 2013 special election to succeed U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg.
State Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, has endorsed U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz for president. His colleague, Konni Burton, R-Colleyville, endorsed Cruz in March.
Ohio Gov. John Kasich has added a big name to his political team — veteran Texas political strategist John Weaver. Kasich is laying down the groundwork for a possible run at the White House in 2016. Weaver is no stranger to presidential politics, having worked with past candidates John McCain and Jon Huntsman.
Bennett Ratliff will run again for the Dallas-area House District 115 seat he lost to Matt Rinaldi in the 2014 GOP primary election. The contest was decided by 92 votes.
Brent Graves, who is running for the House District 59 seat next year, released a list of endorsements from all 13 of the GOP precinct chairs in Erath County.