Political People and their Moves

Gov. Greg Abbott named 13 officials to serve on a task force on improving outcomes for juveniles adjudicated of sexual offenses. Those officials are: Devon Anderson, Chris Bratton, James Castro, Robert Ellis, Billy Fletcher, Lisa Jarrett, Kameron Johnson, Jennifer Lopez, Michelle Moore, Allison Palmer, Dean Rucker, Frank Salazar and Donna Vandiver.

Abbott has named Oliver Bell of Houston to the Texas Southern University Board of Regents for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2017.

Abbott appointed AT&T tech architect Aaron Bangor to serve as chairman of the Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities, a group that recommends disability policy changes and offers to support to various committees of disabled persons in Texas. In addition, six committee members were also named — Elizabeth Dickey, Archer Hadley, Dylan Rafaty, Diane Rose, Marilou Fowler and Linda Millstone.

Abbott reappointed Joe Ward of Telephone to the State Soil and Water Conservation Board for a term to expire on Feb. 1, 2017.

Ted Cruz named two new state directors for his expanding presidential campaign on Tuesday. Constantin Querard, founder and president of Grassroots Partners, LLC, was appointed Arizona state director while Jason Scalese, a managing partner of Fusion Strategies, was named California State director. The latter will work with Ron Nehring, Cruz’s California state chairman.

Salado lawyer Ryan Downton, a former House Redistricting Committee counsel, officially entered the open Senate District 24 Republican primary race on Thursday afternoon.

Former State Rep. George Lavender announced Wednesday he is running for the House District 1 seat he held during the 82nd and 83rd legislative sessions. State Rep. Gary VanDeaver, R-New Boston, who beat out Lavender for the seat in 2014, has already announced his re-election plans, thus setting up a rematch between the men.

Fort Worth attorney Andrew Piel announced on Thursday that he plans to challenge House District 94 state Rep. Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington, in next year’s party primary. Piel also rolled out a list of endorsements that included former state lawmakers Chris Harris, Kim Brimer and Toby Goodman and former Arlington Mayors Richard Greene and Robert Cluck.

State Rep. Eric Johnson, D-Dallas, announced on Tuesday that he will run for re-election in House District 100, which he’s represented for four terms. Johnson’s name had surfaced as a possible successor for Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, who said this week that she is opting for another run for office.

State Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, announced Wednesday he was endorsing U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, for president.

State Rep. John Frullo, R-Lubbock, announced on Monday that he is endorsing Ted Cruz for president.

Barry Smitherman, who vied against Ken Paxton, Cruz's favored candidate last year for attorney general, is now throwing his support behind Cruz's presidential campaign.

State Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford, confirmed on Wednesday his endorsement for “conservative fighter” state Rep. David Simpson, R-Longview, in the Senate District 1 GOP primary.

House District 150 GOP challenger Terri Leo received endorsements on Monday from two former colleagues from the State Board of Education. Ken Mercer and David Bradley both threw their support Leo’s way with Mercer calling her a “a rock solid conservative.”

Conservative Republicans of Texas announced on Thursday its endorsement of retired radiologist Brent Mayes in the open Senate District 24 Republican primary.

State Rep. Allen Fletcher, R-Cypress, is endorsing businessman Bill King for Houston mayor. In doing so, Fletcher commended King's plans to aid Houston’s budget, including his strategy for pension reform.

State Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen, announced Wednesday that he has appointed Desireé Castro as a senior policy adviser in his office. A longtime Hinojosa staffer, she has worked as a policy analyst, focusing on issues related to criminal justice, border security, insurance and business.

Susan Turner Nold, former general counsel to state Sen. Kirk Watson, has been named the new director of the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life at the UT Moody College of Communication. She begins her new position on Monday.

The Houston Realty Business Coalition endorsed Bill King in the Houston mayoral race Thursday, praising his plans to add jobs to the city and make changes to the public pension program.

Pledging respect and trust between faith leaders, law enforcement officials and communities, Houston mayoral candidate Sylvester Turner announced endorsements from 135 Houston ministers on Thursday.

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