Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Wednesday a few appointments to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. He named Arcilia Acosta of Dallas for a term to expire Aug. 31, 2019, reappointed Javaid Anwar of Midland for a term to expire Aug. 31, 2021, and named Ricky Raven of Sugar Land and Stuart W. Stedman of Houston to terms to expire Aug. 31, 2021.
Abbott also appointed Warren T. Ayres and Shelley Sweatt, both of Wichita Falls, and reappointed Tiffany Burks of Grand Prairie to the Midwestern State University Board of Regents for terms to expire Feb. 25, 2022.
Abbott made a handful of appointments on Tuesday to the Texas Animal Health Commission. Jim Eggleston of Weatherford and Stephen Selman of Woodway were appointed to terms to expire Sept. 6, 2021, while Leo Vermedahl of Dalhart was named to a term to expire Sept. 6, 2017. Coleman Locke of Hungerford was designated the board’s presiding officer and reappointed to a term to expire Sept. 6, 2021.
Abbott appointed Sandra “Lynn” Criner of Needville and Jessica Quillivan of Magnolia and reappointed Keith Pardue of Austin to the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners for terms to expire Aug. 26, 2021. He also designated Roland Lenarduzzi of Alvin as the board’s presiding officer.
Abbott announced on Thursday three appointments to Humanities Texas. Laurie Morian of Houston, Ellen K. Ramsey of Midland and Stephanie Tucker of Houston were named to terms to expire Dec. 31, 2017.
Chip Roy resigned this week as First Assistant Attorney General and took over as executive director for Trusted Leadership PAC, a super PAC supporting his former boss, Ted Cruz. Replacing Roy in the AG’s shop is Jeff Mateer, who was general counsel for First Liberty Institute, a religious liberty law firm.
John Specia Jr. announced last Friday afternoon that he will step down as Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Commissioner at the end of May. Specia, who previously served as a family law judge, took over as DFPS commissioner in December 2012.
Former Railroad Commissioner candidate John Greytok said Wednesday that he’s endorsing Wayne Christian in the May 24 Republican runoff for the open seat. Christian squares off against Gary Gates in the contest.
Republican GOP Senate hopeful Bryan Hughes announced an endorsement from Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith in his bid to win the open seat in SD-1.
And Mike Lee, the fourth-place finisher in the open SD-1 GOP contest, has endorsed David Simpson for the May 24 runoff election.
In the SD-24 runoff, outgoing state Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, has endorsed his House colleague, Abilene Republican Susan King. Also endorsing King was Jon Cobb, who finished third in the first round of voting.
Former HD-33 candidate Lorne Liechty endorsed Justin Holland for the Republican runoff for the open House seat that represents Rockwall County and portions of Collin County.
Corpus Christi banker R. Scott Heitkamp was elected to serve as the next chairman of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) for 2016-17.
Jim Grace and Jennifer McEwan, formerly of Greenberg Traurig, have formed their own consulting shop, Grace & McEwan Consulting LLC. According to a Monday announcement, Grace will have his office in Houston while McEwan will have her office in Austin. Their new venture will take clients at the federal, state and local levels.
Disclosure: Javaid Anwar is a major donor to The Texas Tribune. Stuart Stedman is a donor to The Texas Tribune. Greenberg Traurig is a corporate sponsor of The Texas Tribune. A complete list of Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.