Political People and their Moves

Gov. Greg Abbott has named seven people to the Texas Radiation Advisory Board: Mark Harvey, Neal Leavell, Gerald Powell, Missy Shorey, Simon Trubek, Karen Newton and Kenneth Krieger. Krieger already serves on the board.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has appointed four state senators to Texas advisory groups. State Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, will join the Texas Rural Health and Economic Development Advisory Council, while state Sens. Charles Perry, Craig Estes and Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa are new members of the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas Advisory Committee, which works with the Texas Water Development Board.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission has tapped state Medicaid director Gary Jessee to lead its new Medical and Social Services division. The new division of the Health and Human Services system, set to open Sept. 1, will oversee programs run by the Office of Social Services—including food stamps and TANF cash assistance—as well as Medicaid and community services.

Crystal Ford, the chief of staff for state Rep. Carol Alvarado, is moving to the lobbying arm of the law firm Locke Lord on July 1. Ford will work as a public policy adviser in Locke Lord's Public Law Practice Group. Yuniedth Midence Steen, a government affairs consultant at Locke Lord, also retired on May 31, according to a firm press release.

The Texas Association of Business' political action committee has awarded U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth, with its Bob Bolen Champion of Free Enterprise lifetime achievement award.

Judge John J. Specia is joining the lobbying firm the Texas Star Alliance. Specia most recently served as the commissioner of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services after he was appointed by former Gov. Rick Perry in 2012.

Common Cause Texas has hired Anthony Gutierrez as its new executive director. The Democratic political consultant has worked on campaigns for state Rep. Joe Heflin and U.S. Rep. Ciro Rodriguez and has also worked for U.S. Reps. Marc Veasey and Pete Gallego. He’s also worked on a Latino advocacy program for the nonpartisan Southwest Voter Registration Education Project.

Disclosure: The Texas Association of Business has been a financial sponsor of The Texas Tribune. A complete list of Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.