Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Friday four appointments to the board of the Department of Information Resources. Stuart Bernstein of Austin, John Scott of Fort Worth and Rigo Villarreal of Mission were named to terms to expire Feb. 1, 2021. The fourth appointee, Linda Shaunessy of Austin, was named to a term to expire Feb. 1, 2019. In addition, Scott was named the board’s presiding officer.
Abbott tapped Debra Dockery as the presiding officer of the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners for a term to expire at the pleasure of the governor. He additionally appointed Jennifer Walker, Bob Wetmore and reappointed Chase Bearden to the board. Their terms expire Jan. 31, 2021.
Craig Estes, the newly installed chairman of the Senate Natural Resources and Economic Development Committee, announced on Friday who he’s brought on board as staff.
• John Bennett, committee director — served as Estes’ general counsel for the past three sessions.
• Stacie Bennett, committee counsel — worked on the staff of state Sen. Paul Bettencourt as general counsel.
CD-7 challenger James Lloyd released on Thursday a list of endorsements from local elected officials as well as grassroots activists. Headlining the list are two Harris County commissioners — Jack Morman of Precinct 2 and Steve Radack of Precinct 3 — as well as former state Sen. Jon Lindsay. Lloyd and Maria Espinoza are both seeking to unseat John Culberson, R-Houston, in the GOP primary.
Former state Rep. Lon Burnam on Tuesday unveiled a list of endorsements for his bid for Texas railroad commissioner, including some high-profile names in his Democratic Party. Those supporters include: Wendy Davis, the former 2014 candidate for governor; former state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte; Jim Hightower, former Agriculture Commissioner; U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Austin; U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey of Fort Worth; former state Rep. Paul Sadler.
Weston Martinez — one of seven candidates on the Republican ballot for Texas Railroad Commissioner — announced support Tuesday from James Welder. The head of Welder Exploration and Production recently served as chairman of the Texas Producers and Royalty Owners Association.
Dawn Buckingham has earned the endorsement of J.C. Mathiews, Area V director of the Association of Texas Soil and Water Conservation Districts, for her bid to win the GOP nomination in SD-24.
The trade associations’ political arms have had a busy week unveiling endorsements. Here are some:
Texas Association of Realtors: Incumbents — Gary VanDeaver (HD-1), Jodie Laubenberg (HD-89), Jonathan Stickland (HD-92) and Tony Tinderholt (HD-94). Challengers — Lance Gooden (HD-4), Hugh Shine (HD-55), Bennett Ratliff (HD-115). Open seats — Kevin Downing (HD-60), Kevin Roberts (HD-126)
Texas Association of Business: Incumbents — Doug Miller (HD-73). Challengers — Bennett Ratliff (HD-115). Open seats — Tom Oliverson (HD-130).
Texas Medical Association: Challengers — Andrew Piel (HD-94)
Texas American Federation of Teachers: Open seats — Martin Golando (HD-116)
CLEAT: Incumbents — Jason Villalba (HD-114), Dan Huberty (HD-127)
Other advocacy groups have had a similarly busy week with endorsements. Here are some:
Texans for Lawsuit Reform: Incumbents — David J. Schenck (Fifth Court of Appeals)
NRA/Texas State Rifle Association: Incumbents — Cindy Burkett (HD-113)
Texans for Life: Incumbents — Cindy Burkett (HD-113). Open seats — Kevin Roberts (HD-126)
Texas Alliance for Life: Incumbents — Cindy Burkett (HD-113).
Texas Right to Life: Challengers — Terry Wilson (HD-20).
Burkett additionally announced endorsements this week from Garland Mayor Douglas Athas and seven of the city’s council members: Billy Mack Williams, Jim Cahill, Anita Gobel, Tim Campbell, Stephen Stanley, Lori Barnett Dodson and Scott LeMay.
Tarrant County state Sen. Konni Burton, R-Colleyville, has endorsed Jess Fields, who is challenging three-term incumbent John Raney in the Brazos County-based HD-14. A former College Station city councilman, Fields more recently worked for the free market-oriented Texas Public Policy Foundation.
Angelique Bartholomew, one of two candidates challenging state Rep. Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, in the HD-27 Democratic primary, has picked up the endorsement of Annie’s List, an organization dedicated to electing Democratic women to the Legislature. Annie’s List also said it is making a $15,000 direct expenditure to help Bartholomew’s campaign.
Odessa businessman Dick Saulsbury announced Monday that he’s endorsing Joshua Crawford, who is challenging HD-81 state Rep. Brooks Landgraf in the Republican Party primary. Saulsbury until relatively recently supported Landgraf, having given the freshman lawmaker a total of $5,000 in 2014. He also was listed as Landgraf’s campaign treasurer as recently as the July 2015 semiannual campaign report.
HD-114 state Rep. Jason Villalba, R-Dallas, announced that he has the backing of several public safety groups, including the Dallas Police Association, Dallas Firefighters Association, Texas Department of Public Safety Officers Association and Texas Municipal Police Association.
Rudy Giuliani is leaving Bracewell & Giuliani's New York office, which he helped establish, for Greenberg Traurig where he will serve as global chair for the firm’s cybersecurity and crisis management practice. The former New York City mayor joined the Houston-based Bracewell & Patterson in 2005 as a named partner.
Deaths: Mark Kincaid, 56, president-elect of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association. He also served as head of the Office of Public Insurance Counsel from 1994-95, an appointee of Gov. Ann Richards. Services will be held at 2:30 p.m. today at St. David's Episcopal Church in downtown Austin. A reception will follow on the TTLA's rooftop patio.
Disclosure: The Texas Association of Realtors, the Texas Association of Business, the Texas Medical Association, Greenberg Traurig, Bracewell & Giuliani and the Texas Trial Lawyers Association are corporate sponsors of The Texas Tribune. Mark Kincaid is a donor to The Texas Tribune. A complete list of Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.