Gov. Greg Abbott appointed 10 members to the Aerospace and Aviation Advisory Committee. Sharon Denny of McKinney, Amy Gowder of San Antonio, Cathy Kilmain of North Richland Hills, J. Ross Lacy of Midland, Robert Mitchell of Pearland and Terry Stevens of Waco were named to terms to expire Sept. 1, 2017. John Elbon of Seabrook, Robert Harless of Dallas, Janine Iannarelli of Houston and Gilberto Salinas of Brownsville were named to terms to expire Sept. 1, 2019. Abbott also announced that he has named Iannarelli as the board’s presiding officer.

Former Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson endorsed Republican John Greytok for Railroad Commissioner.

TEXPAC, the political arm of the Texas Medical Association, released its complete list of party primary endorsements, which includes five examples of the group backing Republican challengers. Four of those are in House contests — Hugh Shine for HD-55; Scott Fisher for HD-92; Andrew Piel for HD-94; and Bennett Ratliff for HD-115. The fifth challenger they endorsed is Judge Michael Massengale in his race to unseat Texas Supreme Court Justice Debra Lehrmann.

Houston-area Republican organization United Republicans of Harris County has endorsed Lehrmann for re-election to the Texas Supreme Court.

The Texas Health Care Association is endorsing 10 incumbent state legislators in their primaries. The association is backing state Sens. Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio; Eddie Lucio Jr., D-Brownsville; and Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen. On the House side, the THCA is supporting:

•    Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio
•    Rep. Travis Clardy, R-Nacogdoches
•    Rep. J.D. Sheffield, R-Gatesville
•    Rep. Cindy Burkett, R-Sunnyvale
•    Rep. Jason Villalba, R-Dallas
•    Rep. Sarah Davis, R-West University Place
•    Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston

Dawn Buckingham is adding another name to her list of endorsements for her race to be the next state senator for SD-24: state Sen. Don Huffines, R-Dallas.

The Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC is endorsing state Rep. Dan Flynn, R-Canton, in his race for re-election in HD-2.

Former Longview Mayor Jay Dean has received the backing of the Texas Alliance for Life in his race to be the next state representative for HD-7.

A majority of the Brazos County Republican Party leadership has endorsed Jess Fields in his bid to oust incumbent state Rep. John Raney in the HD-14 GOP primary. A total of 21 of 26 precinct chairs and five of six committee chairs pledged their support for Fields.

State Rep. Drew Springer, R-Muenster, has endorsed Mike Lang in the open GOP primary contest to find a successor to Jim Keffer, R-Eastland, in HD-60.

Republican candidate Stan Lambert announced Friday that he’s earned the endorsement of the Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC in his bid to win the open West Texas-based HD-71 seat. Lambert is one of five Republicans seeking the nomination. King opted not to run for re-election in order to make a bid for the Texas Senate.

HD-113 incumbent state Rep. Cindy Burkett, R-Sunnyvale, said last Friday that she has the backing of several Rowlett city leaders, including Mayor Todd Gottel and Mayor Pro Tem Michael Gallops along with city council members Tammy Dana-Bashian, Debby Bobbitt, Rick Sheffield, and Robbert Van Bloemendaal.

State Rep. Jason Villalba, R-Dallas, announced an endorsement from the TMA’s political arm in his bid for re-election for HD-114.

Democrat Phillip Cortez is being endorsed by the Texas American Federation of Teachers for state representative in HD-117.

State Sen. José Menéndez, D-San Antonio, touted earlier this week an endorsement of his re-election bid from state Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon, who is resigning her seat representing HD-120 at the end of the month.

The Texas Restaurant Association and the Texas Apartment Association are backing Republican Kevin Roberts in his race to succeed state Rep. Patricia Harless in HD-126. 

State Rep. Dan Huberty is being endorsed by HOSPAC, the political arm of the Texas Hospital Association, in his re-election bid for HD-127.

Harris County District Clerk Chris Daniel endorsed Republican Tom Oliverson in his race to replace retiring state Rep. Allen Fletcher in HD-130.

The political arm of tort reform group Texans for Lawsuit Reform said on Monday that it is endorsing Kevin D. Jewell of Houston for a spot on the Fourteenth Court of Appeals.

The University of Texas at Austin has recruited Darrell Bazzell away from the University of Wisconsin-Madison to fill the post of chief financial officer. Bazzell starts work in Austin on April 18.

The Texas Public Policy Foundation announced on Monday that Arlene Wohlgemuth plans to leave her position of executive director in May. The former state representative first came to TPPF as a visiting research fellow in 2005 and later took on the title of senior fellow.

After nearly 14 years as a partner at The Graydon Group, Jay Brown is leaving to start his own governmental affairs practice.

Disclosure: The University of Texas at Austin, the Texas American Federation of Teachers, the Texas Medical Association, the Texas Hospital Association and the Texas Health Care Association are corporate sponsors of The Texas Tribune. The Texas Public Policy Foundation has been a corporate sponsor of The Texas Tribune. Jerry Patterson is a donor to The Texas Tribune. A complete list of Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.