Political People and their Moves

Former Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams was tapped by Gov. Rick Perry to head the Texas Education Agency. Williams replaces former commissioner Robert Scott, who resigned earlier this year. Williams will be the first commissioner without an education background, but Perry also designated a longtime veteran of the agency, Lizzette Gonzalez Reynolds, as Williams’ second in command.

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst named Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, replacing the retiring Steve Ogden, R-Bryan. He also said he'll keep Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, at State Affairs, and Jane Nelson, R-Lewisville, at Health and Human Services. That leaves four open slots and more than two dozen anxious senators. The committees: Transportation & Homeland Security, Economic Development, Jurisprudence, and the one everyone is watching: Education. Dewhurst said he'll finish soon.

John Montford will lead a group trying to expand legal gambling in Texas, according to a spokesman for the group. The former SBC executive, Texas Tech University System chancellor, state senator, and local prosecutor will work with LetTexansDecide.com. Montford was the Senate author of the state's lottery law 20 years ago. Backers of the new group include the Sam Houston Race Park, the Valley Race Park, Penn National Gaming, and several small chambers of commerce in the Houston area.

The Texas Medical Association’s PAC endorsed State Rep. and Dr. Mark Shelton, R-Fort Worth, in the SD-10 race against Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth.

Casey Haney is rejoining his old boss, Kyle Janek, at the state’s Health and Human Services Commission. Haney worked for Janek in the Senate and will be deputy chief of staff and senior advisor now that Janek is heading HHSC. Haney had been chief of staff to Railroad Commissioner Barry Smitherman; Christian Alvarado, who had been Smitherman’s general counsel, moves into the top job there. 

Gov. Rick Perry appointed Ryan Patrick of Houston as judge of the 177th Judicial District Court. Patrick is an assistant Harris County district attorney. 

The governor named Bech Bruun his director of appointments, replacing Teresa Spears, who’s been working with Perry for more than 20 years and is now retiring.  Bruun was most recently with the Brazos River Authority and worked for state Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, before that. 

Tony Bennett, long-time public affairs exec at Temple-Inland and the founding chairman of the Texas Association of Manufacturers, will be TAM’s new president. 

The Texas Apartment Association announced that John Sepehri will serve as the group's general counsel. Sepehri has previously served as general counsel for Texas Secretary of State Hope Andrade.

Deaths: Former state Rep. Don Lee, D-Harlingen. Lee worked for the Texas Department of Insurance for eight years after losing a re-election bid in 1986. He was 78.