Political People and their Moves

Ron Kirk, the former Dallas mayor and U.S. trade representative, will join the Gibson Dunn law firm, floating between its Dallas and Washington, DC, offices and “advising global clients.” 

Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, told Austin’s KXAN-TV that she will run for reelection in 2014 and not — as some Democrats have hoped and rumored — for statewide office. 

F. Scott McCown, the former state district judge who has headed the Center for Public Policy Priorities since 2002, will leave that post this summer and start teaching at the University of Texas law school next fall. He’ll be director of the Children’s Rights Clinic there, teaching law students how to represent kids in child protective service cases. 

Will Hailer, who has worked for Democrats in Minnesota and Virginia and on campaigns in those and other states, is the new executive director of the Texas Democratic Party. Bill Brannon, who has the job now, will become a senior advisor to the party, spending less time there and more time on campaigns.

Kenneth Evans was appointed president of Lamar University. He had been dean of the business school at the University of Oklahoma. He will succeed James Simmons, who is retiring in July.

Gov. Rick Perry appointed:

Oscar Garcia of Port Isabel as judge of the 357th judicial district court in Cameron County. Garcia is an attorney in private practice.

James Scott of Beaumont to the Jefferson and Orange County Board of Pilot Commissioners. Scott is vice president of Trans-Global Solutions.