Mary Ann Williamson of Weatherford was named by Gov. Rick Perry to the Texas Lottery Commission for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2017. Williamson, the widow of Perry friend and ally Ric Williamson, was most recently an appointee to the Texas Water Development Board, from which she resigned in January. She returns to the Lottery Commission, where she served as chairwoman for a time.

Jake Ellzey of Midlothian was named by Perry to the Texas Veterans Commission for a term to expire Dec. 31, 2017. Ellzey most recently was a candidate for the GOP nomination in HD-10. He was the only candidate for the House to receive Perry's endorsement.

Sada Cumber of Sugar Land was named by Perry to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for a term to expire Aug. 31, 2015.

Albert Betts takes over as executive director of the Insurance Council of Texas (ICT) on April 1. He replaces Rick Gentry, who is retiring after 17 years as the association’s manager. Betts has been ICT general counsel since 2009. He also was a partner in the Austin office of Thompson Coe Cousins & Irons, LLP and was before that Texas' first commissioner of workers’ compensation.

The field is now set for the May 10 special election in SD-4 to fill the seat left empty when Tommy Williams resigned last October. The four-man field is:

•    State Rep. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe

•    State Rep. Steve Toth, R-The Woodlands

•    Michael Galloway, who represented SD-4 from 1995-99 and was a candidate for the seat in 2002 and 2012

•    Gordy Bunch, member of The Woodlands Township board of directors

Early voting begins April 28.

Disclosure: At the time of publication, the Insurance Council of Texas was a corporate sponsor of The Texas Tribune in 2011. (See the full list of Tribune donors below $1,000 here.)