Vol 31, Issue 11 Print Issue

The Week in the Rearview Mirror

One out of three ain't bad? GOP lite guv runoff opponents David Dewhurst and Dan Patrick were on track to meet face-to-face three times this week. But Patrick withdrew from the first in Houston because the event was closed to the press. He then withdrew from the second in Arlington because he was already slated to appear with former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee before supporters in Dallas. The two are confirmed, though, for a joint appearance in Kerrville on Friday.

The issue of equal pay between men and women drove the contest for governor this week with plenty of fodder supplied for both campaigns. By week's end, the Greg Abbott and Wendy Davis campaigns were trading salary figures intended to show the opponent had a worse record on fair pay.

State Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, and San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro have finalized plans to face off over immigration policy and border security on April 15. They will debate before a small live audience at Univision's San Antonio studios. The encounter will be moderated by the Tribune's Evan Smith and will be livestreamed by the Tribune.

Lots of news coverage this week on the car maker Tesla, which named Texas one of four finalists to house its planned $5 billion lithium-ion battery factory. But the state's strict auto dealership laws could hurt its chances, company officials say.

Attorney General Greg Abbott's attempt to get the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to reconsider an October ruling that overturned a law intended to prevent sexting between adults and minors took an odd turn when the court instead threw out the notification law on which Abbott based his appeal.

The Campaign Legal Center, a Washington, D.C.-based voting rights organization, warned the City of Jasper against annexing three white subdivisions. The voting rights group said such an action could harm minority voters and could run afoul of the Voting Rights Act.

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

Political People and their Moves

Richard Hall has been hired away from the Teacher Retirement System of Texas to oversee the private equity portfolio for Harvard University's endowment fund. Hall had worked for six years at TRS where he managed $14 billion in private equity, according to the Boston Globe, which reported the hiring.

Philip Castille, the president of the University of Houston-Victoria, resigned on Tuesday, according to the University of Houston System.

Rob Looney has announced that he will step down as president of the Texas Oil and Gas Association at the end of the year, concluding 26 years spent representing the oil and natural gas industry.

John Cuellar of Dallas was named chairman of the Aging and Disability Services Council by Gov. Rick Perry. In addition, Edward Yosowitz of Houston was appointed to the council, which assists the elderly and disabled in Texas.

Endorsements of current candidates by former opponents:

•    Jake Ellzey, who finished third in the HD-10 GOP primary, has endorsed John Wray in the runoff election against T.J. Fabby.

•    Sam Brown, who finished third in the HD-102 GOP primary, has endorsed Linda Koop in the runoff election against Stefani Carter.

Other endorsements of note:

•    Former Republican Party of Texas Chairman George W. Strake Jr. has endorsed Ken Paxton in the GOP runoff for attorney general.

•    The Houston Police Retired Officers Association has endorsed Dan Branch in the GOP runoff for attorney general.

•    State Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, has endorsed Wayne Christian in the GOP runoff for railroad commissioner.

•    The Texas Home School Coalition Association has endorsed Glenn Hegar for comptroller in the general election.