Texas House Speaker Joe Straus has been chosen to serve as vice chairman of the Republican Legislative Campaign Committee (RLCC) in 2015. The national organization's focus is on electing more Republicans to state legislatures.

Sarah Saldaña has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the next director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. She served most recently as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas.

Land Commissioner-elect George P. Bush has named the members of his government relations team. Jim Darwin will serve as federal and veterans liaison. Don Forse, Jackie King and Molly Quirk will serve as legislative liaisons. Anna Lisa Montoya will serve as legislative coordinator.

Shawn Saladin of Edinburg was named by Gov. Rick Perry to the board of the Texas School for the Deaf (TSD) for a term to expire Jan. 31, 2017.

Michael Hanley of Leander was named by Perry to the board of the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI) for a term to expire Jan. 1, 2017.

Rob Looney, who spent 26 years at the Texas Oil & Gas Association and nearly all of them leading the organization, has landed at Austin-based law firm Beatty Bangle Strama PC.

Martin Hubert has been hired as vice president and counsel for the Austin office of Cornerstone Government Affairs. His most recent service was as deputy comptroller. He has also worked at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the Texas Department of Agriculture and as general counsel to then-Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock.

Mark M. Ellison is leaving Perry's office of economic development and tourism to join IDE Americas, Inc. as regional director of sales. Ellison, who has been with Perry "off and on" since 1991, starts his new job Jan. 3. He will continue to be based in Austin.

Ryan Streeter has been named director of the Center for Politics and Governance at The University of Texas at Austin. He most recently served as deputy chief of staff for Indiana Gov. Mike Pence and also spent time as an adviser in the George W. Bush White House. His first day is Jan. 2.

Mia McCord is joining the consulting firm of Sabrina T. Brown. McCord was most recently chief of staff for state Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills. She begins work on Jan. 1.

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