Political People and their Moves

Gov. Rick Perry, who is in the final two weeks of his time in office, has issued a large set of judicial appointments. They are:

  • Bonnie Sudderth of Fort Worth to the 2nd Court of Appeals
  • Cindy Bourland of Round Rock to the 3rd Court of Appeals
  • Jason Pulliam of San Antonio to the 4th Court of Appeals
  • David Schenck of Dallas to the 5th Court of Appeals
  • Bill Miller of Texarkana to the 5th Judicial District Court
  • Bobby Burnett of Munday to the 50th Judicial District Court
  • Mark Pittman of Fort Worth to the 352nd Judicial District Court
  • Tiffany Haertling of Denton to the 442nd Judicial District Court

The terms for all eight appointments run through the 2016 general election.

Lori Wrotenbery has joined the Railroad Commission of Texas as the new director of its oil and gas division. She comes to the agency from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission where she was director of administration.

Karen Robinson, the state's chief information officer and executive director of the Texas Department of Information Resources, officially retired on Dec. 31. She will take over as U.S. president of Robots and Pencils, Inc. in February.

Mike Rosen left Congressman Michael McCaul's press shop at the end of December. He reports that he has accepted an offer from an Austin technology firm to be its government affairs director.

Mark Miner and Holly DeShields have been hired by McGuireWoods Consulting to direct its Austin office. Miner served as chief spokesman for Gov. Rick Perry in his gubernatorial campaigns and his presidential campaign. DeShields served as chief of staff for state Sen. Mike Jackson, R-LaPorte.

Brian Garrett Yarbrough and Janiece Crenwelge have announced the formation of BGYarbrough & Associates, offering legal and governmental affairs consulting services.

Gay Gaddis has been named the next chairwoman of the Texas Business Leadership Council. Gaddis, the founder of the T3 advertising agency, is the group's sixth leader in its 20-year history and the first woman to hold the post.

John Hall has hired on as Texas director for the Environmental Defense Fund's clean energy program. His past public service includes stints as the executive director for the Texas Environmental Research Consortium in Houston as well as chairman of the Texas Water Commission and the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission.

Disclosure: The Texas Business Leadership Council was in 2013 a corporate sponsor of The Texas Tribune. A complete list of Texas Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.