Political People and their Moves

Gov. Greg Abbott submitted three appointments to the Texas Senate for confirmation. They are:

  • Carlos Cascos, Secretary of State
  • Jerry Strickland, Executive Director of the Office of State and Federal Relations
  • David Mattax, Insurance Commissioner

Abbott also made several batches of appointments to university system boards of regents:

  • University of Texas System: R. Steven “Steve” Hicks (reappointed), Sara Martinez Tucker and David Beck
  • Texas A&M University: Phil Adams (reappointed), William “Bill” Mahomes Jr. and Robert L. “Bob” Albritton
  • Texas Tech University: Mickey Long (reappointed), Christopher M. Huckabee and Ronnie “Ron” Hammonds

State Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, was named to GOPAC's 2015 Legislative Leaders Advisory Board. The panel selects state legislators for the GOP training organization's Emerging Leaders Program, which prepares them for statewide and federal contests.

Former state Rep. and former GOP comptroller candidate Harvey Hilderbran is the new executive director of the Texas Facilities Commission. He takes over for Terry Keel, who stepped down to take a position at the Texas Department of Agriculture.

Former Virginia Congressman Frank Wolf has been named the Jerry and Susan Wilson Chair in Religious Freedom at Baylor University. A congressman from 1981 until this month, Wolf will also head up Baylor's efforts on Capitol Hill, according to a report in Roll Call.

The Texas County & District Retirement System has named Amy Bishop to be its new director. The organization went in house to hire Bishop, who has been deputy director, chief customer officer and benefits administrator, among others. She succeeds Gene Glass, who retired after 18 years with TCDRS.

Deaths: Hank Brown, 94, who was president of the Texas AFL-CIO from 1961-71. He also created the United Labor Legislative Committee, the lobbying arm of the state labor federation and its allies.

Disclosure: The University of Texas and Texas A&M University are corporate sponsors of The Texas Tribune. Steven Hicks and Donna Stockton Hicks are major donors to the Tribune. A complete list of Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.