Gov. Greg Abbott has tapped former Texas Supreme Court Justice Dale Wainwright to lead the Texas Board of Criminal Justice. Abbott also appointed Tom G. Fordyce and Derrelynn Perryman to the board. All three were named to terms to expire Feb. 1, 2021.
Abbott made three judicial appointments this week. They are :
• Chad Bridges of Sugar Land was named judge for the 240th Judicial District Court in Fort Bend County. His term runs until the next general election.
• Susan Rankin of Dallas was named judge for the 254th Judicial District Court in Dallas County for a term to expire at the next general election.
• David Perwin of Richmond was named judge for the 505th Judicial District Court in Fort Bend County. His term runs until the next general election. This appointment will be effective Sept. 1.
Abbott appointed state Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, and state Rep. Lyle Larson, R-San Antonio, to the Southwestern States Water Commission for terms to expire in 2019 and 2017, respectively.
The Republican Party of Texas has selected Kyle Whatley to succeed Beth Cubriel as the party’s executive director. Whatley, a Houston native, worked most recently for Pennsylvania Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick and has prior stints working for Arlene Wohlgemuth and Quico Canseco.
The Ted Cruz campaign announced on Tuesday that he has the backing of Ron Robinson, the leader of conservative youth group Young America’s Foundation. Robinson also is a founder of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) and Citizens United.
State Sen. Brian Birdwell of Granbury will serve as one of three co-chairs of "Vets for Ted," Cruz's campaign announced Wednesday. The other co-chairs are former U.S. Sen. Bob Smith of New Hampshire and U.S. Rep. Jim Bridenstine of Oklahoma.
State Sen. Bob Hall, R-Edgewood, has endorsed Cruz for president. Hall joins his colleagues Konni Burton, R-Colleyville, and Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, in backing Cruz.
Burton, meanwhile, announced on Wednesday that she has endorsed David Simpson in his bid to win the open Senate seat being vacated by Tyler Republican Kevin Eltife.
The Houston Professional Firefighters Association, IAFF Local 341 announced its support for Mary Ann Perez who is running to regain the HD-144 seat that she represented in 2013.
Deaths: Dr. James "Red" Duke Jr., 86, of natural causes in Houston. Duke's surgical career spanned from attending to Gov. John Connally on the day of the John F. Kennedy assassination to founding Houston's helicopter ambulance system to his syndicated television appearances that made him a nationally recognized figure.