Vol 32, Issue 6 Print Issue

State Reps. José Menéndez (left) and Trey Martinez Fischer, both Democrats from San Antonio, are seeking the Texas Senate seat vacated by Leticia Van de Putte, who is running for mayor of San Antonio.
State Reps. José Menéndez (left) and Trey Martinez Fischer, both Democrats from San Antonio, are seeking the Texas Senate seat vacated by Leticia Van de Putte, who is running for mayor of San Antonio.

Dollars Flow Freely in SD-26 Runoff

The two candidates plus the Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC have spent a combined seven-figure sum since Jan. 1.

The Week in the Rearview Mirror

An external review released Thursday on lawmaker and regent influence at the University of Texas at Austin found that campus President Bill Powers has helped secure college admittance for some students over the objections of the admissions office. UT System Chancellor Bill McRaven later said that he'd be taking no disciplinary action against Powers or any other university officials.

The Senate State Affairs Committee passed bills on Thursday that would lift a ban on concealed handguns at university campuses and allow license holders to carry holstered handguns openly. Both measures passed 7-2, with the committee's two Democrats voting against, and now proceed to the full Senate.

House budget writers heard from leadership at the Department of Public Safety and the National Guard on the status of the surge aimed at stopping illegal border crossings. What lawmakers heard was that rotating officers through the Valley wears them out and that Guard troops want more predictability for their lengths of deployment.

Officials with the TxDOT and Xerox surprised senators Wednesday by reporting that 30,000 drivers with valid TxTag accounts were erroneously mailed bills for using the state’s toll roads.

Disclosure: The University of Texas at Austin is a corporate sponsor of The Texas Tribune. A complete list of Texas Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.

Political People and their Moves

Gov. Greg Abbott endorsed fellow Republican Nunzio Previtera in Tuesday's special runoff election in the Bexar County-based House District 123. Previtera, a State Republican Executive Committee member, faces off against a former San Antonio Councilman, Diego Bernal, in the runoff.

Lisa Craven has been named the comptroller's designee to the State Water Implementation Fund (SWIFT) advisory committee. She is currently Comptroller Glenn Hegar's chief of staff.

Trey Newton has left the General Land Office — where he was deputy commissioner and chief of staff — to return to consulting work. Newton, who was previously senior adviser to the George P. Bush campaign, said, “The reality is I was only going to be around for transition, maybe for session. This was planned all along.” What accelerated his decision, he said, “was that 2016 started early this year.”

Pamela McPeters is stepping down next week as chief of staff for state Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, after 13 years. She is leaving to become director of public policy for the Texas Association for the Protection of Children (TexProtects). Dukes has tapped Ariane Marion to succeed McPeters as chief of staff.