Political People and their Moves

Kinky Friedman plans to run for agriculture commission as a Democrat. Among other things, he thinks the state should “legalize, cultivate, tax and regulate marijuana.” He had previously been considering a run for governor. 

Houston attorney Sam Houston filed the campaign finance paperwork to run for attorney general. He’s the first Democrat to declare interest in that race and says he’ll make a formal announcement soon.

Former state Rep. Sid Miller, R-Stephenville, says he will run for agriculture commissioner in 2014, joining a crowded field just as Rep. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, jumped out. Creighton will run instead for the state Senate seat opened by Tommy Williams’ resignation. So will Rep. Steve Toth, R-The Woodlands. They’ll join Richard “Gordy” Bunch and Louis Guthrie, who are also in the race. 

Glenn Hegar picked up an endorsement from Texans for Fiscal Responsibility in his bid for comptroller. 

Janiece Crenwelge, most recently an analyst on the education section of the state budget, is leaving government to join the Erben and Yarbrough lobby firm. She previously worked for Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock.

Gov. Rick Perry appointed:

• Durga Agrawal and Paula Mendoza of Houston and Peter Taaffe of Austin to the board of regents at the University of Houston. Agrawal is CEO of Piping Technology and Products. Mendoza is present and CEO of Possible Missions. Taffee is an attorney with the Buzzbee Law Firm.

John Bailey of Cisco as justice of the 11th Court of Appeals, where Bailey has worked as a staff attorney.

Ken Wise of Humble as justice of the 14th Court of Appeals. He’s currently a district judge.

Catherine Evans of Houston as judge of the 180th Judicial District Court. She’s a prosecutor in the Harris County district attorney’s office.

Jennifer Balido of Dallas as judge of the 291st Judicial District Court. Balido, a former public defender and former prosecutor, is in private practice.

Grant Dorfman of Houston as judge of the 334th Judicial District Court. He is senior counsel at Nabors Corporate Services and a former judge.

Courtney Tracy of Newton as district attorney of Newton County. Tracy is a private practice lawyer and a former assistant city attorney in Houston.

Benjamin Smith of Snyder as district attorney for Borden and Scurry counties. He is currently Borden County attorney and an assistant DA for the two counties.