Around the Capitol / On the Move

Megan Molleur is the new Criminal Justice Policy Advisor to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. She previously worked at the Texas Association of Counties and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.

Sheryl Taylor has joined Rep. Jolanda Jones as her District Director. She was previously Chief of Staff for Rep. Shawn Thierry. 

Jason Bramow has joined the General Counsel Division with the Office of the .Governor as an Assistant General Counsel. He previously served as General Counsel to Sen Phil King. 

Shannon Leigh is starting a new position as Deputy Legislative Director with Sen. Bob Hall. Previously, she worked as a government affairs and policy advisor for Pedernales Electric Cooperative.

Cynthia Van Maanen is joining Rep. Penny Morales Shaw as her new Chief of Staff. She previously worked for the Travis County Democratic Party as the Executive Director.

Brooke Bennett Galindo is the new Chief of Staff for Rep. Ann Johnson. She was previously the Chief of Staff for Rep. Lina Ortega.

Robert Black is the new Chief of Staff for Governor Abbott, replacing Gardner Pate. Most recently he was vice president for public affairs for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas and has been on both Gov. Greg Abbott's and former Gov. and Sec. of Energy Rick Perry's staffs.

Jeffrey Waldock is the new Legislative Director for Senator Kevin Sparks. He was previously the Chief of Staff for Rep. Jared Patterson.

Lt. Governor Dan Patrick apppointed the following to the Sunset Advisory Commission:

• Sen. Tan Parker, a presiding officer
• Sen. Cesar Blanco
• Sen. Mayes Middleton
• Sen. Kevin Sparks
• Roger Elswick, public member

Texas Politics Today is produced and sponsored by Arnold Public Affairs, an Austin-based public affairs and lobby firm working with corporate and non-profit organizations. Jim Arnold, Ellen Arnold and Rea Motiwala

Be sure to send us news of departures, promotions, births, marriages and other milestones, so we can share it with the Capitol community!

Information can be sent to jim@arnoldpublicaffairs.com or text at 512-431-5385

Lobby/Association/Other

Kelsey Bernstein has left the Texas Association of Counties and has started a new position as Chief of Government Relations at the Texas Council of Community Centers.

Britton Davis has left Rep. Travis Clardy's office and is now doing government relations for ERCOT.

Kari King, Director of Government & Industry Relations at USAA is leaving to start her own lobby/consulting practice.

Eileen Smith has joined UT College of Education as Senior Writer/Editor. She is the longtime author of In the Pink Newsletter.

Billy Briscoe recently was named CEO of Clean Energy Fund of Texas . He was previously the Executive Vice President.

Blake Calvert is starting a new position as Interim Executive Director at the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Consortium. Most recently he was a budget and policy Advisor in Gov. Greg Abbott's office.

Rebecca Acuna is now Assistant VP of Communications for CSR at AT&T. Previously, she was the Director of Government Affairs and Policy Communications at PepsiCo.

Recent staff changes at the Texas Association of Business:

• Megan Mauro has been promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff.
• Gabriela Perdichizzi is the new VP of Communications and Development.
• Julia Musquiz is now the Director of Strategic Initiatives.

June Deadrick was recently promoted to Vice-President of Community Relations for CenterPoint Energy. She previously served as the Director of State & Federal Relations.

Kaitlyn Murphy has joined the Locke Lord Public Policy Team. She was previously with the Greater Houston Partnership where she led advocacy efforts at the local, state, and federal levels.

Chris Smith is now the Sr. Manager, State Government Affairs at Constellation Energy's Public Policy Team. Previously, Chris was the Senior Legislative Affairs Advisor for the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.

Cathy Dewitt is starting a new position as Southwest Regional Manager, State and Local Policy at General Motors. She was previously a lobbyist at the Schlueter Group.

Sarah Mae Jennings is starting as Texas Access to Justice Commission Deputy Executive Director at the State Bar of Texas. She, most recently, was an adjunct professor at The University of Texas School of Law

Michael Warner is now a Senior Policy Advisor at Holland Knight LLP. His previously worked in Government Affairs at Spencer Fane LLP.

John Fitzpatrick has announced he's leaving Educate Texas after almost 20 years. He will remain through 2024 to assist with the transition to a new ED.

Norman Garza Jr. recently was named the Texas Space Commission's first Executive Director. He previously was the Assistant Vice Chancellor at the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station.

Peyton Schumann has rejoined the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association as the Senior Director of Government Relations. He previously worked in the Texas General Land Office in Government Relations.

Matthew Watkins is the new Editor in Chief at the Texas Tribune replacing Sewell Chan who is now the executive editor of the Columbia Journalism Review.

Texas Gun Sense is looking for responsible gun owners who can be advocates for common sense solutions to end gun violence -- whether that be stronger background checks or safe gun storage education. If you're a Texas gun owner who wants to learn more about who we are and how you can be part of the solution to end gun violence, please fill out our brief survey.

State Agencies

Cassi Lamb is starting a new role at the Teacher Retirement System as Deputy Director. She was previously the Chief Strategy Officer.

Mary Winston joined the Sunset Commission as General Counsel. Previously she worked as general counsel for the Texas Racing Commission.

Antonio Mireles is the new Director of Government Relations at the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. He was previously Chief of Staff to Rep. Matt Shaheen.

Courtney Hjaltman was appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott to the Public Utility Commission of Texas. She was previously his deputy legislative director. 

Laura Atlas Kravitz is joining the State Government Affairs team at TxDOT. Previously, she worked for Sen. Nathan Johnson and the Texas Women's Foundation.

Evan Samon is now a legislative coordinator at the Texas Department of Public Safety. He previously worked for Sen. Kelly Hancock.

Mary Elen Williams is joining the Office of Public Utility Counsel as a government and external affairs specialist. She previously served as the Director of Government Relations for Disaster Recovery at the General Land Office.

Rachael Hendrickson has been promoted to Chief of Staff at the Department of State Health Services. She previously served as the Director of External Relations.

Texas A&M Chancellor John Sharp has announced he will be retiring in June 2025.

Birthdays

Note: If you'd like your birthday listed and we aren't friends on FB, email me and I'll make sure its included.

July

1-Fmr. Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, Jay Arnold, Austin Osborn, Harrison Salter

2-Ana Ramon, Darren Whitehurst, Don Garner, Birk Wilkison, Carolyn Merchan Saegert

3-Andy Cates, Dave Carney, Ray Sullivan

4- Mark Wiggins

5-Nelson Jarrin, Ryan Brannon, Stephen Brown, Rep. David Cook, Kyle Jackson

6-Micah Rodriguez, Gardner Selby, Michaela Bennett, Emily Love

7-Rep. Philip Cortez, Riley Stinnett, Reed Clay, Fmr. Rep. John Davis, Richard Armey

8-Caroline Dickerson Kunkel, Hector Gutierrez, Leslie Ward, Amanda Arriaga

9-Lindsey Linder

10-Gene Acuna, Brittney Baldovino

11- Boyd L. Richie

13-Rep. Sam Harless, Jonathon McClellan, Debbie Reyes, Bill Lauderback

14-Fmr. Rep. Doug Miller, Wayne Roberts, Richard Seline, Fmr. Rep. Melissa Noriega, Andrew Fuller

15-Fmr. Rep. Celia Israel, Fmr. Rep. Bruce Gibson, Jessica Hale Allen

16-Fmr. Rep. James White, Mireya Zapata, Rusty Kelly, Bo Gilbert, Rep. Josey Garcia, MaKayla Arthur

17-Sylvia Praesel, Whitney Broughton

18- Rep. Suleman Lalani, Odus Evbagharu, Chris Tomlinson

19-Chris Cutrone, Jody Richardson, Roger Miller

20-Ryan Marquess, Monty Exter, Debra Guilford Richmond, Jackie King, June Deadrick, Velma Cruz, Donna Nelson

21-Sen. Bryan Hughes, Brady Vaughn, Ryan Alter, Solomon Ortiz Jr.

22-Rep. Rhetta Bowers, Rep. Gary Gates, Ben Utley, Catie Cooper, Jarrett Hill

23-Greg Macksood

24-Jennifer Sarver, Geoff Connor, Nick Eastwood

25-Courtney Hoffman

26-Dustin Meador, Colby Nichols, Ana Correa, Jason Steele, Morgan Hendon

27-Rep. Hugh Shine, Ashley Storm Ruleman, David Emerick, Braden Hand, Alex Meade, Lou Ann McKinney

28-Dinah Welsh, Barry McBee, Rep. Mihaela Plesa, Matt Garcia, Jordan Nicole Wat

29-Nick James, Mary Elen Williams, David Holmes, Julie Williams

31-Mark Ellison, Scott Hutchinson

Shout Outs

• Congratulation to Casey Haney on starting school at SW Graduate School of Banking
• Congratulations to Gladys Acosta on graduating from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin.
• Congratulations to Pete Constancio on his recent retirement. He served as a Texas State Trooper for over 30 years
• Congratulations to Brandon Steinmann and Jessica Hart Steinmann on their new baby boy coming in December.
• Congratulations to Jeff Carlson and Taylor Schumacher Carlson on their new baby girl coming in December.
• Congratulations to Jose and Christina Gonzalez on the recent birth of their daughter, Sofia Grace.

In Our Thoughts

We send our condolences to the friends, colleagues and families of the following who have passed recently:

Adrian "Butch" Fincher, brother of fmr. Rep Patricia Harless and brother in law of Rep. Sam Harless

Sid Ashby, father of Rep. Trent Ashby

Kinky Friedman, Texas satirist and one-time candidate for Governor

Carlos Cascos, former Texas Secretary of State and political leader in the Rio Grande Valley

Richard Charles Kouri Jr., former executive director at Texas State Teachers Association.

Barry Telford, former State Representative

For inquiries regarding sponsorship opportunities for this newsletter, please reach out to Jim Arnold at jim@arnoldpublicaffairs.com.