Around the Capitol / On the Move

Recent staff changes in the Governor's Office:

• Tabatha Vasquez has been promoted to Senior Advisor for Budget and Policy. Vasquez previously served as the Governor’s Policy Director and Deputy Budget and Policy Director. Vasquez is succeeding Sarah Hicks. Hicks is a partner at Hicks/Pate Strategies with former Abbott COS, Gardner Pate.
• Robert Howden will serve as Senior Advisor and Director of Legislative Affairs beginning this week. Howden previously worked as a lobbyist and public affairs consultant and was a senior advisor to former Gov. Rick Perry.
• Brady Franks will serve as the new Budget Director. Franks is the co-founder of MF Advisors. Franks previously served as a Budget and Policy Advisor to Governor Abbott and was later promoted to Deputy Budget and Policy Director. 
• Michael Hull will serve as the new Policy Director. Hull currently serves as the Chief Research Officer and Senior Advisor for the Vice Chancellor of Disaster and Emergency Services at the Texas Division of Emergency Management.
• Shayne Woodard has left the Governor's office to return to his lobby practice.
• Lauren Freriks is now a Budget and Policy Advisor. She previously served as a Strategic Management Analyst at the Texas Department of Transportation.

Recent staff changes in the Speaker's office:

• Former Rep. and longtime lobbyist Mike Toomey is now the Chief of Staff and former Gov. Rick Perry has joined the Speaker's team as a Senior Advisor.
• Kate Goodrich is the new Deputy General Counsel and Policy Adviser She previously lobbied and practiced law at Jackson Walker.

Jeffrey Waldock joined Sen. Kevin Sparks as his Legislative Director. Previously he worked for Rep. Jared Patterson

Birk Wilkison is the new Chief of Staff for Rep. Jessica Gonzalez. Previously he was the Deputy Director for the Texas Democratic Party.

Britton Davis has joined ERCOT's Government Relations team. He was previously the Chief of Staff for Rep. Travis Clardy.

Lieutenant Governor Patrick created a special Texas Senate committee on hurricane preparedness chaired by Sen. Charles Schwertner. The following are also on the committee:

• Vice Chair Phil King
• Sen. Carol Alvarado
• Sen. Paul Betterncourt
• Sen. Brandon Creighton
• Sen. Chuy Hinojosa
• Sen. Joan Huffman
• Sen. Lois Kolkhorst
• Sen. Morgan LaMantia
• Sen. Mayes Middleton
• Sen. Borris Miles
• Sen. Robert Nichols
• Sen. Judith Zaffirini

Former Sen. Larry Taylor has joined former Rep. Dan Huberty at MoakCasey as Vice President.

Rep. Keith Bell,will replace Rep. Justin Holland as chair of the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission. Speaker Dade Phelan appointed Reps. Lacey Hull and Stan Kitzman to the panel, as well.

Steve McCraw has announced his retirement at the end of the year, as DPS Director.

Alana Garrett is the new Legislative Director for Rep. Giovanni Capriglione. Previously, she worked in Speaker Dade Phelan's office.

Spencer Ward is now the Executive Director of the Legislature's Innovation and Technology Caucus. He formerly was Rep. Steve Allison's Legislative Director.

Christine Mojezati is the new Executive Director of the Texas House Republican Caucus. She previously worked at the Texas Medical Association.

Rep. Mary González is stepping down as Chair of the House LGBTQ Caucus. She recently was appointed to the North American Development Bank, by President Joe Biden.

Earlier this summer, Rep. Doc Anderson announced his retirement from the Texas House of Representatives.

Kennedy Calvo has been promoted to Deputy Chief of Staff for Sen. Kelly Hancock. She was previously the Committee Director.

Recent staff additions for Sen. Molly Cook:

• Lauren Hadley is the new Legislative Director and General Counsel for Sen. Molly Cook. Previously, she was the Chief of Staff for Rep. Gina Hinojosa.
• May Gardener is the Operations Manager for Sen. Molly Cook. Previously she was the Administrative Projects Coordinator at the University of Texas System.
• Brianna Garcia has joined Sen. Molly Cook as her Office Assistant. Previously she was a Senate Messenger.

Alvaro Diaz is Sen. Nathan Johnson's Legislative Director. Previously he was the Deputy Legislative Director.

Gladys Acosta is joining the City of Austin's Intergovernmental Relations office as a Senior IGR Coordinator. She was the Legislative Director for Rep. Gina Hinojosa.

Jorge Ramirez, Sen. Judith Zaffirini's Chief of Staff, is now also an Associate Professor at The University of Texas School of Law.

Rolando Pablos, former Secretary of State, is running for San Antonio Mayor.

Rep. Shawn Thierry, who lost her Democratic primary, has joined the Republican Party. She is the new director of Political Strategy for Genspect, an organization that opposes gender transition for minors.

Recent staff changes for Rep. Jared Patterson:

• Madison White is the Chief of Staff. Previously, she was his Legislative Director, and Committee Clerk.
• Sina Tidwell is the District and Communications Director. Previously, she worked in multiple campaigns and most recently served as a Field Representative for US Rep. Ronny Jackson.

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

Kevin Warren has joined Delisi Communications. Previously he was President of the Texas Health Care Association.

Brittany Sharp has joined the office of lobbyist Mignon McGarry & Associates.

Tori Villarreal will manage the government affairs and public policy efforts for Base Power Company. She previously was the Manager of Government Affairs at Constellation Energy.

Chris Smith has joined Constellation Energy’s Public Policy Team as Sr. Manager, State Government Affairs. Previously he was the Senior Legislative Affairs Advisor for the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs 

Kari King is opening a lobby/consulting practice. Kari previously worked at USAA.

Arete Public Affairs has recently announced the following additions:

• Elyse Derian has joined as a Principal focusing on federal, state, and local public affairs campaigns, among other things. She has previously worked for VOX Global as Senior Vice President.
• Trey Velasco will focus “on audience identification, event planning and promotion, message development, reputation management, and stakeholder engagement."
• Grant Goodyear has joined as a Policy Analyst. He recently served as Election Coordinator at Camelback Strategies.

Michelle Smith has left Raise Your Hand Texas to start her own lobby firm. Libby Cohen has been named the new Executive Director. Previously, she was the Senior Director of Advocacy for the organization.

Taylor Borer is the new Regulatory Affairs Director at the City of Garland. Previously, she was the Legislative Director for Senator Kelly Hancock.

Mere Fowler has joined the Texas Mortgage Bankers as general counsel. She previously worked at the Texas Cable Association.

Karen Brooks Harper is rejoining the Dallas Morning News, and will be in the Austin Bureau as a Senior Politics Writer. She previously worked at the Texas Tribune.

Kara Belew has joined the board of directors of Texans for Excellence in Education. Kara previously worked for Govs. Greg Abbott and Rick Perry.

Missy Bender, formerly a regional advocacy director at Raise Your Hand Texas, is the new Executive Director of the Texas School Coalition.

Ben Lancaster is starting a new position as Sr. Manager, Texas Government Affairs at SpaceX. He previously was Chief of Staff to Rep. Brooks Landgraf.

Don Forse has left Tidan Basin Group. He is now director of Business Development and Government Relations at Ceres Environmental Services, Inc.

Jordan Wat is the new Director of Government Affairs at Texas 2036. Previously, she was the Executive Director of the Texas House Republican Caucus.

Rebecca Hairgrove Waldrop is the new Director, Government Affairs at Ardelyx, Inc. Previously, she was the Director, State Government Affairs at Astellas Pharma.

Recent staff changes at the Texas Association of Counties:

• Bee County Judge Stephanie Moreno is the new Associate Executive Director of the Texas Association of Counties. She previously was the Judicial Education Program Manager at TAC.
• Former Wood County Judge Lucy Hebron has been hired to as the new Judicial Education Program Manager.
• Katie Carmichael is a Legislative Consultant at the Texas Association of Counties. Previously she worked as a Government Affairs Specialist at Cammack & Strong.

Kolby Monnig is the new Director of Government Relations at Project Lead the Way. Previously, he was the Texas State Director at Council for a Strong America.

Carrie Smith is starting a new position as Principal Owner at TexAdvocacy Partners. Previously, she was Director of Government Affairs at Austin Apartment Association.

Philanthropy Advocates, a public school advocacy group will become an independently operated nonprofit. Philanthropy Advocates was founded as the Texas Education Grantmakers Advocacy Consortium in 2012.

Mitch Carney, Spencer Davis, and Kaeley Gemmill announced their new venture, Beacon Strategies.

Raul Lopez is starting at Vistra as the Director of Government Affairs. Previously, he worked at Mignon McGarry & Associates.

Denise Palacios is the new Texas Political Director for Voters of Tomorrow. Previously, she worked as an Energy Policy Fellow and Energy & Climate Caucus staffer with Rep. Erin Zwiener.

Andrea Taurins is leaving the Alzheimer's Association after 4 years of being the Executive Director to become the CEO at Make A Wish Central and South Texas.

Caitlin Flanders is starting her new lobby firm, Flanders Public Affairs. She was previously the director of Public Affairs at the Texas Medical Association.

Emma Pickering is joining Seeker Strategies. Previously, she was the Convention Director at the Texas Democratic Party.

Bonnie Bruce is the new Vice President of External Affairs and Strategy at US Anesthesia Partners. She is also the Chair of the Board of Directors for the National Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants.

Andrew Fuller is now the Associate Legislative Director of the Texas Farm Bureau. He previously served as a Legislative Director for Rep. DeWayne Burns.

Amanda Kit Tollett is leaving THCA to join the Texas Medical Association as the Director of Public Affairs and Lobbying.

Nicole Childress is now working for Sen. Brian Birdwell after working with the Sunset Commission in the interim.

Brittney Madden is the new Director of State Relations at The University of Texas at Dallas. She spent the last 15 years working for Rep. John Kuempel.

Christopher Walker is now the Director of Government Relations at PepsiCo. He previously worked at T-Mobil as the Senior Advocacy Manager.

Kris Parker is leaving Texas Star Alliance to join Arete Public Affairs as a Principle.

Emily Eby French is the Policy Director for Common Cause Texas. Previously, she was an associated attorney at Walsh Gallegos.

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

Heidi McConnell, Chief Operating Officer for CPRIT, has added a new title and is now also the Deputy Executive Officer.

Blake Calvert is the new Deputy Executive Director at the Texas Space Commission. Previously, he was the Interim Executive Director for the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Consortium.

Jim Reaves is starting a position at the Texas General Land Office as the State Legislative Director. Previously, he was the coordinator for Intergovernmental Affairs, Emergency Management, and Business Continuety at the Texas Department of Agriculture.

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

Harrison Keller has been named the University of North Texas Board of Regents' new President. Previously, Keller was the commissioner of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Patrick Fortner joined the Secretary of State's office as Deputy Director in Business Filings. He previously worked at the Board of Chiropractic Examiners.

Luanne Southern is the new Chief Strategist for Behavioral Health at DFPS. Previously, she was the Executive Director of the Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium.

Matt Abel is the new Vice President of Government Relations at the Texas Economic Development Council. He was previously the Vice President of Policy at Texas Association of Business.

Laura Kravitz is joining the State Government Affairs team at TxDOT. Previously, Laura was the Director of Advocacy and Policy at Texas Women's Foundation.

Evan Samon joined the Texas Department of Public Safety as Government Relations Specialist. Previously, he was a Policy Analyst in the Texas Senate.

Sarah Keyton will be the Interim Commissioner of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. She has served the agency as the Deputy Commissioner of Administration.

Heather Dyer is starting a new position as an Attorney at Daniel Stark Law. She previously worked in the office of the Attorney General.

Christy Sadri is the new Director of Charter School Authorizing at TEA. Previously, she was the President at Rocky Mountain Prep.

Jennifer Jones was promoted to Chief Clerk/Deputy Land Commissioner at the Texas General Land Office.

Haley Hutcherson is the new Government Relations Specialist at the Texas Water Development Board. Previously, she was a Policy Specialist for Sen. Bob Hall and a staffer for Speaker Tom Craddick.

Molly Beth Malcom has left her role as Executive Vice Chancellor of Campus Operations and Public Affairs at Austin Community College and is now a Professor of Practice in the College of Education's Educational Leadership and Policy Doctoral Program at The University of Texas at Austin.

Bryan McMath is the new Executive Administrator of the Texas Water Development Board. He has been serving as the interim Executive Administrator since March.

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.

August

1 -- Rep Terry Meza, Emily Ainsworth Howell, Jesse Lewis

2 -- Hugh Brady, Fmr. Sen. Kent Caperton, Sam Nancarrow

3 -- Jay Rosser

4 -- Noe Barrios, Diana Rivera

5 -- Robert McVey, Yvonne Barton, Marian Wallace, Sen Brandon Creighton

6 -- Rep Shawn Thierry

8 -- Kelsey Bernstein, Kym Olsen, Luis Gonzalez, Ellen Arnold, Rep. Morgan Meyer, Gaylord Armstrong

9 -- Katrina Smith

10 -- Logan Davidson, Fmr. Sen. Troy Fraser

11 -- Dennis Kearns

12 -- Rep Robert Guerra, Julie Young, Stewart McGregor, Stephanie Speer Smith

13 -- Rep Ann Johnson, Rep Tony Tinderholt, Rep Cody Vasut, Sen John Whitmire, Sheila Beckett, Fmr. Rep. Cindy Burkett, Dan Casey, Gary Fuchs

14 -- Will Adams, Deborah Giles, Fmr. Rep. Ed Emmett, Sergio Cavazos

15 -- Mattie Heith, Dennis Borel

16 -- Rep Sheryl Cole, Rep Cody Harris, William Seilheimer

17 -- Rep Jon Rosenthal, Sen Joan Huffman, Carol McGarah

18 -- Rep Lina Ortega, Christine Garrison, Claudia Russell

19 -- Rep Stephanie Klick, Fmr. Rep. Mike Villarreal, Fmr. Rep. Matt Krause

20 -- Hil Carter, Rebecca Montgomery, Rina Hartline, Beaman Floyd, Bill Stevens

21 -- Rep Lacey Hull, Sarah Gouak, Ricco Garcia, Jennifer Chambers

22 -- Eddie Aldrete, Billy Phenix

23 -- Libby Elliott, Monica Hearn, Andrew Fish

24 -- Deanna Kuykendall

25 -- Rep Ana Hernandez, Claudia Rodas

26 -- Rep Todd Hunter, Mike Warner

27- Jim Arnold

28 -- Rep Terry Wilson, Reb Wayne, Fmr. Rep. Ellen Cohen, Joey Longley, Jeff Moseley

29 -- Luis Figueroa, Caleb Goodman, Mark Malone

30 -- Jennifer Cawley, Kathy Walt, Laramie Stroud, Angela Hale

31 -- Jim Cosgrove, Tim Tuggey

September

1- Sen. Roland Gutierrez, Tom Grady, Tom Holloway, Lola Lake

2- Chris Willuhn, Allen Vaught

3- Deidra Campos Garcia

4 - Luis Moreno, Nate Walker, Libby Orr, Dwayne Bohac, Fmr. Rep.Justin Rodriguez

5- Jillian Waggoner

6 - Former Sen. Sylvia Garcia, Sid Miller,Gary Bledsoe

7- Rep. John Smithee

8- Fmr. Rep. Garnet Coleman, Suzanne Sanders, Michael Blair, Tiffany Blaschke Britton, Cynthia Pollito Valadez-Mata Jr.

9- Sen. Donna Campbell, Clay McPhail, Ilisa Nolan

10- Ryan Poppe, Billie Hopson, Fmr. Rep. Mark Strama, Mandeep Chatha Homer

11- Erin Hornaday, Casey Magnuson, Scott Crownover, Lauren Young, Jon Oliver, Matt Wolff, Ciara Hall

12- Billy Millwee, Fmr. Sen. Carlos Uresti, Lara Laneri Keel, Rep. Nicole Collier, Adam Loewy

13- Elizabeth Ross Hadley, Rep. Claudia Ordaz Perez, Matt Mackowiak, Alexander Storey McMillan, Regan Ellmer, Jeff Miller, Terri Pressley, Barry Thomas

14- Don Comedy, Rep. Brad Buckley, Rep. Jacey Jetton, Mary Dale

15- Chris Sanchez, Todd Olsen, Catarina Gonzales, Jim Powers

16- Russell Farabee, Camille Miller, Lawrence Olsen

17- Linda Eissler, Kristi Fogle, Omar Garcia

18- Rep. Ron Reynolds, Fmr. Rep. Chuck Hopson, Sen. Mayes Middleton, Speaker Dade Phelan, Fmr. Sen. Beverly Powell, Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, Kate Murphy, Kristen Hogan

19- Oscar Aguilar, Rep. Tom Craddick

20- Lauren Wied Fairbanks, Steve Ray, Becca Engle, Kathy Lea

21- Dennis Speight, Nancy Fisher, Fmr. Rep. Ron Simmons, Alexa Ura, Cari Christman, Karin Crump

22- Jim Dow, Shannon Ghangurde, Rep. Valoree Swanson, Rep. Erin Zwiener, Blake Thomas Roach

23- Fmr. GLO Comm. Jerry Patterson, Lauren Cacheaux

24- Will Newton, Travis McCormick, Hunter Bryan Thompson, Amanda Thomas List

25- Rep. Gary VanDeaver, Jason Smith, Lisa Lucero, Fmr. Rep. Debra Danburg, Taylor Dewitt

26- Stacy Toomey, RR Comm Wayne Christian, Rep. Rafael Anchia, Sen. Royce West, Sandy Hoy

27- Jacob Cottingham, Rep. Jarvis Johnson, Rep. Lulu Flores, Adrianne Emr Evans, Chuck Bailey, Madison Yandell

28- Josh Houston, Joe Dyer, Liz Fazio Hale, Kathy Green

29- Fmr. Rep. Terral Smith, Rudy England, Angelica Flores Granado, Addison Elise Reagan, Rudy England, Joe Driver

30- Gerardo Interiano, Michael Kelley, Glenn Smith, Georgeanne Palmer

Shout Outs

The Pink Granite Foundation recently announced its 2024 awards (Ceremony tonight at

Arriba Abajo, 506 San Jacinto Blvd, Rooftop, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM



Congratulations to:

Ellen Arnold -- Legacy Award

Caitlyn Flanders -- Rising Star

Amber Hausenfluck -- Mentor of the Year

Congratulations to Marian Wallace on the birth of her new grandchildren, Barrett David and Banks Lynn.

Congratulations to Judd and Caroline Messer on the birth of their daughter, Mary Margaret and to grandparents, Lisa and Eric Craven.

Congratulations to Rep. Philip Cortez and his wife Debbie on the birth of their daughter, Camila.

Congratulations to Heather Dyer and Adam Diehl on their recent wedding!

Congratulations to Jeff Miller and his wife Robin on welcoming their daughter, Parker Leigh.

Congratulations to Jocelyn Vallee and Michael Vallee on the birth of their daughter, Hannah

Congratulations to Andrea Galliano Sparks on her daughter, Madeline's, recent engagement!

In Our Thoughts

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

Jim Pitts, former Texas State Representative (Celebrations of Life tonight at 1220 Colorado from 4 to 7 pm)

US. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee

Kathleen Hartnett White, fmr. Chair of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality .



Brian Post,father of Caity Jackson.

Ken Olson, father of Kym Olson

Carlyle Luke LeBas, father of James LeBas

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