Around the Capitol / On the Move

Mary Davenport has started a new position as a Policy Analyst for Sen. Brent Hagenbuch, working with the Senate Transportation Committee. She previously worked at UT Austin's LBJ/Business Policy Forum as a Policy Coordinator.

Laura Atlas Kravitz has joined the office of Sen. Brent Hagenbuch as Legislative Director. She previously worked at the Texas Department of Transportation as a State Legislative Affairs Liaison.

Noah Betz will serve as Chief of Staff to Comptroller Don Huffines. He is the Principal at Bluestone Creatives, a political consulting firm, as well as COS for Huffines Enterprises.

Lisa Craven has left the Comptroller's office where she served as Deputy Comptroller. Prior to her decade-long tenure with the Comptroller's office, she worked for a number of legislators in both the Senate and House. Craven has opened her own government affairs shop, Superior Strategies.

Jordan Villarreal, Denton City Council Member and former legislative staffer, has announced that he will resign from his District 1 seat effective September 1st. Villarreal previously served as COS for House Democratic Vice Chair Mihaela E. Plesa and as interim COS for Rep. Salman Bhojani.

Will Seilheimer is joining Speaker Dustin Burrows’ office to handle tax policy. He previously worked on the Comptroller’s revenue team, the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, and as a budget analyst for the House Appropriations Committee,

Rep. Katrina Pierson has named Victoria Engman as her new COS. Engman previously served as Legislative Director. Former COS, Karin Griffin, will become Senior Advisor.

John Simmons has started a new position as Legislative Aide to Rep. Christina Morales. He is a recent Penn State University graduate.

After eight years with Rep. Cody Harris, Jeff Carlson has left his position as COS to join TX Public Affairs.

Robert Moncada has taken over as COS to Rep. Cody Harris after previously serving as Harris' committee clerk and Legislative Director.

Paige Cooper is now the Legislative Director for the Senate Higher Education Committee. She was most recently Vice President for Government Relations at The University of Texas Permian Basin.

Catie Cooper is joining the office of Sen. Bryan Hughes. She previously worked for Sen. Brandon Creighton in his Senate office and at Texas Tech.

Max Lars has started a new position as COS to Austin Mayor Kirk Watson. He previously served as his Senior Policy Advisor. Lars previously served as a COS in the House.

Krista Jarrell has been hired as COS to Rep. Andy Hopper.

Thomas Flanders has left his position as COS to Rep. Salman Bhojani. Flanders previously served as fmr. Rep. John Kuempel’s Legislative Director, and worked for fmr. Sen. Bob Deuell.

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 for over 25 years.

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Lobby/Association/Other

Brittney Baldovinos has joined AEP Texas as State Government Affairs Manager. She previously worked at Texas State Technical College as a Senior Director of Government Relations & Associate General Counsel.

Will Temple has joined the Texas Mortgage Bankers Association as Director of Government Relations. He previously worked at Phenix & Saenz as General Counsel.

Jenna Harlan has joined former Rep. Larry Gonzales’ company, Desk 138, as a Government Relations Specialist. Harlan previously served as Legislative Director to Rep. Pat Curry and most recently worked on Holly Jeffreys’ HD-86 campaign.

Jess Heck has joined the Data Center Coalition as Director of Texas Government Affairs. Heck previously worked at the Public Utility Commission of Texas as a Director of Governmental Affairs.

Craig Tounget has announced his retirement. Most recently he worked with the Texas Physical Therapy Association and prior to that, has worked on political campaigns, in the Texas House and for various associations, including the Texas PTA and Coalition for Public Schools.

John Jackson has joined ColdSpark, a national political consulting and public affairs firm, as Senior Vice President in Austin. Jackson previously served as campaign manager for Gov. Greg Abbott.

April Beggs is now heading up the Government Relations team at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas following the departure of Pati McCandless. Beggs previously served as Senior Government Relations Manager and Director of Government Relations at BCBS.

Pati McCandless has joined Maynard Nexsen as a Shareholder in its insurance practice group after serving in various leadership roles at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.

Elvis Lossa has joined Arc 3 Communications as Director of Government Relations, Southwest. He previously served as Legislative Director to Rep. Mike Schofield and Rep. Mano DeAyala and also worked in the Offices of Speaker Duatin Burrows and fmr. Speaker Dade Phelan.

Kathy Barber is retiring from Caterpillar State Government Affairs. She previously worked with the Texas Retailers Association, the Texas Federation of Drug Stores, and NFIB.

Sam Gammage is moving to Caterpillar State Government Affairs. He previously worked in Government Affairs for Dow and served as Vice President and General Counsel for the Texas Chemical Council.

John McCord is leaving the Texas Retailers Association after five years to lead Samsung’s government relations team in Texas.

Tina O’Jibway has been named President of the Texas Broadband Association. A longtime Capitol staffer, O’Jibway will continue her broader consulting work in addition to her new role.

Jonathan Mathers has joined the Coastal Water Authority as Government Relations Manager. He previously worked as Director of Government Relations at the Texas Water Development Board.

Priscilla Aquino Garza is leaving Educate Texas after 13 years to join Education First as a Principal Consultant on the Transforming Teaching and Pathways Team.

Genevieve Collins, formerly Texas State Director for Americans for Prosperity, has started Chester Dallas Consulting, focusing on health care and financial services advocacy.

Daniel Warner, Texas State Director for Odyssey, has been promoted to National Policy Director in addition to his current role.

Lynn Allison has started a new position as Business Development and Public Information Manager at FlatironDragados

State Agencies

Nar Dorrycott recently joined the Government Relations team at the Texas Department of Insurance as a Government Affairs Specialist. She previously worked at the 632 Group as Director of External Affairs.

R. Patrick Clayton, Ph.D., has been appointed Chief Product Development Officer for the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. He previously worked at J.P. Morgan as the Vice-President of Innovation Economy.

Kate Sidora has joined the State Office of Risk Management as Director of Government Relations and Communications after spending 12 years with the Texas Department of Insurance’s Division of Workers’ Compensation.

Logan Harrison, former COS to fmr. Rep. Andrew Murr and Rep. Will Metcalf, is the new chief of public affairs for the Public Utility Commission.

Kate Blifford has been named Executive Director of the Commission on State Emergency Communications. Previously Blifford served as Director of Governmental Affairs for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Chief Administrative Law Judge Kristoffer S. Monson recently announced his retirement from the State Office of Administrative Hearings. Previously, Judge Monson served as Assistant Solicitor General in the office of the Attorney General,

The Texas Facilities Commission has expanded its Government Relations team with the recent hiring of Emily Runnels and Ashley Brooks. Runnels previously served as Legislative Director to Rep. Claudia Ordaz and

Brooks was most recently Public Policy Manager with the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault.

Sarah Floerke Gouak has been promoted to Chief of External Affairs at the Lower Colorado River Authority. She joined LCRA in 2016 and most recently served as Chief of Legislative Affairs.

David Zapata has been promoted to Senior International Business Representative in the Office of Gov. Greg Abbott. He previously worked for the Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office, and prior to that was VP of International Affairs at the Texas Association of Business.

Austin Holder has been appointed Legislative Director for Gov. Greg Abbott. He previously served as Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs and Deputy Budget Director.

Alex Sam Martin, a former Capitol staffer who currently works as a license analyst at the Texas Department of Public Safety, has filed to run for Austin ISD District 6.

Birthdays

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

August

31- Jim Cosgrove, Tim Tuggey, Jenni Sellers, Eric Bearse

September

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

2- Chris Willuhn, Michelle Castillo, Fmr. Rep. Allen Vaught

3- Deidra Campos Garcia

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

5- Jillian Waggoner

6 - Former Sen. Sylvia Garcia, Ag Comm. Sid Miller, Gary Bledsoe, Krista Kyle, Dale Peddy

7- Rep. John Smithee

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

9- Clay McPhail, Ilisa Nolan

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

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, Rep. Marc LaHood, Leslie Rawl Sullivan

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

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

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

16- Russell Farabee, Camille Miller, Lawrence Olsen, Fmr. Rep. Rob Eissler

17- Linda Eissler, Kristi Fogle, Omar Garcia, Sen. Donna Campbell

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

19- Oscar Aguilar, Fmr. Speaker Tom Craddick, Brian Guthrie

20- Lauren Wied Fairbanks, Steve Ray, Becca Engle, Rep. Don McLaughlin

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

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

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

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

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, Marisa Marquez

28- Josh Houston, Joe Dyer, Liz Fazio Hale, Kathy Green, Rep. Joanne Shofner, Jeremy Warren

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

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

Shout Outs

Congratulations to Deisy Jaimes Bingham on her recent wedding!

Congratulations to Andrew Herrell on his recent engagement!

Congratulations to Andrew Fish and his family on the birth of his second granddaughter, Carlisle

Congratulations to Jeffrey Archer, Executive Director of the Texas Legislative Council, on receiving the National Conference of State Legislatures’ RELACS Staff Special Commendation Award!

Congratulations to Francesca Moore and Dalton Moore on the birth of their daughter, Scout Marie.

Congratulations to Kyle Ward and his family on the birth of his granddaughter, Heidi Mae Ward!

Condolences

Our condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of those who have passed recently, including:

Jay Thompson, longtime insurance attorney/lobbyist

David Charles Canon, brother-in-law of Deborah Hammond.

Gary Compton, longtime regulatory attorney/lobbyist.

Juan Manuel Escobar, former State Representative and Kleberg County Judge.

Charlie Schnabel, former Secretary of the Texas Senate.

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