The Texas Secretary of State’s Office canceled November’s special election to replace former Rep. Veronica Gonzales (D-McAllen) after only one candidate filed paperwork to fill her unexpired term. Attorney Bobby Guerra, a former chairman of the Hidalgo County Democratic Party, will represent Texas House District 41 for the remainder of Gonzales’ term, which expires in January 2013. The Republican candidate in the November election, Miriam Martinez, missed the special election filing deadline.
The Texas Education Agency announced plans to submit a request to the U.S. Department of Education, asking it to waive certain provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, also known as the No Child Left Behind law. This will provide TEA and local school districts with more flexibility in complying with the law.
Texas finished the 2012 fiscal year with sales tax revenue up 12.6 percent from the previous year, according to Texas Comptroller Susan Combs. The oil and gas industry and retail operations continue to be the major drivers of the increased tax collections.
Milton Rister, a member of Gov. Rick Perry’s senior staff, will become the new executive director of the Texas Railroad Commission. Rister replaces John Tintera who retired in March.