The Mignon Memo

Rep. Joe Driver (R-Garland) announced that he will not seek reelection to his House District 113 seat. Redistricting had paired Driver with Rep. Cindy Burkett (R-Mesquite).

Governor Rick Perry announced some staffing changes in the governor’s office. Jeff Boyd was named Chief of Staff and David Morales replaces Boyd as general counsel. Allison Castle was named communications director while Josh Havens moves into the deputy press secretary role. Jonathan Hurst was named director of Budget, Planning and Policy for the governor’s office.

This week Lt. Governor David Dewhurst issued interim charges related to issues surrounding the recent wildfires in Texas and the ongoing drought to several of the standing committees in the Texas Senate. Dewhurst has not announced his complete list of interim charges to all committees.

Optometrist Steve Nguyen is entering the Republican primary race for House District 115 currently represented by retiring Rep. Jim Jackson (R-Carrollton). He joins Bennett Ratliff, Matthew Rinaldi and Elizabeth Grimmett in that primary race.

Early voting begins for the November 8th general election next Monday, October 24th and continues through November 4th. There are ten constitutional amendments on the ballot. If you need a refresher course on these amendments, check out the Texas Legislative Council condensed analyses.

Deirdre Delisi, chairwoman of the Texas Transportation Commission, has resigned from the position she has held since April 2008 to join Governor Rick Perry’s presidential campaign. Commission member Ted Houghton was named as chair of the Commission to replace Delisi.

Rep. Chente Quintanilla (D-El Paso) confirmed rumors that he will run for the El Paso County Commissioner’s Court instead of House District 75.

Round Rock educator Rebecca Osborne will run for State Board of Education again. She will compete for the spot currently held by Marsha Farney who is running for a seat in the Texas House.

Republican Bracy Wilson is running in House District 70, currently represented by Rep. Ken Paxton (R-Plano) who is running for Senate District 8.

Here is some good news for the Texas economy. The state collected $1.76 billion in sales tax revenue in September, registering an 11.8 percent increase over the previous year. This makes 18th straight month of gains in one of the state’s primary revenue sources.

Rep. Will Hartnett (R-Dallas) will not seek re-election to his House District 114 seat. Former Dallas County Republican Party Chairman Jonathan Neerman and former Rep. Bill Keffer are said to be interested in running to replace Hartnett.

Donna Campbell announced that she will run against Sen. Jeff Wentworth (R-San Antonio) in the Republican primary for Senate District 25. Campbell most recently ran against Congressman Lloyd Doggett in 2010.

Rep. Mark Shelton (R-Ft. Worth) is expected to officially announce that he will run in the Republican primary for the redrawn Senate District 10, currently represented by Sen. Wendy Davis (D-Ft. Worth). Dr. Shelton will be joining Rep. Kelly Hancock (R-Ft. Worth) who previously announced his intent to run for the Senate seat.

Ryan Downton, an attorney who served as general counsel to the House Redistricting Committee last session will challenge Rep. Paul Workman (R-Austin) in the Republican primary for House District 47.

Lufkin school board president Trent Ashby will challenge Rep. Marva Beck (R-Centerville) in the Republican primary in House District 57.

Dr. Stuart Spitzer, a Kaufman surgeon, announced he will run in the Republican primary for House District 4, currently represented by Rep. Lance Gooden (R-Terrell).

Governor Rick Perry appointed John T. Steen III of Houston to the Texas Racing Commission for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2013.

Sen. Chris Harris (R-Arlington) announced Monday that he will not seek re-election — the fourth incumbent to announce their retirement from the Texas Senate. Harris is the longest serving Republican in the Senate and chairs the Senate Jurisprudence Committee. Victor Vandergriff, Chairman of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and past chairman of the North Texas Tollway Authority, will run in the Republican primary for Senate District 9. Vandergriff joins Rep. Rodney Anderson (R-Plano) in the race.

Brownsville attorney Alex Dominguez has announced his candidacy for the Democratic Party’s nomination for state representative from District 37. House District 37 is currently represented by Rep. Rene Oliveira (D-Brownsville).

Trent McKnight, a Throckmorton County rancher, will compete in the Republican primary for House District 68. Rep. Rick Hardcastle (R-Vernon), the district’s current representative, is retiring.

Republican Bill Wallace, a former Chambers County Commissioner, will challenge Rep. Craig Eiland (D-Galveston) in House District 23.

Two influential state senators announced their retirements this week. Sen. Florence Shapiro (R-Plano) and Sen. Steve Ogden (R-Bryan) both announced they will not run for re-election. As chairs of the influential Education and Finance Committees in the Texas Senate, both members leave behind many achievements. These retirements triggered other political moves. Rep. Ken Paxton (R-Plano) and Scott O’Grady, a decorated Air Force fighter pilot, will run for Shapiro’s seat and Rep. Charles Schwertner (R-Georgetown) will run for Ogden’s seat. State Board of Education member Marsha Farney and Jeff Fleece, a former vice chairman of the Travis County Republican Party, will run for Schwertner’s House District 20 seat.

Former state representative Corbin Van Arsdale and Ted Pataki, the son of former New York Gov. George Pataki, are out and Cedar Park City Councilman Tony Dale is in the Republican primary race for the newly drawn House District 149 based in Williamson County.

Rep. Randy Weber (R-Pearland) will run for the Congressional District 14 seat being vacated by presidential candidate Ron Paul. Other candidates include Pearland City Council member Felicia Harris; Michael Truncale of Jefferson County, a Texas State University System regent and a member of the State Republican Executive Committee; and Beaumont attorney Jay Old.

Rolando Pablos, a lawyer from the San Antonio who recently served as chair of the Texas Racing Commission was appointed by Governor Perry to the open seat on the Public Utility Commission. Perry has also reappointed Commissioner Ken Anderson Jr. for another term at the PUC.

Testimony in the redistricting case against the state in federal court in San Antonio wound up last week but the process of redistricting won’t end soon. The U.S. Department of Justice has declined to sign off on two of the four redistricting maps, setting up a fight between the U.S. Department of Justice and the Texas attorney general’s office. Although the DOJ did not take issue with the Texas Senate map or the State Board of Education map, it will oppose pre-clearance of the congressional map and the Texas House map based on their impact on minority voting rights. The federal judges considering the case in San Antonio may end up drawing maps for use in the 2012 elections.

Rep. Charlie Howard (R – Sugar Land) will not seek re-election in House District 26. Howard has said that he will serve out his term. Sugar Land Mayor Pro Tem Jacquie Chaumette has already announced her intent to run for the seat as has Sonal Bhuchar, a member of the Fort Bend ISD board and a physical therapist.

Freshman Rep. Lanham Lyne (R-Wichita Falls) will not seek re-election in House District 69. After seven years of public service as Mayor of Wichita Falls and as a state representative, Lyne said he wants to spend time with his family. Wichita Falls banker James Frank, vice chairman of the Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce, will run for the seat as a Republican.

Another freshman, Rep. Jose Aliseda (R-Beeville), will run for district attorney in the 156th judicial district instead of seeking re-election in House District 35. Seated in Beeville, the 156th Judicial District covers Bee, McMullen and Live Oak counties.

Rep. Rodney Anderson (R-Plano) officially announced that he will run against Sen. Chris Harris (R-Ft. Worth) in the Republican primary for Senate District 9.

Houston attorney Mike Schofield will run for House District 136, currently represented by Rep. Beverly Woolley (R-Houston). Woolley has previously announced that she is not seeking re-election.

Cedar Park City Councilman Tony Dale will run in the Republican primary for the newly created House District 149 centered in Williamson County. Former state representative Corbin Van Arsdale has already announced his intent to run for the seat.

Gov. Rick Perry made several key appointments in recent weeks. Robert Schmidt of Aledo was named chair of the Texas Racing Commission, the state commission that oversees pari-mutuel wagering on horse and greyhound racing. Schmidt is an orthopedic surgeon and a partner at the Texas Hip and Knee Center. Raymond Palacios Jr. of El Paso was appointed to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Board for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2013. Palacios is president of Bravo Chevrolet Cadillac and Hummer and is a past district director of the Texas Automotive Dealers Association.

Rep. Pete Gallego (D-Alpine) will run for Congressional District 23, currently represented by Congressman Francisco “Quico” Canseco (R-San Antonio).

Rep. Larry Taylor (R-League City) will run for Senate District 11. Sen. Mike Jackson (R-LaPorte) has announced that he will run for a newly created congressional seat instead of the SD 11 seat he currently holds. Meanwhile, Dr. Greg Bonnen, a neurosurgeon in Galveston County and brother of Rep. Dennis Bonnen (R-Angleton), will run for the House District 24 seat currently held by Rep. Taylor. Trucking company executive Rhett Eubanks will also compete in the Republican primary for House District 24.

House District 106, an open seat in Denton County has attracted two candidates so far. Amber Fulton, a former member of the Lewisville school board who lives in The Colony, will run for the seat. Patrick Fallon, who lives in Collin County but serves as a city councilman and mayor pro tem in Frisco, has also announced his interest in the seat.

Texas Legislative Budget Board Executive Director John O’Brien announced that he will retire in April, 2012. O’Brien has served as Director since November of 2006.

John Barton, formerly deputy director, will head the Texas Department of Transportation on an interim basis while the board looks for a permanent replacement for Amadeo Saenz, who retired August 31, 2011. Saenz had announced his plans earlier in the year but stayed through the legislation session and the end of the fiscal year.

Howard Baldwin has been named the temporary commissioner of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. Baldwin replaces Commissioner Anne Heiligenstein who is retiring at the end of the month.

Brian Guthrie is the new executive director of the Teacher Retirement System. Guthrie replaces Ronnie Jung who retired.

For those of you interested in the proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution that will be on the ballot on November 8th, the Texas Legislative Council has published their guide to the amendments. Follow this link for more information:

http://www.tlc.state.tx.us/pubsconamend/analyses11/analyses11.pdf

Tomorrow, many of the bills passed by the Texas Legislature take effect. Of the more than 1400 bills passed, close to half that number take effect September 1st. Those of general interest include the state budget for the next biennium; a prohibition against sexting by minors; legislation allowing employees to keep firearms in their locked cars on their employer’s property while at work; an increase in speed limits on some roads to 75 miles per hour; and legislation to legalize “noodling”, the art of catching fish with your bare hands by digging in a hole. For the complete list of the bills, follow this link: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/Reports/Report.aspx?LegSess=82R&ID=effectivesept1.

Rep. Rick Hardcastle (R-Vernon) announced that he will not seek reelection to his House District 68 seat. Hardcastle has served in the Texas House for 14 years and most recently served as Chair of the Agriculture and Livestock Committee.

Rep. Wayne Christian (R-Nacogdoches) will face Marshall Mayor Chris Paddie in the Republican primary for House District 9. Paddie is also a radio talk show host.

Former state representative Corbin Van Arsdale announced that he will run in the newly configured House District 149 based in Williamson County. Van Arsdale represented House District 130 for three terms before being defeated in the 2008 Republican primary by Rep. Allen Fletcher (R-Tomball).

T.C. Betancourt, a businessman from Edinburg will run for against Rep. Aaron Peña (R-Edinburg) in House District 40. If you recall, Peña switched political parties last year shortly after his election drawing the anger of some constituents.

Michael Pruneda, an employment lawyer in Pharr, will run as a Democrat in House District 40, a newly configured district resulting from redistricting. Rep. Veronica Gonzales (D-McAllen) who currently represents House District 41 has announced that she will run in the newly created district as well since it represents the majority of her old district.

Fort Worth School Board trustee Carlos Vasquez has announced he will challenge Rep. Lon Burnam (D-Fort Worth) in next year’s Democratic primary in House District 90.

James Wilson will challenge Rep. Debbie Riddle (R-Houston) in the Republican primary for House District 150. Wilson, an insurance agent, previously worked at the Texas Capitol as a House staffer and for former U.S. Senator Phil Gramm as a regional director.

Daniel McCool, a Harris County deputy sheriff, will run in the Republican primary for Senate District 11, currently represented by Sen. Mike Jackson (R-LaPorte) who will run for Congressional District 36 instead of his current Texas Senate seat.

Anne Heiligenstein, the commissioner of the Department of Family and Protective Services, is retiring from the agency after three years as commissioner.

And for you sports fans who have been away from your computer, it’s official: Texas A&M is leaving the Big 12.

Sen. Mike Jackson (R-La Porte) will run for the newly created Congressional District 36. Rep. Larry Taylor (R-Friendswood) is said to be considering a run for Jackson’s Texas Senate seat.

Physical therapist and Fort Bend ISD school trustee Sonal Bhuchar announced she will enter the Republican primary for House District 26, currently represented by Rep. Charlie Howard (R-Sugar Land). Sugar Land City Councilwoman and Mayor Pro Tem Jacqueline Baly Chaumette will enter the race as well.

Patsy Spaw, Secretary of the Texas Senate, has been elected staff vice-chair of the National Conference of State Legislatures, a trade association for lawmakers across the country. Spaw will serve as staff vice chair for 2011-2012 and succeed to the position of staff chair in 2012.

In case you have been out of the country during the last week, Governor Rick Perry is officially in the 2012 presidential race. That means more eyes on the state of Texas, for better or for worse.

The Republican Governors Association announced that Gov. Rick Perry will no longer serve as head of the organization due to Perry’s decision to officially enter the presidential race. Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell will take over the role as chair of the RGA.

Former San Antonio City Councilman Justin Rodriguez has announced that he will run for House District 125. Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-San Antonio) who currently represents the district has announced that he will run for Congressional District 25 instead of his current Texas House seat. Another former San Antonio City Councilman, Phillip Cortez, is planning a run against Rep. John Garza (R-San Antonio) in House District 117. Tomás Larralde, the executive director of the Hispanic Contractors Association of San Antonio, is also running for the District 117 seat.