People on the Move
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND – Great to see so many members and lobby here in the Rio Grande Valley for the weekend. Apparently, the tour for members organized and promoted by the RGV Partnership received more RSVPs from our VIPs than ever before. Yes, I know how exhausting that sentence was. And remember members, the RGV is quite spread out so your bus ride from place to place might take longer than you had imagined. It’s worth it. Meantime some power players are on the move back in Austin and certain key roles are coming into focus for the session. When it comes to sharing career news, no move around the Capitol is too big or too small to appear in the pages of Quorum Report . Let us know what’s up by sending the news to ksbraddock@gmail.com . Please use POTM in the subject line. Thanks so much. Here’s the latest edition of People on the Move.
Staff
Writer
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND – Great to see so many members and lobby here in the Rio Grande Valley for the weekend. Apparently, the tour for members organized and promoted by the RGV Partnership received more RSVPs from our VIPs than ever before. Yes, I know how exhausting that sentence was. And remember members, the RGV is quite spread out so your bus ride from place to place might take longer than you had imagined.
It’s worth it.
Meantime some power players are on the move back in Austin and certain key roles are coming into focus for the session. When it comes to sharing career news, no move around the Capitol is too big or too small to appear in the pages of Quorum Report . Let us know what’s up by sending the news to ksbraddock@gmail.com . Please use POTM in the subject line. Thanks so much.
Here’s the latest edition of People on the Move.
As first reported in the Buzz, Speaker Dade Phelan announced today that Deputy Chief Jay Dyer will also be Special Advisor to the Speaker and General Counsel Margo Cardwell is now Policy Director as well.
"Jay Dyer has been a valuable asset in my administration since I was first elected to the speakership, and he brings to this new role a deep understanding of the legislative process and trust among the members,” Phelan said. “I have full confidence in his ability to further our administration's mission of making the House work as effectively as possible for all members and staff in his additional role as Special Advisor.” "Margo Cardwell is well-known and respected among those within the Capitol for her extensive and detailed knowledge on legal, ethics and policy issues,” he said. “She has been of valuable counsel to me and all Members of the House since she joined my team in 2021, and the expertise she brings to her new position as Policy Director will be a great contribution to the success of the 88 th Legislative Session." Quinton Hitchcock this week joined Murphy Nasica & Associates as National Political Director. He’s received high-praise from stakeholders across Texas for his work in the 2022 election cycle. “We look forward to Quinton helping us expand our relentless representation of our clients throughout the rest of the United States,” the firm said in a release.
Andrew Mahaleris is now with Gov. Greg Abbott as Press Secretary. Rep. Angelia Orr has hired Jacob Reagan as her Chief of Staff. Jacob worked in Rep. John Cyrier's office from 2016-2022. She has hired Louis Rice as her Legislative Director. Louis worked as the Deputy Data Director for Texans for Greg Abbott during the 2022 campaign. Rep. Orr has also hired Nicholas Cooper as her Legislative Aide. Nicholas most recently worked as a communications staff member for the General Land Office. Vicente Sanchez , Chief of Staff to Rep. Hubert Vo , is leaving the Capitol to pursue his JD at South Texas College of Law in Houston. Sanchez was Representative Vo’s Chief since 2017. Xochitl Ramirez will be Legislative Director for Representative Vo. She previously served as a Legislative Aide. Attorney General Ken Paxton this week appointed Kristen House as Director of Communications for the Office of the Attorney General of Texas . She was previously at TPPF.
Former Democratic nominee for Attorney General Rochelle Garza is the new president of the Texas Civil Rights Project .
The Texas Lyceum this week installed Reda M. Hicks as President and 16 new Directors were sworn in at the Capitol this week.
“Hicks, of Houston, is the Principal at Nexus Consulting, where she provides legal, governance, and operational insights to for-profits and nonprofits as they work through organizational challenges and build new programs. She is also CEO of technology company GotSpot , Inc. Hicks was born and raised in Odessa but has grown up professionally and civically in Houston,” per the announcement. “She is a tireless advocate for military families in Texas and around the country, and will be the first military spouse to serve as President of the Texas Lyceum. Hicks will be sworn in as President of the Texas Lyceum by Chief Justice Nathan Hecht of the Texas Supreme Court.”