Lt. Governor Dan Patrick has changed his mind about staying out of House Speaker Dade Phelan’s primary race. He is now backing Phelan’s challenger, David Covey, and running a television ad against Speaker Phelan in his district. Patrick said in a recent interview that Phelan “has to go” and that he is “heavily involved” in the race. He added, “When is the last time a lieutenant governor has ever been doing TV commercials in the speaker’s district — we’re supporting David Covey over there — to defeat him. That’s how bad it is.”

You can watch the ad here: YouTube

For more on Speaker Phelan’s hotly contested primary race, view here: Dallas Morning News

Early Voting Turnout Lagging

Early voting in the Texas primary will continue until this Friday. So far, turnout is lagging in both the Republican and Democratic primaries compared to this point in 2020. However, Republican voters are voting only slightly behind their 2020 benchmarks while Democratic voters are turning out at half their 2020 rate and only slightly ahead of their 2022 rate — a midterm year.

Governor Abbott Appoints New TCEQ Commissioner

Governor Abbott has appointed Catarina Gonzales to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for a term set to expire August 31, 2029.

“With a wealth of experience in environmental work and leadership roles, Catarina Gonzales is the right choice to lead TCEQ as the agency’s newest commissioner,” said Governor Abbott. “I thank Commissioner Emily Lindley for her decade of service to TCEQ and her tireless work to address our environmental quality needs across Texas. I look forward to continuing to work with Catarina to ensure that our state’s resources—and the health of Texans—remain protected as we continue to build an even brighter future for all Texans.”

Catarina Gonzales of Austin was a budget and policy advisor for the Office of the Governor, a position she has held since 2018. She was formerly in private practice at law firms in Austin and Houston. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas and on the executive committee of its Environmental and Natural Resources Law Section and the General Land Office Pooling Committee. She is a former board member of the Cossaboom YMCA Board of Directors and the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas, former volunteer for Dachshund Rescue of Houston, and former member of the Easter Seals Greater Houston Young Professionals Advisory Board. She has been recognized for her leadership in the environmental and government fields by the Houston Business Journal as a recipient of their “40 under 40” award and as a League of Women Voter’s “Rising Star” award honoree. Gonzales received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Trinity College, a Juris Doctor from St. John’s University School of Law, and a Master of Laws in Energy and Environmental Law from the University of Houston School of Law. She was also a visiting student at The University of Texas School of Law, where she was on the board of the American Journal of Criminal Law.

Governor Abbott Appoints Four To Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council

Governor Greg Abbott has appointed John Bash, Mark Stone, Ph.D., Dean Teffer, Ph.D., and Angela Wilkins, Ph.D. to the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Advisory Council for terms set to expire at the pleasure of the Governor. The Council studies and monitors artificial intelligence systems developed, employed, or procured by state agencies.

John Bash of Austin is the founder and co-managing partner of the Austin office of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP and co-chair of the firm’s National Appellate Practice. He was appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas from 2017 to 2020. Previously, while in the U.S. Solicitor General’s office, he argued ten cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and briefed hundreds of others. He is a fellow with the Texas Bar Foundation and a member of the Criminal Law & Procedure Practice Group Executive Committee for the Federalist Society. Additionally, he clerked for Justice Antonin Scalia on the U.S. Supreme Court and for Justice Brett Kavanaugh, when he sat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Bash received an undergraduate degree from Harvard College, graduating summa cum laude, and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School, graduating magna cum laude.

Mark Stone, Ph.D. of Bryan is the CIO for The Texas A&M University System. He is a member of The Texas Society of CPAs and Information Technology Council for Higher Education and board member of Training Leaders International, To Every Tribe, and the Lonestar Education and Research Network. Additionally, he is an elder for New Life Baptist Church and an adjunct professor for Spurgeon College. Stone received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Baylor University, a Master of Divinity from Westminster Theological Seminary, and a Master of Theology and Doctor of Philosophy in Ethics from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Dean Teffer, Ph.D. of Austin is a cybersecurity expert, most recently serving as vice president of IronNet Cybersecurity. He is co-chair and an AI Policy Subcommittee member for The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers – USA. He is an assistant coach for Town and Country Sports and a volunteer for the Balcones Country Club Sharks. Teffer received a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Tulane University and a Master of Science in Physics and a Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin.

Angela Wilkins, Ph.D. of Houston is the executive director at Rice University's Ken Kennedy Institute. She advises several companies on the application of AI. With over a decade at Baylor College of Medicine, she has specialized at the intersection of AI and health and is the founder of an AI company. She is a board member of the Alliance for AI in Healthcare and a contributor to the Life Sciences Advisory Committee of the Greater Houston Partnership. Wilkins received a Bachelor of Science in Physics from the University of Northern Colorado and a Doctor of Philosophy in Theoretical Physics from Lehigh University.

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