MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS
Wednesday, March 3, 1999
1:00 p.m.
Capitol Building, Room 2E.20
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Nominations
was held on Wednesday, March 3, 1999, in the Capitol Building,
Room 2E.20, Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Jeff Wentworth, Chairman None
Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr., Vice Chairman
Senator Gonzalo Barrientos
Senator David Bernsen
Senator J. E. Brown
Senator Tom Haywood
Senator Mike Jackson
*****
The Chair called the meeting to order at 1:10 p.m. There
being a quorum present, the following business was transacted.
The following members arrived after the roll was called:
Senator Gallegos
Senator Bernsen
Senator Haywood
Chairman Wentworth announced that the name of a witness who
testified at last week's hearing had been left off the
Minutes.
Senator Brown moved that the Minutes from the previous meeting
be approved with changes. There being no objection, the
Minutes were adopted.
The Chairman laid out the name of the nominee for Commissioner
of the Public Utility Commission.
Senator Brown introduced the nominee, Brett A. Perlman.
Mr. Perlman made an opening statement and then responded to
questions by members of the Committee.
At 1:34 p.m., Senator Brown moved to recommend to the full
Senate that Brett A. Perlman be confirmed as Commissioner of
the Public Utility Commission.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays.
The Chairman laid out the name of the nominee for Commissioner
of the Texas Transportation Commission.
Senator Ellis introduced John W. Johnson.
Mr. Johnson made an opening statement and then responded to
questions by members of the Committee.
At 2:01 p.m., Senator Gallegos moved to recommend to the full
Senate that John W. Johnson be confirmed as Commissioner of
the Texas Transportation Commission.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays.
The Chairman laid out the name of the nominee for Commissioner
of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
Chairman Wentworth introduced John T. Steen, Jr.
Mr. Steen made an opening statement and then responded to
questions by members of the Committee.
At 2:10 p.m., Senator Barrientos moved to recommend to the
full Senate that John T. Steen, Jr. be confirmed as
Commissioner of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays.
The Chairman laid out the names of the nominees to the Texas
Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Senator Brown introduced Martin Basaldua.
Senator Barrientos introduced Pamela P. Willeford.
Senator Lucio introduced Robert W. Shepard.
Nominees made opening statements and then responded to
questions by members of the Committee.
At 2:41 p.m., Senator Barrientos moved to recommend to the
full Senate that Martin Basaldua, Pamela P. Willeford and
Robert W. Shepard be confirmed as Members of the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays.
Senator Bernsen moved that consideration of the nominees to
the Lower Neches Valley Authority Board of Directors be left
pending until March 17. Without objection it was so ordered.
The Chairman laid out the names of the nominees for the State
Commission on Judicial Conduct.
Senator Brown introduced Dee Coats.
Senator Barrientos introduced Gilbert M. Martinez.
The nominees made opening statements and then responded to
questions by members of the Committee.
The Committee heard testimony for the confirmation of Dee
Coats and Gilbert M. Martinez from Chief Justice Bud Arnot, of
Eastland, Texas.
At 2:57 p.m., Senator Brown moved to recommend to the full
Senate that Dee Coats and Gilbert M. Martinez be confirmed as
Members of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct.
The motion passed with a vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays.
The Chairman laid out the names of the nominees for the Texas
Judicial Council.
Chairman Wentworth introduced James R. Brickman.
Senator Brown introduced Joseph Alan Callier.
Chairman Wentworth introduced Diego J. Pena.
Senator Barrientos introduced Sharon W. Wilkes.
Nominees made opening statements and then responded to
questions by members of the Committee.
At 3:05 p.m., Senator Brown moved to recommend to the full
Senate that James R. Brickman, Joseph Alan Callier, Diego J.
Pena and Sharon W. Wilkes be confirmed as Members of the Texas
Judicial Council.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays.
The Chairman laid out the names of the nominees to the Texas
Board of Pardons and Paroles.
Senator Jackson introduced Linda Garcia.
Senator Sibley introduced Filiberto "Bert" Reyna.
Chairman Wentworth introduced Lafayette Collins, Lucinda
"Cindy" Simons and James Paul Kiel, Jr.
Senator Armbrister introduced Paddy Lann Burwell.
Nominees made opening statements and then responded to
questions by members of the Committee.
At 3:40 p.m., Senator Jackson moved to recommend to the full
Senate that Linda Garcia, Filiberto "Bert" Reyna, Lafayette
Collins, James Paul Kiel, Jr., Lucinda "Cindy" Simons and
Paddy Lann Burwell be confirmed as Members of the Texas Board
of Pardons and Paroles.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays.
The Chairman laid out the names of the nominees to the
University of Houston Board of Regents.
Senator Brown introduced Suzette T. Caldwell, Theresa W.
Chang, George E. McDavid and Thad "Bo" Smith.
Nominees made opening statements and then responded to
questions by members of the Committee.
At 4:05 p.m., Senator Brown moved to recommend to the full
Senate that Suzette T. Caldwell, Theresa W. Chang, George E.
McDavid and Thad "Bo" Smith be confirmed as Members of the
University of Houston Board of Regents.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays.
The Chairman laid out the names of the nominees to the
University of North Texas Board of Regents.
Chairman Wentworth introduced Roy Gene Evans and Gayle W.
Strange.
Senator Moncrief introduced George W. Pepper.
Senator Gallegos introduced Martha F. Turner.
Nominees made opening statements and then responded to
questions by members of the Committee.
At 4:20 p.m., Senator Gallegos moved to recommend to the full
Senate that Roy Gene Evans, Gayle W. Strange, George W. Pepper
and Martha F. Turner be confirmed as Members of the University
of North Texas Board of Regents.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays.
The Chairman laid out the names of the nominees to the Texas
Commission of Licensing and Regulation.
Senator Ogden introduced Gina Parker.
Chairman Wentworth introduced Patricia P. Stout.
Senator Brown introduced Leo R. Vasquez, III.
Nominees made opening statements and then responded to
questions by members of the Committee.
At 4:35 p.m., Senator Brown moved to recommend to the full
Senate that Gina Parker, Patricia P. Stout and Leo R. Vasquez,
III be confirmed as Members of the Texas Commission of
Licensing and Regulation.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays.
The Chairman laid out the name of the nominee for Commissioner
of the Texas Fire Fighters' Pension.
Senator Nixon introduced Morris E. Sandefer, Jr.
Mr. Sandefer made an opening statement and then responded to
questions by members of the Committee.
At 4:43 p.m., Senator Gallegos moved to recommend to the full
Senate that Morris E. Sandefer, Jr. be confirmed as
Commissioner of the Texas Fire Fighters' Pension.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays.
The Chairman laid out the names of the nominees to the Texas
Juvenile Probation Commission.
Senator Carona introduced Mike Cantrell.
Senator Ellis introduced Mary Craft.
Senator Duncan introduced William E. Miller.
Chairman Wentworth introduced Byron K. Reed.
Nominees made opening statements and then responded to
questions by members of the Committee.
At 4:53, Senator Brown moved to recommend to the full Senate
that Mike Cantrell, Mary Craft, William E. Miller and Byron K.
Reed be confirmed as Members of the Texas Juvenile Probation
Commission.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays.
At 4:55 p.m., Senator Brown moved to recommend to the full
Senate that John Edward Neill be confirmed as Judge of the
18th Judicial District Court, Johnson and Somervell Counties;
that B. B. Shraub be confirmed as Presiding Judge of the Third
Administrative Judicial Region; that Darrell Hester be
confirmed as Presiding Judge of the Fifth Administrative
Judicial Region; that Dean Rucker be confirmed as Presiding
Judge of the Seventh Administrative Judicial Region; that Ray
D. Anderson be confirmed as Presiding Judge of the Ninth
Administrative Judicial Region; and that the nominees to the
Crime Stoppers Advisory Council, Midwestern State University
Board of Regents, Texas State Technical College be confirmed.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays.
There being no further business, at 4:56 p.m. Senator Brown
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the Chairman. Without objection it was so ordered.
Senator Jeff Wentworth, Chairman
Jennifer Ahrens, Clerk