MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS
Tuesday, February 6, 2001
1:30 p.m.
Capitol Extension, Room E1.016
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Nominations
was held on Tuesday, February 6, 2001, in the Capitol Extension,
Room E1.016, at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Jane Nelson, Chair None
Senator Leticia Van de Putte, Vice Chair
Senator Gonzalo Barrientos
Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr.
Senator Tom Haywood
Senator Jon Lindsay
Senator Jeff Wentworth
*****
The chair called the meeting to order at 1:32 p.m. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted.
The following members arrived after the roll was called:
Senator Haywood
Senator Wentworth
Senator Lindsay moved that the minutes from the previous meeting
be approved. There being no objections, the minutes were
adopted.
The Chair laid out the names of the nominees to the Texas Energy
Coordination Council and introduced Donald Niemiec.
The Chair recognized Senator Barrientos to introduce Charles
Patton and Mike Sloan.
The Chair recognized Senator Lindsay to introduce James Tramuto.
The Chair welcomed Senator Brown to the committee to introduce
Douglas Whipple.
The nominees made opening statements and then responded to
questions by members of the Committee.
At 1:51 p.m., Senator Lindsay moved to recommend to the full
Senate that Donald Niemiec be confirmed to the Texas Energy
Coordination Council.
Senator Van de Putte seconded the motion.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays. Senator
Haywood asked to be shown as voting aye. Without objection, the
motion carried.
At 1:52 p.m., Senator Wentworth moved to recommend to the full
Senate that all of the nominees, Donald W. Niemiec, Charles R.
Patton, Clay Michael Sloan, James A. Tramuto, and Douglas P.
Whipple, be confirmed to the Texas Energy Coordination Council
Senator Van de Putte seconded the motion.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays. Senator
Haywood asked to be shown as voting aye. Without objection, the
motion carried.
The Chair laid out the names of the nominees to the Texas Water
Development Board.
The Chair welcomed Senator Madla to the committee hearing and
recognized him to introduce Kathleen Hartnett White.
The Chair welcomed Representative Geren to the committee hearing
and recognized him to introduce Bill Meadows.
The nominees made opening statements and then responded to
questions by members of the Committee.
At 2:18 p.m., Senator Wentworth moved to recommend to the full
Senate that William W. Meadows and Kathleen Hartnett White be
confirmed to the Texas Water Development Board.
Senator Van de Putte seconded the motion.
The motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, and 1 absent.
The Chair laid out the name of the nominee to the Texas Natural
Resource Conservation Commission.
The Chair recognized Senator Wentworth to introduce R. B.
(Ralph) Marquez.
The nominee made an opening statement and then responded to
questions by members of the Committee.
At 3:20 p.m., Senator Lindsay moved to recommend to the full
Senate that R. B. (Ralph) Marquez be confirmed as Commissioner
of the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission.
Senator Van de Putte seconded the motion.
The motion carried with a vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, and 2 present
not voting.
The Chair recognized Judge Carl Griffith, Jr. who testified in
favor of R.B. (Ralph) Marqez.
The Chair laid out the name of the nominee to the Board For
Lease - Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission.
The Chair recognized Senator Barrientos to introduce William
Gammon, III.
The nominee made an opening statement and then responded to
questions by members of the Committee.
At 3:30 p.m., Senator Barrientos moved to recommend to the full
Senate that William Gammon, III be confirmed to the Board For
Lease - Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission.
Senator Van de Putte seconded the motion.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays. Senator
Haywood asked to be shown as voting aye. Without objection, the
motion carried.
The Chair laid out the nominees to boards with waived
appearances and announced that Dick Auld, nominee to the State
Seed and Plant Board and Julie Dowell, nominee to the Angelina
and Neches River Authority Board of Directors would be left
pending.
The Chair asked for questions or comments.
Senator Wentworth moved that, with the exception of the two
nominees who were left pending, the nominees to boards with
waived appearances be recommended to the full Senate for
confirmation to their respective boards as listed on the
attached agenda.
Senator Lindsay seconded the motion.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays. Senator
Haywood asked to be shown as voting aye. Without objection, the
motion carried.
There being no further business, at 3:32 p.m. Senator Lindsay
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
______________________
Senator Jane Nelson, Chair
______________________
Cheri Huddleston, Clerk