The Mignon Memo

Abbott abroad.

Governor Abbott is currently on his third international business development trip as Governor. Monday he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and reiterated his commitment to Texas’ Iran divestiture policy. Governor Abbott will now go on to Switzerland to attend the World Economic Forum. To read more…

Two possible shots at winning Sly’s seat.

A special election for state House District 139 has been set for May 7, 2016 to fill Sylvester Turner’s remaining legislative term. Turner was sworn in as Mayor of Houston January 2nd. Special election candidates must file by March 7, 2016. Whoever wins this special election will serve from May to January 2016. To read more…

Powerball winner: Texas public schools.

$244 million was spent on Texas Powerball tickets leading up to last week’s record breaking jackpot. $105 million of that will go to the Texas Education Agency’s Foundation School Fund. This account is used to fund daily operations of public schools.  To read more…

More change for Harris County.

Harris County Judge Ed Emmett announced he will appoint a successor to complete El Franco Lee’s term as Precinct 1 County Commissioner by next Tuesday, January 26th. After the March primary, Democratic precinct chairs will then pick a candidate to replace Lee on the November ballot. A shuffle of Harris County Democratic elected officials is in our future.  To read more… 

Only in Austin…

Interactive escape rooms are all the rage these days. At Lockdown Austin, you and your teammates will have an hour to complete a selected mission like stopping an evil CIA agent, disarming a bomb, escaping a dictator, or pulling off a casino heist. To succeed (and escape), you must solve a series of puzzles using objects and clues in your room. Every detail matters.

To read more…

Campus Carry—not for every campus.

Next school year, Texans with concealed handgun licenses will be allowed to carry concealed handguns inside buildings on public university and college campuses. Public campuses are in the process of drafting policies that will allow some parts of their campuses to remain gun-free. Private schools can opt out of campus carry completely, but must decide by August 1, 2016. So far none of the 38 private campuses have chosen to allow for campus carry. To read more…

An unconventional convention.

Friday, Governor Abbott unveiled his “Texas Plan” and called for a convention of the states to “return the Constitution to its intended purpose.” The Texas Plan includes 9 proposed amendments to the U.S. Constitution.  To read more…

A new provost for the University of Texas at Austin.

Maurie McInnis will take the reigns as executive vice president and provost of the University of Texas at Austin starting July 1, 2016. McInnis currently serves as vice provost for academic affairs and a professor of art history at the University of Virginia. To read more…

Texas Aggies say HOWDY to a new athletic director.

It’s official Scott Woodward will replace Eric Hyman, who recently resigned, as Texas A&M’s athletic director. Woodward comes from the University of Washington where he served as AD since 2008. To read more… 

Only in Austin…

Looking for some indoor adventure in this cold weather? Visit iFly Austin for indoor skydiving! A vertical wind tunnel is used to simulate the freefall feeling of jumping out of the plane. Get the adrenaline rush without the scare! Mignon McGarry tested and approved. To read more…

Open season for open carry.

As of January 1, 2016, licensed gun owners may openly carry handguns in Texas as long as they are in a belt or shoulder holster. Guns remain prohibited in gun free zones like courthouses, hospitals, and churches and other places that post 30.06 and 30.07 “no guns” signs.  To read more…

Gategate. The newest political scandal?

Iron gates, believed to be from 1890, that once fenced in the Governor’s Mansion are up for auction on Sunday. The gates supposedly sold as surplus state property, however, may not be as historic as originally thought. To read more…

New year, new Senate committee chairs.

With Sen. Troy Fraser (R-Horseshoe Bay) and Sen. Kevin Eltife (R-Tyler) retiring, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick has appointed Sen. Craig Estes (R-Wichita Falls) as chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Economic Development Committee and Sen. Kelly Hancock (R-North Richland Hills) as chair of the Senate Business and Commerce Committee. To read more…

Only in Austin…

Not quite ready to let Christmas go? It’s Christmas year round at LaLa’s Little Nugget. It may not be fancy, but there is plenty of festivity to go around at this iconic Austin dive bar. To read more…

The Dean of the Travis County House delegation will not run for re-election.

After 26 years of serving in the Texas House of Representatives, Elliott Naishtat (D-Austin) is retiring. Six candidates have filed for the upcoming Democratic primary.   To read more…

Houston, we have a Mayor.

State Representative Sylvester Turner defeated Bill King, a businessman and former mayor of Kemah, in the mayoral runoff earning 51% of the vote. At one point, Turner’s lead was by a narrow 500 votes. Fort Bend County ultimately pushed Mayor-elect Turner over the finish line.  To read more…

Let’s get ready to rumble!

Monday was the filing deadline for candidates in Texas for the March 1, 2016 primary elections. With at least 15 House members and 2 Senators not returning, it should make for an interesting election cycle. For many districts in Texas, the race is really decided during the primary, and not the general election. To read more…

Mike Morath, from Dallas I.S.D. to Texas Education Commissioner.

Governor Abbott has appointed Mike Morath to succeed Michael Williams when he officially steps down on January 1, 2016. While a D.I.S.D. trustee, Morath pushed for a “home rule” policy, implemented merit pay for teachers, and D.I.S.D. experienced higher graduation rates and standardized test scores.  To read more…

Only in Austin…

Head over to Mozart’s Coffee Roasters for a light show that is said to give Austin’s Trail of Lights some competition. Every hour on the hour, starting at 6pm until midnight, you can catch an elaborate 15 minute choreographed show set to music. Go early and grab a hot chocolate to enjoy during the performance! To read more…

Retirement of Lt. Governor’s Senior Advisor, Walter Fisher.

Walter Fisher, Senior Advisor to Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, has announced that he will be retiring, wrapping up a twenty year career in Texas politics.  To read more…

Open carry. New year, new law.

Texas Concealed Handgun Licenses are only weeks away from being replaced with Licenses to Carry (LTC) once the open carry law goes into effect January 1, 2016.  Licensed Texans will then be allowed to openly carry their holstered handguns. To read more…

5 Texas college football teams make a bowl, but no rivalries are renewed.

The college bowl schedule is set, and five Texas teams have made the cut. Baylor will play in the Citrus Bowl; TCU in the Alamo Bowl; Houston in the Peach Bowl; Texas A&M in the Music City Bowl, and Texas Tech in the Texas Bowl. Many fans were hoping for a renewed A&M and Tech match up, but to no avail. To read more…

One person, one vote. Who counts?

That was the question before the U.S. Supreme Court yesterday—“who counts as a person?”—when creating state legislative districts. In Evenwel v. Abbott, the state of Texas defended its position that the entire population, and not just eligible voters should be counted. This would include resident noncitizens, felons, and children. Plaintiffs argue this would violate “one person, one vote.” Should the Court side with the state, state legislative districts will look much different than they do now. To read more…

Only in Austin…

It’s officially the Christmas season in Austin now that the Zilker tree has been lit. The tree stands 155 feet tall and is made up of 39 strands of 81 multicolored bulbs, totaling 3,309. It’s a sight to make Clark Griswold jealous.  To read more…

Shifting Staff in the Speaker’s Office.

In March 2016, Patricia Shipton will take over as Chief of Staff when Jesse Ancira steps down. Former state representative Allan Ritter will also come on board as Senior Advisor. To read more…

Movies. Not just for entertainment.

A court decision in American Multi-Cinema (AMC) v. Hegar, could cost the state $1.1 billion a year in franchise tax revenue. It all boils down to how the term “good” is defined for franchise tax deduction purchases. A “good” movie takes on a whole different meaning. To read more…

Mr. Abbott goes to Cuba.

Governor Abbott is wrapping up a business development trip to Cuba where he met with officials of Cuban’s Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment as well as representatives of other Cuban economic institutions. First Lady Cecilia Abbott, the governor’s staff and economic development team, representatives from the ports of Houston, Beaumont and Corpus Christi, and Houston’s airports made up the 26 person entourage. To read more…

Only in Austin…

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the Texas Capitol. The 26-foot tree from Marshall Cathey’s farm in Denison has made it to the House floor and will be adorned with ornaments from each Texas House District on Friday. The tree is on display from December 4^th to January 3^rd. To read more…

Still battling it out in San Antonio.

January 26, 2016 is the special runoff election date for House District 118, vacated by Rep. Joe Farias (D-San Antonio). Tomas Uresti (D), brother of Sen. Carlos Uresti, will go head to head with John Lujan (R), an IT business consultant. To read more…

13 Houston Mayoral Hopefuls down to 2.

A runoff election to decide who will be Houston’s next Mayor—Sylvester Turner or Bill King—is December 12, 2015 with early voting starting December 2^nd. Adrian Garcia, who came in third, has endorsed Turner. Fifth place candidate and former Congressman Chris Bell made a surprising endorsement of King. To read more…

Texpatriates rejoice!

Craving Sweet Leaf Tea or Taste of Texas coffee? HEB has launched an online store where you can order (and have delivered) the Texas treats you’ve been missing. To read more…

Only in Austin…

Creek Show, a 10-night event presented by the Waller Creek Conservancy, features five art and light installations along Waller Creek between 5^th and 8^th Streets. This year’s Light Night designers are: Clark Richardson Architects, Clay Odom, Luke Savisky, Ten Eyck Landscape Architects, and Specht Harpman Architects. You have through November 21^st to see the creek like you’ve never seen it before. To read more…

House committee homework.

Speaker Joe Straus has assigned interim charges to House committees. Three core priorities for interim work include: supporting private-sector growth, creating opportunity through education, and continuing to make government more transparent and accountable. To read more…

The doctor is in.

Dr. John Hellerstedt, pediatrician, will take over as Commissioner of the Department of State Health Services on January 1, 2016. Dr. Hellerstedt is a former director of Texas’ Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) division. To read more…

Bush (this time Jeb) appoints his Texas Leadership Committee.

Jeb Bush released a list of 150+ prominent supporters, including some of Texas’ elected officials and biggest GOP donors. Notable names include: Speaker Joe Straus, U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions, and son Land Commissioner George P. Bush. To read more…

A is for Assessment (and Accountability).

Governor Greg Abbott, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, and Speaker Joe Straus have named their respective appointees to the newly created Texas Commission on Next Generation Assessments and Accountability. The Commission will make recommendations for new systems of student assessment and public school accountability. To read more…

Only in Austin…

The 14^th annual East Austin Studio Tour (EAST) is a great way to explore local art and the city’s unique spaces. This year, 287 artist studios, 152 exhibitions, and 17 “happenings” can be explored on the east side of I-35 for two weekends. During this self-guided experience, you can see working studios, learn about artists’ tools, techniques, and processes. Get inspired! To read more…

Election Results: Texans like their constitutional amendments.

All 7 constitutional amendments passed with overwhelming support. A reminder of what the amendments will do:

Proposition 1: Property tax reduction; 86.47% in favor

Proposition 2: Disabled veteran tax exemptions count for spouses; 91.41% in favor

Proposition 3: Repeals capital living requirement for statewide officials; 66.06% in favor

Proposition 4: Professional sports teams’ charitable foundations can have more raffles; 69.42% in favor

Proposition 5: Small counties can perform private road maintenance; 82.75% in favor

Proposition 6: Guarantees Texans the right to fish and hunt; 81.03% in favor

Proposition 7: Dedicates more state revenue to the State Highway Fund; 83.22% in favor

In the House District 118 Special Election (San Antonio) to replace Rep. Joe Farias who retired shortly after the legislative session, John Lujan (R) and Tomas Uresti are headed to a runoff. Here is a breakdown of the returns:

Anthony Alcoser (D):  12.67%

Robert A. Casias (R):  5.32%

Gabe Farias (D):  18.80%

Michael Holdman (R):  13.31%

*John Lujan (R): 28.21%

*Tomás Uresti (D):  22.36%

Houston Mayoral Race and HERO

Houston’s Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO) was defeated by a large margin, with 61% voting against the ordinance.  In a field of 13 candidates for Mayor of Houston, Sylvester Turner (27%) and Bill King (25%) are headed to a runoff. Sheriff Adrian Garcia came in a distant third (17%).

Bond Election for Travis County Courthouse

In an extremely close vote, the bond for construction of a new county courthouse failed by 1,000 votes out of 73,000, a margin of less than 2%. To read election night returns…

Texas Medicaid has a new director.

Gary Jessee, has been named Texas’ new state Medicaid director, replacing Kay Ghahremani who retired last week after 20 years of service to the state. Most recently, Jessee served as the Medicaid/CHIP Division’s chief deputy director for program operations. To read more…

State Auditor retiring.

John Keel, a familiar face in state government, has announced that he will retire as Texas State Auditor effective January 4, 2016. To read more…

Blue Bell returns to North Texas.

Phase 2 of resumed Blue Bell distribution includes North Texas, Waco, and central and southern Oklahoma. With flavors limited to 5—Buttered Pecan, Cookies n’ Cream, Dutch Chocolate, Homemade Vanilla, and The Great Divide—Is your favorite flavor still being produced? To read more…

Only in Austin…

How do you like your martini—shaken or stirred? Thursday, November 5^th at 5:30 p.m., The Bullock Museum is celebrating the premiere of the new Bond movie “Spectre,” with a special cocktail party featuring 007’s beverage of choice, Loteria, prize giveaways, and Bond trivia. The event is open to ticket holders. Hurry and grab your tickets to see James Bond on the IMAX!

A Cruzin’ Endorsement

Lt. Governor Dan Patrick has not only endorsed Ted Cruz for president, he will serve as chair for the Cruz for President Campaign in Texas. To read more…

Det var helt texas!

Translation: That is totally texas. Yes, with a lower case t, “texas” to Norwegians is slang for “exciting,” “crazy,” or out of control” and has been for 50+ years. Who knew?  To read more…

Texas Ambition

U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady (R-The Woodlands) has announced that he will run to replace U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan as chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means. Of course, all of this depends on whether Ryan is elected House Speaker, as expected, on Thursday. To read more…

Only in Austin…

Littlefield House on the University of Texas-Austin campus was built in 1893 for Major George Littlefield, a successful businessman in the bank and cattle trades, and his wife Alice. The Littlefields were major benefactors of UT and funded the Littlefield Fountain, the Main Building, and the Littlefield Dormitory. This Victorian beauty is supposedly haunted by Mrs. Littlefield who rarely left the house in life. People claim you can hear her playing the piano or pacing upstairs waiting for the Major to return home. To read more…