The Capitol Crowd

Person of the Week - Robert Floyd

2013-03-23T17:30:00.000-05:00

by Robyn Hadley

This is definitely Robert Floyd's week to shine. A Vietnam veteran and legislative lobbyist with the Hance Scarborough law firm, Robert has worked for a decade to bring a Vietnam Veterans Memorial to the Capitol Grounds.

During the 79th Legislature (2005), Vietnam veterans Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa and Rep. Wayne Smith passed H.C.R. 36, giving the State Preservation Board permission to work with private donors to construct the monument.

Years of hard work, planning, and fund raising come to fruition over the course of the next two days. The ceremonial events begin Sunday morning, March 24th at 8:30 a.m. the LBJ Library with the reading of the names of the 3,417 young men who died during the war. Scheduled to read the names of the fallen are their friends and family members, as well as the daughters of former President Lyndon Baines Johnson, Luci Baines Johnson Turpin and Lynda Bird Johnson Robb. Also participating will be Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, who's a Vietnam veteran, and House Speaker Joe Straus. Reading the names is expected to take more than 8 hours. Think about that. Here is the program for that event:

On Monday, March 25th, a groundbreaking ceremony begins at 10 a.m. at the future site of the monument on the northeast grounds of the Capitol. Here's the program for that event:

There are so many amazing details surrounding the monument - its design, the "living" archive which will feature photos and videotaped stories from veterans, the foundry in Bastrop, and the creation of two "hero tags" (aka "dog tags") for each of the 3,417 veterans who died during the war. One set of tags will be entombed in the monument, the other set will be part of an educational display.

For more details on the monument, take some time to peruse the excellent Build the Monument website. It should be finished and ready for a dedication ceremony in the Fall of 2013 or early 2014.

If you work at the Capitol, I hope you'll be able to attend the ceremony and thank a Vietnam veteran for his or her service to our country. Some of them have been waiting more than 40 years for a simple "thank you." I'm proud of my friend Robert, and the other driving forces behind this monument, for making it a reality.

Person of the Week - Sondra Williamson

2013-03-11T19:58:00.000-05:00

by Robyn Hadley

I recently met Sondra Williamson through LinkedIn and thought she was incredibly interesting. A former Capitol staffer, she has worked for senators, state agencies, lobby firms and former statewide elected officials in the private sector. Sondra has some great stories about the "good ol' days" at the Capitol, and now uses the breadth of her knowledge and communications skills to help lawyers, lawmakers and lobbyists reach their goals.

Sondra Williamson

Current job and title – President, Paradigm Shift Writing and Communications Services

Hometown – Born in Angleton, a small town 45 miles south of Houston. I grew up in Houston, and have been in Austin since 1976, when I moved here and went to work for the Texas Senate.

What do you do at your current job? I am a freelance writer specializing in the areas of government affairs, legal affairs (work for attorneys and trial consultants), and corporate communications.

What other jobs have you held around the Capitol? I worked for the Texas Senate from 1976 to 1983, where I clerked the Senate Nominations Committee for the late Senator Peyton McKnight (D-Tyler) and I then I was an Administrative Aide to then-Senator J.E. “Buster” Brown (R-Lake Jackson) in 82-83. In 1983, I spent six months marketing the Westgate Building when it was converted to condos, which were sold largely to lobbyists, and then from 1983 to 1985, I worked as Marketing Coordinator for former Lt. Gov. Ben Barnes and the late Gov. John Connally in their real estate joint venture (of course, they both remained actively involved in politics, so I was never far from the Capitol). From 1986 to 1991, I owned and operated a corporate event management business that served some of the biggest law firms in Austin, including much work involving entertainment and catering for lobbyists. Then I went to work as Statewide Promotions Coordinator for the Texas Lottery from 1992 to 1994, coordinating all their start-up parties and grand prize drawings around the state, then coordinated promotional events at dozens of regional festivals and events statewide. After that, I was a writer and communications consultant for MEM/Hubble Communications in Austin for four years. Since 1998, I've been a freelance writer, including work consulting for HillCo Partners.

How did you get your first job around the Capitol? My father actually got me my first job in the Senate, answering the phones and doing light office work for the late Senator Roy Harrington (D-Port Arthur), who was retiring. I did that for six months before being hired by Senator McKnight.

What did you like best about working at the Capitol? There was a certain camaraderie in the Senate – we all felt like family. We worked hard together, and we played hard together. Things were a lot different in the '70s and '80s when I worked in the Capitol, and I worked for a wonderful man, Peyton McKnight, who treated his staff like family. We had a lot of fun! We were all young – in our 20s and early 30s. Senator McKnight knew a lot of big-name country-western entertainers (Willie Nelson, George Jones, and many others), and he was good friends with the late Coach Darrell Royal, so we attended intimate “picking parties” with them. My daughter, believe it or not, grew up roller-skating in the halls of the old Capitol basement, before the extension was ever dreamed of. Beyond the fun, there was a sense of history and purpose in working in the Senate. I loved watching debate on important bills from the gallery, right outside our third-floor office. I can remember Senators Bill Moore, Tom Creighton, Ike Harris, Babe Schwartz, Lloyd Doggett and many others battling it out on the floor.

Any mentors who’ve helped you with your current job? I’ve had some wonderful mentors, without whom I would not be where I am today. First, Senator McKnight himself, who believed in my abilities, forgave my mistakes, and helped me repeatedly until he died in 1995. Peggy Crow, who ran Senator McKnight’s office, became like a mother and best friend rolled into one. She taught me so much and has supported me through the years. She’s a fine lady to whom I remain close. And then I would have to say Bill Miller, of HillCo Partners. When I went to work for him in 1994, he helped me realize writing was what I was meant to do, and I learned so much from him about how to present clients’ perspectives on legislative and corporate affairs issues, public relations, crisis communications and other matters. Bill has been and continues to be a great friend.

What was the most amazing thing that ever happened to you at the Capitol? Oh, gosh. I don’t know about amazing, but I was working there in 1983 when the east wing of the Capitol burned after a TV caught fire in the Lt. Governor’s apartment. I was working for Buster Brown, and we had just gotten our office redecorated. I believe it was only a few weeks into the session. For a couple of weeks we worked on TV trays in the hallways and went home every night smelling like smoke and soot. It was a miserable rest-of-the-session, as we were banished to the Sam Houston Building, which was like being across town from the Capitol.

What do you enjoy doing in your “outside” life? I love reading and am a member of a neighborhood book club, go to the gym regularly (though I can’t say I enjoy it), enjoy gardening, touring wineries with friends, doing needlework, painting, and – most of all – spending time with my daughter, son-in-law and 3-year-old granddaughter, Landry.

What are you most passionate about? I am most passionate about family, first, and friends, second. When all else falls away, they are the only things important in life. I am also active in politics; if I had to choose specific issues that interest me, I would say advancing opportunities for women; and providing for the needs of children, the elderly and downtrodden, particularly in the area of health care.

One surprising fact about yourself: That I’m still alive??? Seriously, I suspect many of my contemporaries who cut our eye teeth at the Capitol in the '70s and '80s would identify with that statement! Besides that, I find it surprising that I am able to make a living doing something I love, and that after all these years, I’m still connecting and working with people I worked with so many years ago. I also had the pleasure of co-writing a book with Liz Carpenter (LBJ’s press secretary when he was President) called “Start With A Laugh.”

Favorite place to travel: Virginia. The countryside is beautiful, and my niece has a beautiful home tucked into the woods. We have wonderful family get-togethers there as often as possible. I like to travel anywhere, really, as long as it doesn’t involve too-long plane flights and too many days away from home. I’m a homebody at heart.

One piece of advice for a new Capitol staffer: Be aware of the magnitude of the work you’re involved in. You are taking part in a process that will have tangible effects on many peoples’ lives. Treat whomever comes into your office with respect. They are exercising their rights as citizens, and just the act of walking through that door can be daunting.

Final note from Robyn: If you find yourself needing communication help during session (or afterward), you can reach Sondra at s_williamson@austin.rr.com, 512-260-5460, and her website address is www.sondrawilliamson.com.

Person of the Week - Robert Haley

2013-03-01T10:36:00.001-06:00

by Robyn Hadley

I admit I have a soft spot in my heart for Robert Haley because he's the Committee Director for the Senate Nominations Committee, the first place I worked in the Texas Senate. There is no other committee like it. Instead of dealing with bills, it deals with people. LOTS of people. A governor appoints thousands of commissioners, regents, and board members, and they serve only with the advice and consent of the Senate. Unlike other committees, it doesn't have to negotiate with the House at all... but it has to work with all 31 Senators' office and the Governor's Appointments Office. It's a fascinating place to work if you want to have a big picture view of state government.

Robert has worked for the Nominations Committee for 10 years, for four different chairman (Senators Lindsay, Jackson, Deuell, and now Hegar). We're so happy he agreed to answer our "Person of the Week" Q&A.

Robert Haley and his son on the Senate Floor with Sen. Kirk Watson

Current job and title: Committee Director for the Senate Committee on Nominations

Educational background: Graduated in December of 1994 with a BS in Political Science from TCU.

Hometown: Center, Texas

What do you do at your current job? Handle all aspects of the Nominations Committee. Work closely with the Chairman for the purpose of seeing that nominees are confirmed by the Senate.

What other jobs have you held around the Capitol? Assistant Sergeant at Arms for the Senate, Assistant Clerk and Clerk for the Senate Redistricting Committee, and Committee Director for the Senate Nominations Committee.

How did you get your first job around the Capitol? Family ties. My dad was a former member (editors note: Robert's father is former Sen. Bill Haley) and so I knew a lot of people already at the capitol and so that definitely helped me land my first job as an Assistant Sergeant at Arms for the Senate.

Robert Haley and his son with Gov. Rick Perry

What do you like best about working here? I love seeing all the people and I love the fact that we are a family in the Senate and we take care of each other.

What was the most amazing thing that ever happened to you at the Capitol? I would probably say back in October of 2012, I was able to arrange for my son to meet and have some one on one time with the Governor. My son was so excited. I know I am probably missing something, but being here for 17 years, it is hard to remember all the things that have happened to me in my career.

What do you like to do in your “outside” life? Love watching college football with my son, love playing in the backyard or at the park with all three of my children. I love to cook when I have the time. I also serve on the Board of Education for our church school. Although, I have not been to a meeting yet.

What are you most passionate about? Probably family, church, and TCU football.

One surprising fact about yourself: Most people know this, but there might be some out there that do not. I work part-time for Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home and have been with them for 17 years.

Favorite place to travel: I love camping with the family. We are not big travelers.

One piece of advice for a new Capitol staffer: Really try your best to meet and network with as many people as you can. That can really come in handy in the future.

Person of the Week - Yuniedth Steen

2013-02-19T23:06:00.001-06:00

by Robyn Hadley

This week, we're happy to profile former senate staffer/current governmental affairs consultant Yuniedth Midence Steen. In a world formerly dominated by men named "Dub," "Nub," "Buddy," and "Gib," her name is a little unusual, but that's because she's from Nicaragua, not Poteet (no offense to the watermelon capital of Texas or anyone named Dub, Nub, Buddy or Gib). If you're new to the Capitol, her first name is pronounced June-yet. She is super nice, has tons of experience, and a wonderful sense of humor... as you shall see below.

Current job and title: Government Affairs Consultant with Locke Lord LLP

Educational background: BS in Communications, Universityof Texas at Austin

Hometown: I was born in Nicaragua, Central America but have been in Austin most of my life.

What do you do at your current job? As a contract lobbyist for a multi-national law firm, I work with the rest of our team representing clients before state government. Much of our time is spent developing relationships, staying up to date on our clients' activities and gathering information about various issues that are important to our clients. During the legislative session, when we seem to be running 100 miles an hour, my work, and that of my colleagues, is to convey our clients' positions to legislators and advocating on their behalf.

What other jobs have your held around the Capitol? Chief of Staff to a State Senator and Senate Messenger

How did you get your first job at the Capitol? During my freshman year of college, I applied for and got a job with the Senate Messengers. After a few weeks on the job, I had the opportunity to meet my future boss who happened to be in Austin for an interim committee hearing. He and I hit it off and offered me a job in his office. I worked for him for nearly 12 years.

When you worked at the Capitol during session, what did you like best about working there? You make lifelong friends with people from all over the state. Great people who I probably would not have otherwise met.

What was the most amazing thing that ever happened to you at the Capitol? My hair did not turn gray or fall out.

What do you do in your “outside” life? Besides raising my two wonderful children and spending time with my husband, I am involved with many philanthropic organizations. My family and I love to travel, so we try to take trips regularly, even if it's just to South Texas for a weekend.

What are you most passionate about? Raising great kids, making our a community a great place to raise a family and doing the best job I can for our clients.

One surprising fact about yourself: I enjoy a glass of good scotch every now and again…a newly acquired taste.

Favorite place to travel: I've never been on a vacation I haven't enjoyed.

One piece of advice for a new Capitol staffer: Be nice to everyone. You never know where that person turns up next. I like to say we're all recycled in this business.

Person of the Week - Tiffany White

2013-02-02T16:48:00.001-06:00

Tiffany enjoying a birthday.

by Robyn Hadley

It's not uncommon for generations of families to work at the Capitol. The clerk of the Senate Jurisprudence Committee, Tiffany White, proudly follows in the footsteps of her mom, Annette Holmes, who also worked at the Capitol for many years. I would be so proud if one of my children worked at the Capitol someday too!

Tiffany and her mom, Annette Holmes

Tiffany recently attended the Presidential Inauguration in Washington, D.C. and got some amazing photos from the inauguration and the parade.

To learn more about Tiffany, read our Q&A below:

Current job and title - Clerk of the Senate Jurisprudence Committee for Chairman Royce West

Educational background - BBA from Baylor University and MPA from Texas State University

Hometown - Austin, Texas

What do you do at your current job? Committee Clerk, Senate Jurisprudence

How many senators/committees have you worked for? Senator Royce West, intern with former Senator Gonzalo Barrientos

Tiffany at the 2nd inauguration of President Obama

What was your first job around the Capitol? Senate Messenger

What do you like best about working there? Serving, being a tiny part of the legislative process and making a difference for others.

What was the most amazing thing that ever happened to you at the Capitol? A member once told me, "Good Job" and "Thank you for your service."

Drawing of Tiffany from her trip to the inauguration

What do you do in your “outside” life? Spend time with my son, attending his basketball games, Boy Scout meetings and campouts. I am also a Board Member of the Baylor University Alumni Association, a member of The Links,Incorporated (Service Organization), and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (Service Organization).

What are you most passionate about? My Family

One surprising fact about yourself - I LOVE to cook. It totally relaxes me!

Favorite place to travel - Egypt - so Beautiful and Majestic

One piece of advice for a new Capitol staffer - My very first test was to learn the names and faces of each member! I agree, that's a great place to start!

Person of the Week - Kevin Cooper

2013-01-24T21:39:00.000-06:00

By Robyn Hadley

I'm a big fan of lobbyist Kevin Cooper. First of all, he volunteered years ago to go door-to-door to deliver the Capitol Crowd mini-staff directories for me, saving my feet lots of wear and tear (for my friends who know my "feet issues," this is a very big deal). Second of all, as I learned by being his friend on Facebook, Kevin is one of the funniest people under the Dome. See if you don't agree after you read his "Person of the Week" Q&A.

Current job and title: Lobbyist with Ratliff Company

Educational background: I have a Bachelors of Business Administration degree from Stephen F. Austin State University.

Hometown: I grew up in Richland Hills, Texas. (Fort Worth is a suburb of Richland Hills)

What do you do at your current job? I lobby the Texas Legislature on behalf of my clients.

What other jobs have your held around the Capitol? My first job was a Reading Clerk with the Texas House of Representatives when Gib Lewis was speaker. I used to read the bills in my Ronald Reagan voice at the speaker’s request and I would ring the record vote bell by hand in a cadence pattern all over the Capitol that would drive Rep. Rob Junell crazy. I then worked for Rep. Keith Oakley who was chairman of the House Public Safety Committee. That led me to DPS where I was the legislative liaison for five years. Then, it was on to Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison’s office where I was a regional director in Austin. Incidentally, I never told her I was not a trooper and I think she thought I was because people still call me Trooper Cooper. I worked for her for almost a decade then I came over to Ratliff Company - mainly because there was no place left for me to go, being a lobbyist was the next logical progression in my career.

Kevin Cooper as Reading Clerk

How did you get your first job around the Capitol? When I interviewed for Reading Clerk, I remember standing at the front mic on the House floor and they asked me to read a random house resolution. Speaker Lewis and his chief of staff, Mike Millsap, sat directly in front of me and someone said, “Go ahead…” After a few sentences, Gib stood up and said, “That’s enough, he’s from Fort Worth, put him on the payroll.” It was the best job I ever had and it was also the lowest paying job I ever had. I had two roommates and our rent was $400. By the time I they took out FICA and SSA, I got home with about $900 month.

What did you like best about working at the Capitol? I liked the fraternity-like atmosphere among the staff there. We seemed to be all pulling together and working together in a way that was fun. We made fun of each other and we helped each other. I’m sure they feel the same way today. One particular, memory I have of the good old days was we would lay down behind the speaker’s rostrum when a tour came through, and we’d turn the speaker’s chair left and right depending upon what painting the tour guide was talking about. Of course the tour guide could not see what was going on, but the tourists would eventually roar with laughter.

Paige and Kevin Cooper

What was the most amazing thing that ever happened to you at the Capitol? I met my wife Paige at the Capitol. She worked for Rep. Edmund Kuempel and I worked for Gib Lewis. Edmund was chair of House Administration at the time and I would always volunteer to take things down to her office. She paid no attention to me whatsoever, and I eventually had to trick her into going out with me. The rest we shall say is history. We have been married for 18 years now and have two kids, Reagan and Cate.

What do you do in your “outside” life? I like to eat out and drink beer. I do all my own yard work and we travel some. The kids are all into soccer and dance and that keeps us pretty busy. I think I’d like to start making my own beer, but it seems like so much trouble when you can just buy it.

What are you most passionate about? As of late, I have become involved in, and just getting started with, the Alzheimer’s Association. My mother recently passed away from the disease and I watched her deteriorate over the years. It’s an awful disease, and I want to help anyone who might find themselves in a similar situation as we were.

One surprising fact about yourself: I’m not very tall, but I’m a head taller than anyone else in my immediate family, except Paige.

Favorite place to travel: I like the beach, especially Florida beaches. We recently went to Colorado which emphasized my contempt of cold weather.

Kevin Cooper and former Governor Ann Richards

One piece of advice for a new Capitol staffer: The best advice I have for a new staffer is that you’ll make mistakes and it will be okay. We’ve all been there, so just get to know the place and the people around you. You will meet people that will be your friends for the rest of your life and you’ll be glad you had your time at the Capitol. Who knows, you may never leave, I didn’t.

Person of the Week - Deborah Ingersoll

2013-01-06T18:44:00.000-06:00

If you work around the Capitol, you more than likely receive numerous emails about fundraisers and other events from Deborah Ingersoll. Who is Deborah Ingersoll and how did she become the person who disseminates all of those emails? First of all, she’s a top-notch registered lobbyist with years of experience representing clients before the legislature. Second of all, what you “newbies” may not know is Ingersoll was one of the first entrepreneurs to capitalize on the need for background information on public officials and candidates.

Ingersoll started Reference Guides, Inc. a pre-internet service that compiled and printed pertinent information about elected officials, such as who their biggest contributors were, district demographics, their office mailing addresses, and key office personnel. Ingersoll sold subscriptions to the reference guides and sent subscribers professionally printed copies of the information. For subscribers who were more “cutting edge,” you could purchase the information in software format. You could even get updated Rolodex cards (remember those?). This was way back in the Dark Ages before the Ethics Commission or the House or the Senate posted such information on the Internet. As someone who worked around the Capitol, Ingersoll had the vision to see people would pay for the convenience of someone gathering this type of information for them.

An El Paso native, Ingersoll has worked around the Capitol since 1989. She started Reference Guides, Inc. in 1992 and her lobbying firm, Legislative Solutions, in 1994. Through the years she has worked for a multitude of clients, either alone or on a team, including AT&T, Southwestern Bell, the Texas State Troopers Association, Mirage Resorts, Inc., Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo, Parker College of Chiropractic, the Texas Association of Private Schools, the Independent Title Association of Texas, Entrecorp, Waste Control Specialists, Vista Hospital, and several high profile trial lawyers. She has consistently been named to Capitol Inside’s annual Lobby Power Rankings, and she tied for 1^st place as the Capitol Crowd’s “Favorite Female Lobbyist” in 2007.

Ingersoll's current client list includes Texas Chiropractic College and the Texas State Troopers Association.

One of the reasons Ingersoll is so popular is she has a sparkly, upbeat personality. She’s almost always smiling. But that doesn’t mean she’s a pushover. As her clients know, Ingersoll is a savvy lobbyist who knows every possible way to pass - or kill - a bill.

With so many new lawmakers and staff members starting at the Legislature next week, we know they’ll grow to appreciate Capitol veterans like Ingersoll in the strenuous days that lie ahead.

Q&A with Deborah Ingersoll

What was your first job around the Capitol? When I opened Reference Guides, Inc. which I sold to lobbyists and legislators and political consultants.

What’s the hardest thing about being a lobbyist? The hardest thing about being a lobbyist is finding time to do all that needs to be done and still have a family life and a business.

What’s the most rewarding thing about being a lobbyist? The most rewarding thing is being able to make a difference in the world.

If you had one piece of advice for an incoming legislative staffer, what would it be? Try to separate the fact from fiction in information you are given. With time you will come to know the people you can trust and the ones who embellish a whole lot.

Good luck to Deborah as she tackles the upcoming legislative session!

Interested in being a future Person of the Week? Send your resume and a digital photo to robyn@capitolcrowd.com and we'll be in touch. Open only to people who work around the Capitol; only 52 people a year will be profiled!

Davis and Kaufman Host Rockin' Open House

2012-04-25T09:44:00.000-05:00

Longtime friends and Capitol staffers Denise Davis and Lisa Kaufman have left the pink building to open their own law firm, Davis Kaufman PLLC. Last night, hundreds of friends came by to see their beautiful office space (508 W. 14th Street) while also enjoying catered food and drink, and outstanding music by the band Shotgun Ready (featuring Sen. Robert Duncan's chief of staff Porter Wilson on vocals and guitar).

It was a GREAT gathering of some of best and the brightest. I can't possibly name everyone who came, but here's a sampling:

Statewide Elected Officials - Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson and former Chief Justice Tom Phillips

Lawmakers - Sen. Rodney Ellis, Rep. Dawnna Dukes and Rep. Elliott Naistat

Reporters - Ken Herman, Harvey Kronberg and Paul Burka

Lobbyists - Trey Blocker (who's officing at Davis Kaufman), Kraege and Deborah Polan, Buddy Jones, Mike Toomey, Jody Richardson, Kinnan Goleman, Eric Woomer, Walter Fisher, Lisa Ivie Miller, Victoria Miller, Craig Chick, Billy Phenix, Joe Morris, Mignon McGarry, M.L. Calcote, Wendy Wilson, Shayne Woodard, Randy Erben, John Heal, Carl Richie, Mark Vane, Kathy Hutto, Celeste and Ty Embrey, Mindy Ellmer, Dominic Giarratani and Jackie Lain.

Agency Staff - Ray Spivey (ERS), Brian Jammer (UT System), Fred Aus (LCRA), Gwen Grigsby (UT-Austin), and KaLyn Laney (State Bar of Texas).

Here are some of the best photos of the night. Congrats to Lisa and Denise for taking the leap and starting their own business!

Denise Davis and Lisa Kaufman with former boss, Speaker Joe Straus

The Vanity Wall to end all vanity walls

Person of the Week - Rob Borja

2012-03-26T08:42:00.001-05:00

By Annette Glass

Born in the Philippines, Rob Borja came to the United States with his parents when he was just nine months old. His father, a doctor and his mother settled in Springfield, Missouri where Rob grew up.

Rob attended Tulane University in New Orleans. He started in pre-med, but like many of the people profiled here, Rob realized that his first major was not for him. His interest was really in politics. In his senior year Rob interned for Sidney J. Barthelemy, Mayor of New Orleans at the time. From that experience he learned that politics in New Orleans “is a unique brand not practiced anywhere else.” Rob graduated with a B.S, in Sociology and returned to Missouri where he worked on a U.S. Senate Campaign.

When the campaign was over, Rob headed to Austin to attend the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas in Austin. He made this choice for two reasons. First, he had visited Austin during college and loved the city; second, he wanted the “skilled generalism” that the LBJ School offered. “By not concentrating on one particular area of public policy, I got an education that prepared me for almost anything,” Rob explained.

While at the LBJ School, Rob interned at the former Texas Department of Commerce and experienced his first legislative session in 1995 with G.K. Sprinkle Consulting, a company that “provides advocacy and communication strategies that influence people's actions.”

Rob graduated from the LBJ School and moved to Washington D.C. where he was employed as an analyst by Hickman-Brown Research, Inc., a Democratic polling firm. After getting married in 1997, Rob and his wife moved back to Austin.

In 1998, Rob accepted a position as a Senior Account Executive at the Austin based Rindy Miller Media, a “national, full-service Democratic Media Firm.” His duties included coordinating paid media campaigns for campaigns across the country. Rob also worked for Rindy Miller during the 2002 and 2004 election cycles.

Through networking and getting to know a lot of people, Rob landed a job with the Legislative Study Group in 1999, “an official caucus of the Texas House of Representatives” chaired, at the time, by Rep. Kevin Bailey. His work involved a lot of research on the issue of electric deregulation.

Rob then went to work for Rep. Allan Ritter as his Legislative Director from 1999 to 2002. During the 2003 session, he was a Legislative Analyst for the Texas State Auditor’s office. Two weeks before the end of session, Rob’s daughter Grace was born. Rob stayed with the Auditor’s Office through a special session and then took off for six months to be a stay-at-home Dad.

After the 2004 elections with Rindy Miller Media, a client of the firm, Rep. David Leibowitz, hired Rob to be his Chief of Staff. Rob worked there for six years during which time his son Zachary was born. When Rep. Leibowitz left, Rob was hired by his current boss, Rep. Borris Miles.

As with most of us, Rob’s policy interests in issues follows the lead of his boss. A current policy interest is urban agriculture. Rob explained that “there are food deserts in urban areas (like Sunnyside in Rep. Miles' district) where there are not grocery stores where fresh fruit and vegetable can be purchased. Rep. Miles is partnering with the charitable organization Urban Harvest to build community gardens from which people can grow fresh fruits and vegetables for a healthier diet. This is also a good way to bring economic development opportunities to these areas.”

Away from the Capitol, Rob enjoys bike riding. He biked to work twice a week until he broke his leg (not bike related), now he’s getting back into action by riding bikes with his children. He and his wife, Anna, have season tickets to the Longhorns football games; they also enjoy movies, camping, and barbecuing Texas/Kansas City style. “But mostly,” he admits, “I chauffeur the kids around to their activities.”

Person of the Week - Chara McMichael

2012-03-18T21:28:00.002-05:00

By Annette Glass

McMichael shows off a little bit of the candy her boss likes to keep at his desk.

Chara McMichael may take the award for the most eclectic mix of experience and skills ever written about in a Capitol Crowd feature. From being chased by escaped prisoners in Albania to teaching country dancing, Chara’s story reads like a movie script.

Born at Fort Hood, Chara’s father was an air-traffic controller in the Army. By the time she was six-months-old, her family moved to Kitzingen, Germany, where they stayed until she was four-years-old. Fort Huachuca, Arizona was the next posting, until her father left the Army. Their family then moved to Austin, where Chara went to elementary school, and then was home-schooled prior to entering a private high school.

As an active volunteer with Concerned Women for America, Chara’s mother mixed lessons with real-life experience. Chara’s Capitol career got an early start by working for Rep. L.B. Kubiak as an Administrative Intern. This was before offices had computers, so there was a lot of filing and typing!

Her intern activities continued through high school as she worked for Rep. Warren Chisum, Rep. Glenn Repp, and Rep. Talmadge Heflin. As is the case of many interns and staffers, Chara found herself doing “whatever it takes” to support her boss. One particular incident, she remembers with a trace of embarrassment, is when Rep. Chisum, newly elected to Chair the Texas Conservative Coalition, held a press conference and asked Chara and four others to dress as cows to illustrate his talking points about the “five sacred cows” of that particular Special Session. It’s not exactly something to feature on a resume, but certainly a good war story for her collection.

While in college, Chara’s career grew as she worked as a lobbyist for the Independent Cattleman’s Association and then as member of Rep. Betty Brown’s staff.

Chara graduated from Great Hills Christian High School, and after a stint at Texas A&M University, received her degree in Animal Science at Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University-San Marcos). She was hired by Rep. Debbie Riddle, newly elected to replace Rep. Paul Hilbert, who had passed away. Chara served as Chief of Staff for three years before taking the opportunity to work on the Republican National Convention in New York.

After the convention, Chara moved to Washington, D.C., first working on Capitol Hill, and then accepting a position at the Embassy of Israel in the Congressional Affairs Department. She worked on many controversial issues like how to get financial aid to Palestinians in need while keeping it out of the hands of terrorists. She also worked on Mideast trade agreements and, as the only American on her floor, was often called upon to check speeches for syntax and grammar for the Ambassador and Ministers.

A news junkie, Chara found the news becoming more and more personal during her two years at the Embassy. Events in the Middle East involved people who were known to her or those with whom she worked. It was difficult to watch the news, knowing that there was more to the story than was being reported (something with which most of us can identify).

During a change in management at the Embassy, Chara’s boss was promoted to an outside position, and Chara decided it was an appropriate time to make a change.

Staying in Washington, D.C., she accepted a position as head of the Government Relations and Government Grants Division at Seeds of Peace. Working in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, Seeds of Peace “gives rise to new generations of leaders uniquely inspired and equipped to build lasting peace.” Chara’s job included writing government grants and advocating for the organization on Capitol Hill. It wasn't uncommon to find herself across the table from some actual terrorists. You’ll have to ask her about the rest of that story!

Chara returned to Austin to attend Texas State University for her MBA with an International Emphasis, which she expects to complete this summer. While going to school, she also works as the Chief of Staff for Rep. Randy Weber. The issue that they have worked on that she is most passionate about is human trafficking. Most recently, she worked on the legislation that allowed for the creation of the First Offender Prostitution Program (aka “John school”), proven to reduce recidivism to at least five percent.

She is proud that Texas is on the forefront of this issue with the statewide Human Trafficking Prevention Task Force based in the Attorney General’s office. See their report to the legislature here.

With her boss now running for Congress, Chara is focusing on her next move after receiving her MBA. It will probably be back to Washington, D.C. for additional exciting opportunities.

In the meantime, she does have a life away from politics. She enjoys entertaining and loves music (as she says, “I grew up in Austin. How could I not love music?”) She plans to catch a few groups during SXSW, and is especially proud of Plow Monday, a band in which her friends (and former House Staffer - Jon English) play. Chara also enjoys beach volleyball, although she tells us that the beach part is optional.

Before closing, we take you back to the “eclectic mix of experience and skills” mentioned at the beginning. During her work in Washington, Chara met individually with every presidential candidate during the last campaign including Obama, Biden, McCain, Clinton, and Dodd, and has met with Santorum as well.

And, if politics ever fails to challenge her, she can fall back on the certifications she holds in cattle palpation and artificial insemination.

Person of the Week - Bonnie Bruce

2012-03-12T08:55:00.001-05:00

By Annette Glass

How do people get jobs at the Capitol? In the case of Bonnie Bruce, an old friend tracked her down through an Internet search!

Bonnie Bruce and Brandon Aghamalian attended Southwest Texas State (now Texas State) University at the same time. Brandon was the Student Body Vice-President and Bonnie the Student Liaison to the Board of Regents. At the time, Bonnie’s goal was to become a college professor with a forensics (debate) team. While still in school she was given an opportunity to teach Speech 101 and discovered, to her surprise, that she didn’t like teaching at all.

Bonnie graduated with a degree in Communications, but with her original plan no longer in place, she went to work for Mikasa China in Austin.

Meanwhile Brandon had gone to work for Rep. Kim Brimer, the Chair of the House Committee on Business and Industry. Brandon needed a consummate organizer who could immediately fit into working with elected officials and learn the committee system fast. He remembered Bonnie and searched for her on the internet. This was before all the social sites were popular, so it was not an easy task, but he found her. Brandon called her on a Saturday, interviewed her on a Sunday. On Monday she interviewed with Rep. Brimer and on Tuesday she served as the Assistant Committee Clerk for the organizational hearing for the 76th Session.

Told to assist invited witnesses in completing a witness affirmation form, Bonnie offered one to individuals who came up to her desk. However, when she asked one gentleman if he needed a witness affirmation form, he responded "No darlin'. I'm Rep. Alan Ritter, a member of the committee, and I just came over to introduce myself." The next day Brandon put up photos of all the Committee members over Bonnie's desk with their names so Bonnie could learn their faces and avoid making that embarrassing mistake again!

When Brandon was promoted to Chief of Staff, Bonnie became the Chief Clerk of the committee where she remained until Rep. Brimer ran for the Senate (2001). At this point, Rep. Burt Solomons, a member of the committee approached Rep. Brimer about recruiting Bonnie. Not having a guarantee on the win, Brimer recommended Bonnie take the position of Legislative Director with Rep. Solomons, which she started in September 2001. When Solomons’ District Director resigned in 2007, Bonnie was promoted to Chief of Staff over both the Legislative and District offices. She has enjoyed all of the opportunities that both legislators have offered her. She has worked on homeowners' association issues, workers' compensation, mechanic's lien law reforms, rewriting the Business Organizations Code, Sunset, State Affairs, Calendars and now Redistricting.

Bonnie’s parents grew up in Edgewood, a rural town in northeast Texas. They lived a mile apart all their lives before they got married. Her father worked as a manager for Black and Decker plants and they lived in Oklahoma; Ohio; Reno, Nevada; and Texas while Bonnie grew up. When her father retired, the family settled in Tyler, Texas where Bonnie went to high school. Her father could have been a poster boy for the old advertisement “See the USA in your Chevrolet” because he traveled with the family, always in an American-made car. As a result, before she graduated high school, Bonnie had been to 46 states and all the provinces of Canada.

Before attending Southwest Texas State, Bonnie made her mark at Tyler Junior College as a Speech and Theatre major. Bonnie worked the sound and lights and built sets for 20 college theatrical productions. So, yes, when you see her with a drill or splicing cables, she knows what she’s doing – thank you very much.

Bonnie attributes her success in life to a rich heritage of hard working, rural Texas family members – especially her mother with whom she maintains a close relationship.

With her boss retiring, Bonnie is slowly packing up her office and looking forward to finding a position with a member who has integrity and appreciates having a staffer who is experienced and ready to work hard.

Person of the Week - Laurie McAnally

2012-03-04T18:11:00.000-06:00

By Annette Glass

Laurie McAnally was born in Coral Gables, Florida but, as the saying goes, she got to Texas as soon as she could - in her case, by the age of three.

After her parents divorced, Laurie grew up in Dallas with her mother who originally worked in administration with the Dallas police force. When the bar was lifted, allowing women to become officers in the field, her mom applied and was accepted. She spent the rest of her career as a Dallas Police Officer.

After high school, Laurie headed off to East Texas State (now Texas A&M - Commerce) where she earned a double degree in Radio/TV and Drama and met Bruce, the man she eventually married. Laurie’s original ambition was to be a famous set designer for the theatre, but she discovered that she couldn’t draw. That led to Plan B and straight out of college Laurie landed a job as a mid-day anchor and reporter at KTAL TV in Texarkana.

Her next position was in Longview at KLMG TV where she again worked as an anchor and reporter. The local economy started to decline and the station had to make cut-backs. Laurie worked for a while in programming before it became clear that it was time to look for something more stable.

Laurie remembered interviewing Rep. Jerry Yost, so she took a chance and called him about how to get a job at the Capitol. He just happened to have a position open and hired her as an Administrative Assistant in December of 1988. After session she became his Chief of Staff and worked for him for more than seven years.

When Rep. Yost chose to not run again, Laurie accepted a position with Rep. Gary Walker. Four years later Rep. Walker became Chairman of Land and Resource Management and Laurie served as his Committee Clerk. The redistricting of 2001 paired Rep. Walker with Rep. Delwin Jones who won the seat. Laurie’s experience as a capable Committee Clerk landed her a position with Rep. Mike Krusee, Chair of Transportation. When Krusee retired, Laurie moved to the Texas Department ofTransportation to work for one of the commissioners.

While working at the agency was interesting, Laurie really missed being at the Capitol and her work as a committee clerk. “I left résumés all over the Capitol, and with a good word from Mike Krusee, I got hired by Rep. (Mark) Strama,” Laurie explained. When Strama decided not to be a Chairman again, Rep. John Davis hired Laurie to clerk the Committee on Economic and Small Business Development. “I really like working for Rep. Davis. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” Laurie told us.

“One of the things that keeps me at the Capitol and this job is the people. I find it fascinating how people's perceptions of what goes on here affects their reality, and what motivates people to behave the way they do,” Laurie told us.

On her office wall is a copy of a propaganda poster produced by the British government in 1939 during the beginning of the Second World War: Keep Calm and Carry On. It’s a good saying for all staffers to live by during the heat of a session, but she also lived by that idea during personal crisis.

While Laurie worked for Rep. Walker, her husband started having seriously bad headaches. One morning he was unable to get out of bed. Laurie thought it was just a really bad migraine, but sometime during the day she decided that she needed to get him to the emergency room. Her thought was that they would give him a shot and she would take him back home.

A couple of hours passed and a man in civilian clothes came up to her. “Mrs. McAnally? Can we go somewhere and talk?”

Laurie laughs about it now, but her first thought was, “Damn! He’s a priest!” She had an immediate memory of her husband wanting bagpipes at his funeral – and a plain pine box, and her thoughts immediately went to wondering where she was going to find a bagpiper and a plain pine box. However, the priest quickly explained that her husband was alive and had a brain aneurism. “They need to drill holes in his head to relieve the pressure, and you need to sign a permission form so they can do that.”

Probably in shock, Laurie’s thought was, “I can’t sign that; I’m not a blood relative! Where is his mother?” Suffice to say that Laurie came around and handled the situation. Although it was touch and go for a while, the operation relieved the pressure of the Bruce’s aneurism as planned, and he spent a month in the hospital followed by a month in rehab. He is fine today as evidenced in the recent photo shown above of Laurie and Bruce at their son’s wedding.

Laurie is very proud of her son Bryan. “He says he’s the best son ever, and I agree with him!” Bryan graduated from Texas A&M and is currently working on his masters at the University of Houston. His wife, Lauren, is a law student. “And,” Laurie adds, “she is the best daughter-in-law ever!”

When not at work, Laurie and Bruce enjoy traveling. They make one big trip every year; recently they have focused on the west coast. They enjoyed a trip to Oregon so much that the next year they went to Washington State, followed by another to Vancouver Island.

Outdoor auctions are cheap entertainment for Laurie who sometimes attends with her mother. “I just like to watch everything that goes on. I rarely walk away with a purchase,” she says.

They also enjoy playing Scrabble, but Laurie admits that because they are so competitive it would be more appropriate to call it “Full Contact Scrabble.”

Person of the Week - Molly Quirk

2012-02-26T12:11:00.000-06:00

By Annette Glass

Molly Quirk

Her mom is a political consultant and her dad is an attorney and the reason the maximum age for Young Republicans of Texas got bumped up twice – from 36 to 38 the first time, and then from 38 to 40 where it remains. They called it the “Quirk amendment.”

The family expected Molly to go into politics but she refused to have anything to do with it. After all, she spent most of her childhood knocking on doors and helping out at the phone banks. Instead, Molly, having earned her BA in Government at the University of Texas at Austin and went into retail. She worked at Abercrombie & Fitch, Banana Republic, and as a District Trainer for the Gap.

Molly was working retail in Kansas City during the Bush Presidential campaign and it made her homesick for Texas. She decided to come back. “I knew I was doing the right thing – it was April first and there was snow on the ground in Kansas City!” Next stop: Dallas.

Ready to admit that her parents were right, Molly asked them to help her get into Texas politics. Her first job at the Capitol was in a part-time position with former Rep. Kenn George. When Rep. Jodie Laubenberg was elected, Molly served as her Chief of Staff. She also served as the Constituent Services Liaison for former Sen. Kyle Janek, the Chief of Staff for Rep. Ralph Sheffield and is currently serving as the Chief of Staff for Rep. Jim Murphy. "After almost 10 years of working at the Capitol, I still am in awe of my opportunity to work in the big pink building. I love what I do and couldn't imagine doing anything outside of politics."

Uno

Molly and her boyfriend Reed live in San Leanna and raise Labrador Retrievers. A celebrity lives across the street from them – Uno, the Beagle who won the 132nd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in February 2008.

Molly serves on the Village Council and on the Executive Board of Austin Co-Ed Soccer Association. She is also running for Woman of the Year for the Austin Chapter of the Leukemia Lymphoma Society, a 10-week fundraiser to help raise awareness for blood cancers.

With a penchant for keeping busy, Molly also works part-time at Williams Sonoma, is a Wine Consultant with Wine Shop at Home, and owns a photography business, Molly Quirk Photography. To keep fit, Molly plays tennis, soccer, and runs at Lake Lady Bird. She tries to get a work out in at least once a day.

Molly's niece and nephew

With all the things Molly has going for her, she is especially proud of her niece Paige (very active in the FFA) and nephew Clark (varsity football player), seventeen year old twins that she thinks the world of and adores.

By Your Fruit You Shall Be Known

2012-01-08T14:04:00.000-06:00

If you're lucky, your friends will do more than entertain you; they will broaden your horizons and open your eyes to cultures that were foreign to you before you met them. I am very lucky that I became friends with Machree Garrett Gibson 20 years ago through our jobs at the Capitol. Not only does she make me laugh, but she has shared with me her amazing extended family and through them, I've been able to see Austin in a whole new light.

Machree's father, Felix Eugene Garrett, III, died on New Year's Eve 2011, which also happened to be Machree's birthday. Mr. Garrett's memorial service was yesterday, January 7, 2012, at Wesley United Methodist Church, an Austin church founded in 1865 for freed slaves. Mr. Garrett, his parents, his grandparents, his children, and his grandchildren all attend(ed) this beautiful church. We may like to think of the Civil War as ancient history, but this church, and others with a bloodline going back to our country's darkest days, really make you appreciate the strength and courage it took to persevere through prejudice and limited opportunity. There's an amazing spirit inside Wesley United Methodist Church that comes from generations of tradition and love.

Mr. Garrett's obituary was in the Austin American-Statesman last week and I encourage everyone to read it, because through Mr. Garrett's life you can see how far Austin has progressed. For you see, Mr. Garrett was an enormously intelligent man, but because of the color of his skin, he couldn't go to his favorite university, the one just a few blocks from his childhood home on E. 12th Street, The University of Texas. He went to the University of Utah instead, served in the Air Force, and later worked as a school principal and administrator. He quietly served our country, our community, and his family as a loving father and husband. He also gave his family and friends many hilarious stories to share about him the rest of their days. He was an amazing character.

You might think Mr. Garrett would hold a grudge against U.T. for denying him the chance to attend, but like many of his generation, he turned the other cheek, went on with his life, and became a huge fan of U.T. sports teams. There was even a flower arrangement at his memorial service yesterday with big orange flowers and Longhorn emblems. And as an example of how perfect the world can be, Machree earned two degrees from U.T. and currently serves as the president of the Texas Exes Association. Can you possibly imagine how proud he was of that?

Even though Mr. Garrett did not get to go to U.T., he made a huge impact on it by giving us Machree, and raising her to be an intelligent leader. When you look at Machree now, I hope you will see more than another lobbyist. I hope you will see how far Austin and U.T. have come.

Travis Sampley's Memorial Service

2011-11-09T09:49:00.002-06:00

by Kym Olson

A memorial service for Travis Sampley, who died unexpectedly on Tuesday, November 1, 2011, was held yesterday at First United Methodist Church in Austin.

Treasured by many in and around the Capitol, the standing room only crowd was a true testament to the friendships Travis built through the years. Among the crowd were countless Capitol staff, notable lobbyists, and several former and current state legislators paying their respects.

Representative Ralph Sheffield and his wife began the service by lighting a candle. Travis's uncle, Robert Galloway, gave a heartfelt remembrance of Travis' life, smile, fearless attitude, and love for family and friends. Galloway also shared stories of Travis' hilarious antics which made everyone smile. Nick Bauer, Travis' life-long friend, also shared several wonderful stories including the time Travis saved his life. Bauer brought everyone to tears remembering what a true, loyal, and dear friend we all shared and lost.

The memorial service concluded appropriately with the song "Let It Be" by The Beatles played on the piano. A bag piper came in playing "Amazing Grace" to lead the procession outside and followed with the "Eyes of Texas" as everyone walked to the reception at the Scmidt-Jones Family Life Center.

Travis spent his professional career in Texas state government, beginning in the Texas Senate as an Administrative Aide to former State Senator Kip Averitt. During his tenure in the Texas House of Representatives, he served as a Legislative Aide to then Speaker Tom Craddick and Committee Clerk to both the Corrections and County Affairs Committees. At the time of his death, he was Chief of Staff for Rep. Sheffield of Temple.

A compilation of wonderful stories and pictures are being shared and posted on a Facebook page that's been created, "A Tribute to Travis Sampley."

According to Travis' obituary, those wishing to honor Travis' memory may make memorial contributions to their local council of the Boy Scouts of America. In Travis County, a donation can be made to the Travis Sampley Memorial Fund, Capitol Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, 12500 North I-35, Austin Texas 78753. Online donations can be made here . In Harris County, a donation can be made to the Travis Winfield Sampley Memorial Fund, Sam Houston Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, P. O. Box 954528, Houston, Texas 77292. For information about donation forms, mailing instructions or online donations, please go to this web page.

Top of the World

2011-04-07T22:29:00.000-05:00

Who needs to go to Newport, Rhode Island, when you know people who live in Westlake on top of a hill with an amazing view of downtown and Lake Austin? Everyone around the Capitol will know whose house this is... very powerful lobbyist who's also the consummate "people person." Tonight he and his wife graciously opened their home so the Center for Child Protection could hold an event in their home.

I've always wanted to see the inside of this house, so tonight was sort of a dream come true. It was everything I've heard it is - grand, but cozy.

Saw several people we knew from the Capitol who are involved with this great organization that's making a huge difference in the lives of children who really need someone to stand up for them.

Website Redux

2011-04-04T19:50:00.000-05:00

I've been so busy Twittering and Facebooking and building a new version of the Capitol Crowd website that I'd almost forgotten I have a blog. I miss the days when I or Annette had time to interview people for our "Person of the Week" profiles.

For now, I would encourage Capitol Crowd fans to log into their old accounts on the new site and make sure your contact information and job title/place of employment are correct, and by all means, upload a current photo of yourself. The one thing that separates the website from all the others is previous employment info and photos!

You will find that the website is a lot more user-friendly, and it now works with all mobile devices.

It's like we've come full circle. If you've been with me all these years, you'll remember that the very first edition of the Capitol Crowd (fall of 2004) was subscription-based (which we're doing again) AND for a premium subscription you could download software to sync your favorite search results with a Palm Pilot.

So I was wrong about the future of Palm Pilots, but I certainly predicted everybody would want to have names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of Capitol contacts on a phone!

If you're one of the many old-school types who still love a printed directory, we still have a few copies of the Capitol Crowd mini-staff directory for sale for $10 each. You can buy yours through this online order form.This is definitely a legislative session to remember.

If there's a special session, we'll update the legislative staff directory that's available to subscribers on the website.

Changes at Senate Natural Resources

2010-05-28T08:12:00.007-05:00

We've all been expecting a change in the chairmanship of the Senate Natural Resources (SNR) Committee, after Chairman Kip Averitt suddenly retired from the senate earlier this year. We've heard several rumors about who will be named chairman (Sen. Estes, Sen. Seliger, and now Sen. Williams), but whoever is getting the job won't have committee director Teddy Carter to run the place anymore.

In an email to his friends and colleagues, Teddy announced yesterday that he's moving one block down Congress Avenue to be the Director of Public Affairs for the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association (TIPRO). Here's TIPRO's news release with more info on Teddy's experience at the Capitol. He had worked for three seantors (J.E. "Buster"Brown, Bob Duncan, and Averitt) at three different committees (SNR, Jurisprudence and State Affairs).

Teddy has always been one of those people who makes the Texas Capitol a wonderful place to work (smart, hard-working, and unfailingly nice). We wish him the best of luck at TIPRO.

Now, does this mean the naming of a new chairman is imminent???

2010-05-16T14:17:00.003-05:00

Ice Cream Contest Will Raise Funds for Emma Barrientos Scholarship Fund

We don't normally promote political events of any type, but here's an opportunity to support the memory of a very sweet woman by making and/or eating something sweet - ice cream!

Travis County Precinct 5 Constable Bruce Elfant is hosting the 18th Annual Ice Cream Social next Sunday, May 23, from 3 to 5 p.m., at the AFL-CIO Labor Hall, 1102 Lavaca, in Austin. Previous charitable beneficiaries have included Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Central Texas, Austin Children's Shelter, and Big Brothers/Sisters, to name a few.

This year's contest will raise money for the Austin Community College Emma Barrientos Scholarship Fund.

Emma Barrientos was, of course, the wife of long-time Austin senator (and one of my former bosses) Gonzalo Barrientos, but she was much, much more than the typical political wife. She was the mother of five children, a county employee for many years, and a community organizer. She was so loving and kind to everyone, she made each person she talked to feel special. I think Sen. Barrientos even said that if she ran against him, she would win. She passed away unexpectedly last December, devastating so many people in her family and the community.

Constable Elfant's website says,

"Emma worked her whole life for social justice for all people. She stuffed envelopes, walked precincts, made phone calls, marched, raised money and made sandwiches for so many important causes and worthy candidates. She took so much interest in the lives of her friends and co-workers and more often than not volunteered her support or assistance to those in need without ever being asked to do so. Emma touched so many lives in so many ways. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, friend and co-worker. She was also a committed volunteer, community organizer, public servant and mentor. It should be everyone’s goal in life to leave their community a little better than they found it. Whether it was working for civil rights, helping to lift people out of poverty, making college education achievable for more young people, caring for her family, or lending a sympathetic ear to someone in pain, Emma did leave our community and state a better place."

The photo above is from a Valentine's Day party in 2009 that Barrientos hosted for former staff (including former Chief of Staff Bruce Hupp who's pictured with Emma), after hosting dozens of Valentine's Day parties for senate staff during the years the senator served at the Capitol. It was the last time I saw Emma, and she was as delightful as always. It's really sad to think of a world without her, but she leaves behind an incredible legacy of love. I encourage everyone who knew and admired Emma to support her scholarship fund. Begin able to eat ice cream at the same time is a bonus.

Please see Constable Elfant's website to make a donation to the scholarship fund or for more info on how to compete in or enjoy the ice cream social.

Former Gallery Watch Manager Now a Videographer

2010-01-31T16:37:00.003-06:00

The entrepreneurial spirit of people who work around the Capitol never ceases to amaze me! I recently heard from Jorge Flores, who worked at the Legislative Reference Library under Sally Reynolds, and then moved to Gallery Watch, where he was the Manager of Operations for 3 years. After it was absorbed into CQ-Roll Call, Jorge decided to open a video production company called Waterloo Films.

Jorge specializes in making short and long videos out of events - weddings, quinceaneras, anniversary parties, and corporate events. Because of his knowledge of the Capitol, I bet he'd be very good at videotaping political events/campaign rallies that could, in turn, be made into campaign commercials, or short clips on a Facebook page.

So if you're looking for a cameraman who knows his way around the halls of government, Jorge is your man! You can contact him through his website, www.waterloofilms.com.

Spivey's Texas Swagger

2009-12-23T20:30:00.004-06:00

Many of us are familiar with Ray Spivey because of his work as the governmental relations person for the Teachers Retirement System AND because of the lithographs and notecards he creates of the Capitol at the close of every legislative session. After UT won the national championship in football in 2005, he painted 12 scenes from the game. He's a talented guy.

Now Ray has a new venture with his friend Andrea Sheridan, the Texas Swagger website. There, they sell burnt orange t-shirts that say Texas Swagger in big, white letters. Looks like the perfect gift for the rabid UT fan to me (aren't we all?)

Check out the site, buy a t-shirt, become a fan of Texas Swagger on Facebook, and let's hope UT gives Ray (and other UT fans) another national championship on January 7th that he can immortalize in a new piece of art.

Lonestar Legacies Shopping Opportunity

2009-12-08T20:09:00.002-06:00

If you're like me, and you haven't bought a single Christmas present yet, or if you're like the people I'm terribly jealous of who just need one or two more, you should hit the Holiday Open House at Lone Star Legacies this Thursday, December 10.

It's an all-day kind of party, starting at noon and running until 8 p.m. Lone Star Legacies is located at 301 W. 14th Street, just a block and a half west of the Capitol.

Owners Holly Mace Massingill and Mark Bell are offering discounts on certain items - everything marked with a red dot will be 40% off, while some framed wall art and home decor pieces will be 25% off.

Best of all, they're serving free beverages and snacks. It's a great excuse to do some shopping while hanging out with friends.

Go. Who knows? You might find that perfect gift for your granny.

Bivins Birthday Bash at the Continental - Tonight

2009-11-22T13:49:00.011-06:00

Friends of the late state senator/U.S. Ambassador Teel Bivins are invited to join us tonight at the Continental Club, 1315 S. Congress Ave., to celebrate his life, Austin-style. During the 15 years he was a senator, Bivins enjoyed Austin's music scene as much as (more?) any local. We had a fabulous committee party at the Continental Club circa 1999, and the same band that played that night will be playing tonight, Heybale with Redd & Earl (they play at 10 p.m.).

The lobbyist who introduced Sen. Bivins to Heybale also took him to numerous SXSW shows through the years. He said, " We had some great SXSW experiences, though I think he was happiest seeing Willie Nelson and Delbert McClinton on separate occasions at Stubb's. He was also the inspiration for Sine Die weekends at the Continental, so it is especially fitting that you all will gather there!"

Tonight's event was planned after his memorial service in Amarillo in October. Many people, including about 20 former staff members, made it up there from Austin, but not everyone who enjoyed working with him at the Capitol could be there. So if you're in town and want to drink a beer in Teel's honor, come on over to the Continental Club tonight.

I meant to report on the memorial service, which was very uplifting, not sad at all. It was held at the church he'd gone to for many years (maybe his whole life?), St. Andrews Episcopal Church, which is just steps away from the Bivins home where the ambassador spent his final days. Karl Rove gave a touching eulogy, telling us how he had described Sen. Bivins to someone who had never known him. I wish I had a copy of the speech to share, but essentially he described Teel as someone from an earlier place and time who was gracious, kind, fun, loyal, and a damn good hunter.

Some of the elected and/or former elected officials who came to the service were: Sen. Bob Duncan, Sen. Craig Estes, Sen. Jane Nelson, Sen. Kel Seliger, Sen. Florence Shapiro, Rep. David Swinford, Rep. John Smithee, Rep. Warren Chisum, Speaker Pete Laney, Sen. Kyle Janek, Sen. David Sibley, and Sen. Bill Ratliff. Someone told me they saw former Comptroller John Sharp sitting in the overflow room. I'm sure there were other important people there that I didn't see. The main thing is the church was overflowing with love for Teel.

After the service, there was a gathering at the nearby Bivins home. And then there was a gathering of former staff at Macaroni Joe's, hosted by Sen. Seliger, where we toasted Teel and told stories about the crazy things that happened to us when we worked for him. His daughter Katie was there and laughed as hard as the rest of us. Everyone has at least one good "Teel story" to share. Some had worked on his first campaign, and some helped him pack up the office for the move to Sweden in 2004. Here are a few more photos from the gathering...

One thing we learned from these stories, the last movie Teel watched was "Blazing Saddles." How funny is that? I think that says more than I ever could about why we adored him.

Where Are They Now - Update on Annette Glass, Comedienne

2009-11-10T07:39:00.002-06:00

Annette Glass disappeared from the Capitol scene early in 2008, After working for Rep. Warren Chisum for fifteen years, Annette resigned and spent a few months writing before she accepted a position at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). She is the Senior Program Specialist in the Radioactive Materials Division.

Annette is now using the comedy talent we all know she has and will make her first amateur stand up comedy performance (she stresses amateur) on Monday November 16, 2009 at 8 p.m. at the Capital Comedy Club in Austin.

“I want to invite everyone to come,” Annette explained. “The tickets are free and can be obtained by contacting me. There is a two drink minimum (or drink and food item). The doors open at 7 p.m. and the showroom usually fills up fast. The show features amateur comics who have completed a workshop through the Comedy Gym, but there will also be professional comics to keep it moving.”

Comedy Gym owner Sam Cox, has organized the evening and has scheduled Annette for the first half of the night, Annette told us. “That’s so my friends who appreciate clean comedy can see me and leave before any potentially offensive comedy starts.”

“Please com out for my debut,” Annette urged. “I need all the support I can get. For tickets, contact Annette at annette@PlainEnglishUSA.com.

Sen. Bivins was the Best

2009-10-28T08:02:00.002-05:00

Of course I'm biased, he allowed me to work for him for 8 years. Many of us (former staff) are headed to Amarillo today for the memorial service tomorrow. I will have photos and memories to share later in the week. I know we're going to laugh as hard as we're going to cry. The world was a better place with him in it.

Sen. Bivins' longest-serving staffers, Linda Griggs and Sharon Miner, were with him and his family until his last day. I admire their never-ending loyalty so much. Teel would have said, "Good staff work!"

Our thoughts and prayers are with his beautiful family, especially the children he so dearly loved.