MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS
Tuesday, March 6, 2001
1:30 p.m. or upon adjournment
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, March 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 1:37 p.m. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted.
The following members arrived after roll call:
Senator Lindsay
Senator Haywood
Senator Wentworth
Senator Barrientos moved that the minutes from the previous
meeting be approved. There being no objection, the minutes were
adopted.
The Chair laid out the nominees to the State Board of Examiners
of Dietitians.
The Chair introduced Eugene Wisakowsky.
The Chair recognized Senator Barrientos to introduce Ralph
McGahagin.
The nominees made opening statements and then responded to
questions by the members of the Committee.
Senator Van de Putte moved that the nomination of Richard Roman
be waived. Without objection, the motion carried.
At 1:42 p.m., Senator Lindsay moved to recommend to the full
Senate that Ralph McGahagin, Richard Roman, and Eugene
Wisakowsky be confirmed to the State Board of Examiners of
Dietitians.
Senator Van de Putte seconded the motion.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays. Senators
Haywood, Gallegos, and Wentworth asked to be shown as voting
aye. Without objection, the motion carried.
The Chair laid out the nominees to the North Texas Tollway
Authority Board of Directors.
The Chair recognized Senator Shapiro to introduce Don D.
Dillard.
The Chair introduced Marilyn Kay Walls.
The nominees made opening remarks and responded to questions by
the members of the Committee.
The Chair recognized Senator Sibley to speak on behalf of
Marilyn Kay Walls.
At 1:50 p.m., Senator Van de Putte assumed the Chair.
At 2:10 p.m., Senator Wentworth moved to recommend to the full
Senate that the Donald D. Dillard and Marilyn Kay Walls be
confirmed to the North Texas Tollway Authority Board of
Directors.
Senator Gallegos seconded the motion.
The motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes and 1 nay. Senator
Nelson asked to be shown voting aye. Without objection, the
motion carried.
The Chair laid out the nominees to the Statewide Health
Coordinating Council.
The Chair recognized Senator Shapiro to introduce Joan
Biggerstaff.
The Chair recognized Senator Ogden to introduce Susan
Scott-Galindo.
The Chair introduced James A. Endicott.
The Chair announced that Joe C. Frush would be resigning and
that his nomination would be left pending until a letter of
resignation is received.
The nominees made opening remarks and responded to questions by
the members of the Committee.
At 2:22 p.m., Senator Nelson resumed the Chair.
At 2:27 p.m, Senator Gallegos moved to recommend to the full
Senate that Joan Biggerstaff, James A. Endicott, and Susan
Scott-Galindo be confirmed to the Statewide Health Coordinating
Council.
Senator Van de Putte seconded the motion.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays. Senators
Haywood and Lindsay asked to be shown as voting aye. Without
objection, the motion carried.
The Chair laid out the nominee to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage
Commission.
The Chair recognized Senator Shapiro to introduce Gail Madden.
The nominee made opening remarks and responded to questions by
the members of the Committee.
At 2:40 p.m., Senator Wentworth moved to recommend to the full
Senate that Gail Madden be confirmed to the Texas Alcoholic
Beverage Commission.
Senator Van de Putte seconded the motion.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays. Senators
Haywood and Gallegos asked to be shown voting aye. Without
objection, the motion carried.
The Chair laid out the nominee to the Public Safety Commission.
The Chair recognized Senator Shapiro to introduce James B.
Francis.
The nominee made an opening statement and responded to questions
by the members of the Committee.
At 3:12 p.m., Senator Haywood moved to recommend to the full
Senate that James B. Francis be confirmed to the Public Safety
Commission.
Senator Van de Putte seconded the motion.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays. Senators
Barrientos, Lindsay, and Wentworth asked to be shown as voting
aye. Without objection, the motion carried.
The Chair laid out the nominee to the Judicial Districts Board.
The Chair recognized Senator Haywood to introduce Joe W. Wolfe.
The nominee made an opening statement.
At 3:27 p.m., Senator Haywood moved to recommend to the full
Senate that Joe W. Wolfe be confirmed to the Judicial Districts
Board.
Senator Wentworth seconded the motion.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays. Senators
Van de Putte, Gallegos, and Lindsay asked to be shown as voting
aye. Without objection, the motion carried.
The Chair laid out the nominees to the Texas Judicial Council.
The Chair recognized Senator Zaffirini to introduce Jose L.
Lopez.
The Chair recognized Lieutenant Governor Ratliff to introduce
Willie J. Birmingham.
The Chair recognized Senator Wentworth to introduce Delia M.
Carian.
The Chair introduced Ann Manning.
The nominees made opening statements and responded to questions
by the members of the Committee.
The Chair announced that the consideration of these nominations
would be left pending awaiting the arrival of a quorum.
The Chair laid out the nominee to Secretary of State.
The Chair recognized Senator Zaffirini to introduce Henry
Cuellar.
The nominee made an opening statement and then responded to
questions by the members of the Committee.
At 5:05 p.m., Senator Gallegos moved to recommend to the full
Senate that Henry Cuellar be confirmed as Secretary of State.
Senator Van de Putte seconded the motion.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays.
The Chair laid out the nominee to the Chief Administrative Law
Judge.
The Chair recognized Senator Barrientos to introduce Shelia B.
Taylor.
The nominee made an opening statement and responded to questions
by the members of the Committee.
At 5:11 p.m., Senator Barrientos moved to recommend to the full
Senate that Shelia B. Taylor be confirmed as Chief
Administrative Law Judge.
Senator Van de Putte seconded the motion.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays. Senator
Lindsay asked to be shown as voting aye. Without objection, the
motion carried.
At 5:13 p.m., Senator Wentworth moved to recommend to the full
Senate that Willie J. Birmingham, Delia M. Carian, Jose L.
Lopez, and Ann Manning be confirmed to the Texas Judicial
Council.
Senator Van de Putte seconded the motion.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays. Senator
Lindsay asked to be shown as voting aye. Without objection, the
motion carried.
The Chair laid out the nominees to the State Commission on
Judicial Conduct.
The Chair recognized Senator Van de Putte to introduce Wallace
Jefferson.
The Chair introduced Kathleen Olivares and Marvin Wayne
Brittingham.
The nominees made opening statements and responded to questions
by the members of the Committee.
At 5:47 p.m., Senator Wentworth moved to recommend to the full
Senate that Marvin Wayne Brittingham, Kathleen Olivares, and
Wallace Jefferson be confirmed to the State Commission on
Judicial Conduct.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays. Senators
Barrientos, Haywood, and Lindsay asked to be shown as voting
aye. Without objection, the motion carried.
The Chair laid out the nominees to the State Board of Pharmacy
who appeared before the Committee on February 27, 2001.
At 5:47 p.m., Senator Van de Putte moved to recommend to the
full Senate that Rosemary F. Combs, Roger W. Anderson, and Oren
M. Peacock be confirmed to the State Board of Pharmacy.
Senator Gallegos seconded the motion.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays. Senators
Barrientos, Haywood, and Lindsay asked to be shown as voting
aye. Without objection, the motion carried.
There being no further business, at 5:48 p.m., Senator Wentworth
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