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