MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS
Wednesday, February 24, 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, February 24, 1999, in the Capitol
Building, Room 2E.20, Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Jeff Wentworth, Chairman Senator Gonzalo
Barrientos
Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr., Vice Chairman
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.
Senator Brown moved that the Minutes from the previous meeting
be approved. There being no objection, the Minutes were
adopted.
Chairman Wentworth announced that Senator Barrientos was
absent from the Committee due to a death in his family.
The Chairman laid out the name of the nominee for Justice of
the Supreme Court of Texas.
Chairman Wentworth introduced the nominee, Alberto R.
Gonzales.
Justice Gonzales made an opening statement and then responded
to questions by members of the Committee.
At 1:18 p.m., Senator Brown moved to recommend to the full
Senate that Alberto R. Gonzales be confirmed as Justice of the
Supreme Court of Texas.
The motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes and 0 nays.
The Chairman laid out the names of the nominees for the Texas
Parks and Wildlife Commission.
Senator Ellis introduced Alvin L. Henry.
Senator Shapiro introduced Katherine Armstrong Idsal.
Chairman Wentworth introduced Mark E. Watson, Jr.
Nominees made opening statements and then responded to
questions by members of the Committee.
At 1:48 p.m., Senator Brown moved to recommend to the full
Senate that Alvin L. Henry, Katherine Armstrong Idsal and Mark
E. Watson, Jr. be confirmed as Commissioners of the Texas
Parks and Wildlife Commission.
The motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes and 0 nays.
The Chairman laid out the names of the nominees for the
University of Texas System Board of Regents.
Senator Ellis introduced Charles Miller.
Senator Shapleigh introduced Woody L. Hunt.
Senator Brown introduced Raul R. Romero.
Nominees made opening statements and then responded to
questions by members of the Committee.
The Committee heard testimony against the confirmation of
Charles Miller, Woody L. Hunt and Raul R. Romero as Members of
the University of Texas System Board of Regents from Felicia
Enuha, representing the Anti-Racist Organizing Committee.
At 2:22 p.m., Senator Brown moved to recommend to the full
Senate that Charles Miller, Woody L. Hunt and Raul R. Romero
be confirmed as Members of the University of Texas System
Board of Regents.
The motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes and 0 nays.
The Chairman laid out the names of the nominees to the Texas
Workforce Commission.
Senator Shapiro introduced Terrence P. O'Mahoney.
Chairman Wentworth introduced Ron Lehman.
Nominees made opening statements and then responded to
questions by members of the Committee.
At 2:33 p.m., Senator Bernsen moved to recommend to the full
Senate that Terrence P. O'Mahoney and Ron Lehman be confirmed
as Commissioners of the Texas Workforce Commission.
The motion carried with a vote of 5 ayes and 0 nays.
The Chairman laid out the name of the nominee for Commissioner
of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.
Chairman Wentworth introduced the nominee, Don Allen Gilbert.
Mr. Gilbert made an opening statement and then responded to
questions by members of the Committee.
At 3:00 p.m., Senator Brown moved to recommend to the full
Senate that Don Allen Gilbert be confirmed as Commissioner of
the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.
The motion passed with a vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays.
The Chairman laid out the name of the nominee for Member of
the Board for Lease--Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Chairman Wentworth introduced the nominee, William Gammon,
III.
Mr. Gammon made an opening statement and then responded to
questions by members of the Committee.
At 3:05 p.m., Senator Haywood moved to recommend to the full
Senate that William Gammon, III, be confirmed as Member of the
Board for Lease--Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
The motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes and 0 nays.
Chairman Wentworth announced that the nominees to the Texas
State Affordable Housing Corporation Board of Directors would
be left pending.
At 3:06 p.m. Senator Brown moved to recommend to the full
Senate that Sheila Bailey Taylor be confirmed as the Chief
Administrative Law Judge of the State Office of Administrative
Hearings, that Ernest C. Garcia be confirmed as Judge of the
126th Judicial District Court, Travis County, and that Elsa
Alcala be confirmed as Judge of the 338th Judicial District
Court, Harris County.
The motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays.
There being no further business, at 3:07 p.m. Senator Haywood
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