Gov. Rick Perry: Does he just not like meeting new people?

After announcing his deputy chief of staff, Phil Wilson, as the new secretary of state, Gov. Rick Perry is having to build a whole new kitchen cabinet. But don’t worry, he won’t have to remember any new names.

Yesterday Perry’s people announced that Wilson’s boss, Chief of Staff Deirdre Delisi, will be standing down as of July 1. She’s been a long-term part of Team Perry from before he took office, having served as his policy and research director in ’98 and campaign manager in ’02. (If the last name sounds familiar, she’s also the daughter-in-law of Rep. Diane Delisi, R-Temple, married to GOP consultant Ted Delisi, and a former advisor to then-Gov. George Bush.

In a press release Perry said this morning that she’s being replaced by another loyalist, the governor’s general counsel Brian Newby. Meanwhile, Wilson will be replaced as deputy by Perry’s senior adviser and former press secretary Kathy Walt and his deputy legislative director Kris Heckmann.

So, internal promotions all round!

This article appears in June 15 • 2007.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.