With the Texas Department of Transportation in a deepening financial and political hole, Gov. Rick Perry has appointed two familiar faces to its oversight committee, the Texas Transportation Commission.
The new commission chair is long-time Perry apparatchik Dierdre Delisi. If the name rings bells, she was his chief of staff, recipient of Texans for Rick Perry PAC money, and is daughter-in-law to Perry loyalist Rep. Diane White Delisi, R-Temple, and wife of political consultant to Perry Ted Delisi. Plus, Carol Keaton Strayhorn is no fan. The press release talks about her great track record of 12 years under Perry. How good is that record? At the start of last session Delisi, with her impeccable political radar, told the Statesman that “We expect the veto rate to be low because we do such a good job of working with legislators in session.”
More worrying to others is the appointment of William Meadows to replace the deceased Ric Williamson: the former mayor pro tem of Fort Worth is chair of Hub International Rigg and vice chairman of the North Texas Tollway Authority.
But don’t pop the champagne yet: both nominations have to be confirmed by a Senate still wincing from having its toll road moratorium plan gutted last session.
This article appears in April 25 • 2008.
