Two examples:
- Gov. Greg Abbott appoints officer indicted for misconduct during George Floyd protests to police regulatory agency.
Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed an indicted Austin police officer accused of using excessive force during 2020 protests to Texas’ regulatory law enforcement agency.
He also ran as a Republican for Texas House District 19 but lost in the primary runoff election this year. Abbott had endorsed Berry in the race, saying his “strong conservative values and experience stopping violent crime are exactly what we need in the Texas House.”
Now, at the governor’s hand, Berry will serve on the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, which sets minimum licensing and training standards for police.
In a press release announcing Berry’s appointment Friday, Abbott said the commission ensures “that the people of Texas are served by highly trained and ethical law enforcement, corrections, and telecommunications personnel.” Berry posted a statement to Twitter on Friday but did not respond to requests for comment.
Terms:
Gov. Greg Abbott
appointed
indicted
Austin police officer
excessive force
regulatory law enforcement agency.
protests
murder
Minneapolis police officer
charged with
two counts
aggravated assault by a public servant
Republican
Texas House District 19
lost in the primary runoff election
endorsed
conservative values
violent crime
Texas House
Texas Commission on Law Enforcement
sets minimum licensing and training standards for police
press release
professional police officer
Mothers Against Police Brutality
- “He has total veto power”: Greg Abbott takes control over who will lead Texas’ troubled power grid, sources say.
When Brad Jones was tapped as interim CEO of the nonprofit that runs the state’s power grid following the deadly February 2021 winter storm that left most of Texas without power for days, he said he would help stabilize the grid and get it through the summer. Jones was clear that he wasn’t interested in keeping the job long term.
Now, 15 months after Jones became interim CEO — and more than a month after the June target date when Jones had told colleagues and conference crowds that he wanted to step down — the Electric Reliability Council of Texas’ new board of directors still has not selected his successor.
Eight sources from across the power industry who spoke to The Texas Tribune say Gov. Greg Abbott — who has no formal role in the process — has put a stranglehold on the CEO search.
The board of directors, installed by a group of three people who are appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor and House speaker, and a contracted search firm have presented CEO candidates to Abbott for final say, according to three sources who spoke to the Tribune on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive issues.
The governor has already vetoed Steve Berberich, a Texan who was vice president of Irving-based TXU Energy and later became CEO of California’s power grid operator and who appeared to have strong support from both the power industry and ERCOT’s board of directors, two people familiar with the matter said.
“The only explanation we got was because he came from California,” said a power industry source familiar with the discussions about Berberich. “Obviously California has its share of problems, but you can’t argue with his qualifications.”
Terms:
Electric Reliability Council of Texas
board of directors
the power industry
TXU Energy
public communications
nonprofit
veto power
Abbott’s office controls ERCOT’s public statements
power grid employees
longtime energy analysts and consultants
Public Utility Commission Chair
ERCOT’s public communications
National Weather Service
Public Utility Commission of Texas
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
grid operators
Texas energy industry
independent watchdog
former secretary of state
Lower Colorado River Authority
nonprofit public utility
crisis manager
health and human services agency
State Energy Plan Advisory Committee
