The Visit to the Governor's Office Today

Friends,

As we head for Austin today Tuesday, 8 March, here are some of the people that will be meeting with us:

Lauren Clay, Senior Advisor to the Governor for the Office of First Lady – Lauren Bean Clay currently serves as the Deputy Communications Director at the Office of the Attorney General, a position she assumed in 2010 after serving as Communications Director to U.S. Representative Michael Burgess, MD, and Deputy Press Secretary for U.S. Senator John Cornyn. A native Texan, Clay is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin.

Reed Clay, Senior Advisor – Reed Clay currently serves as Senior Counsel to the Attorney General, having previously served as Texas’ Assistant Solicitor General. Prior to his service to the State of Texas, Clay was a litigator for the U.S. Department of Justice. A native Texan, Clay is a graduate of Wake Forest University and the Duke University School of Law.

Drew DeBerry, Policy Director – Drew DeBerry currently serves as Deputy Commissioner of the Texas Department of Agriculture, a position he has held since 2007. DeBerry was the national agriculture coalition director of President George W. Bush’s 2000 campaign and subsequently served as White House Liaison and then Deputy Chief of Staff at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He was a legislative fellow in former State Senator Robert Duncan’s office during the 76th Legislative Session. DeBerry is a native of Olton, TX and holds a degree in Agricultural and Applied Economics from Texas Tech University.

Jerry Strickland, Executive Director of the Office of State and Federal Relations – Jerry Strickland currently serves as Director of Communications for the Office of the Attorney General, and has served as spokesman and advisor for Governor-elect Abbott since 2003. Previously, Strickland was a reporter and anchor for CBS and ABC news affiliates in Texas and other states. Strickland is a graduate of the University of Mississippi. *(NOTE: This appointment is subject to Senate confirmation.)

Very impressive people.  

The Village Committee of Melanie Kirchmeier, Dave Hermann, Dave Swarthout, and Larry Wolfe have been working around the clock on the presentation.  We are ready.  

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