Gov. Abbott's New Staff Implications

The Governor has made some serious moves in the last few days to shake up his administration, and it could give an insight into the next 12 months of the campaign for his job, as well as the next few years of political ideology.

As was reported widely by a few sources, like this one from the Austin American Statesman, Governor Greg Abbott replaced a fair amount of his leadership team this week and installed new staff, including:

• Luis Saenz - Chief of Staff
• Matt Hirsch - Deputy Chief of Staff
• John Colyandro - Senior Advisor & Policy Director
• Sarah Hicks - Budget Director
• Tommy Williams - Senior Advisor for Fiscal Affairs
• Reed Clay - Chief Operating Officer
• Peggy Venable - Appointments Director
• Steven Albright - Senior Advisor for State Operations
• Walter Fischer - Legislative Director

As the AAS points out, this seems to be a dream team handpicked to ensure that the Governor has a larger role in the legislative process next time around. Indeed, many at the Capitol wondered aloud throughout the session where the Governor was and why he wasn't putting more pressure to bear on his big-ticket items. It seems the worry on that front may soon stop, and some may have new worries to replace them.

In particular, the hiring of Peggy Venable and John Colyandro will worry some center Republicans and likely all of the Democrats.

Venable, who until recently was head of the Texas arm of the conservative grassroots group Americans for Prosperity, is now in charge of high-level appointments throughout the Texas government. Since many astute political observers point to Rick Perry's vast gubernatorial appointments as the ultimate source of his staying power, those who champion a more conservative influence in state government are likely elated by her appointment, and those who fear it must be dismayed.

Colyandro is the ultimate lightning rod for liberal and moderate angst. Aside from leading the Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute and being embroiled in the school voucher astroturfing campaign that angered many legislators this year, Colyandro was famously involved in the 2003 Tom Delay redistricting campaign. So there is plenty for Democrats and moderates to fear with Colyandro now in the executive branch.

There is plenty for Democrats and moderates to fear...

So what do these staff changes signal for Governor Abbott moving forward?

In my opinion, it signals a serious policy shift to the more conservative right. Though this may seem obvious, it is still important for a few reasons.

Lt. Gov. Patrick led the charge this session on red meat conservative issues like the bathroom bill, sanctuary cities, and abortion restrictions. Even though the Governor made some of these Emergency Items, and put them on the special session call, it was the Lieutenant Governor who pushed the legislators to get them done and gained the media attention as a result.

While the Lieutenant Governor position may notoriously be the "most powerful elected office in Texas" the Governor may be signaling with these hires that he wants to take back the driver's seat as the figurative head of the party by leading on the issues that his base deems crucial.

The other reason this may be significant is that we may start to see the Governor and his staff being much more public about Abbott's thoughts on policy issues in an attempt to drive the conversation in a direction that the Governor may be more able to control.

The Governor is almost certainly beefing up his conservative bona fides in preparation for a potential challenge to his seat from the Right, and he is definitely preparing his office to take a more hands-on approach at the Capitol than he has in the past few years.

This means that Texas will need to prepare itself for a more active Governor, a more vocal Governor on policy issues, and a possible shift to the more conservative right in messaging from the executive branch.