#TXLEGE: Abbott's Regent Nominees pretty seem pretty "meh"

"So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth."
Revelation 3:16

That answers that question:

Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Nolan Perez, M.D. to the University of Texas System Board of Regents for a term set to expire on February 1, 2021. Additionally, the Governor appointed Christina Melton Crain, Jodie Lee Jiles, and Kelcy Warren for terms set to expire on February 1, 2025.

Nolan Perez, M.D. of Harlingen is CEO of Gastroenterology Consultants of South Texas. He is a member of the Texas Medical Association, American Medical Association, American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, and the American Gastroenterologic Association, and a is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and the American College of Gastroenterology. He has served as a member of the Texas Woman's University Board of Regents since 2015, and as board chair since 2017. He is a Trustee for Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District, having first been elected in 2010. He also serves on the University of Texas Foundation, UT Chancellor’s Council Executive Committee, UT Austin Development Board, UT Rio Grande Valley Development Board Executive Committee, Holdsworth Center Governing Board, Humanities of Texas Board, Texas Lyceum Board of Directors, and Educate Texas Advisory Board. Additionally, he is a member of the Philosophical Society of Texas, Texas Foundation for Innovative Communities, Lone Star National Bank Board, Senator John Cornyn’s Service Academy Nominations Board, and FIRST in Texas Foundation. Perez received a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Texas at Austin and a Medical Doctorate from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. He completed residency training in Internal Medicine at the Regional Academic Health Center in Harlingen, and fellowship training in Gastroenterology at Wayne State University/Detroit Medical Center. After medical school he served in the U.S. Navy as a Medical Corps Officer.

Christina Melton Crain of Dallas is an attorney and the founder and president/CEO of Unlocking DOORS. She is a member of the American Correctional Association and the Texas Corrections Association. She is president of the Trinity River Authority of Texas Board of Directors, a public member of the Texas Public Transportation Advisory Council, a former chairman of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice and serves as the prisoner representative on The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Institutional Review Board. She is a past director of the State Bar of Texas and past president the Dallas Bar Association, the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers and the Dallas Women Lawyers Association. She is a life member of The University of Texas College of Liberal Arts Advisory Council, a former board member of the Center for Missing/Exploited Children-Texas Region, and a former trustee of the Dallas Bar Foundation. Crain received a Bachelor of Arts in government from The University of Texas at Austin and a Juris Doctor degree from Oklahoma City University School of Law.

Jodie Lee Jiles of Houston is director of business development for Transwestern. He is a member of The University of Texas at Austin Development Board, the UT Health Development Board and former board member of the Texas Southern University Foundation. He served as chairman of the Texas Business Leadership Council and is currently on the Executive Committee. He is former chairman of the Greater Houston Partnership and a lifetime director. Additionally, he is a former gubernatorial appointee to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and a former director of The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas-Houston Branch. He is a trustee of the Texas Children’s Hospital and the Baylor College of Medicine where he serves on both Executive Committees. Currently, he is chairman of Loving Kids and a former board member of KIPP Academy. Jiles received a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from Texas Southern University and a Master of Professional Accountancy from The University of Texas at Austin.

Kelcy Warren of Dallas is chairman and CEO of Energy Transfer Partners. He has received numerous awards for his outstanding career achievements and contributions toward the advancement of the midstream industry. He is a member of the Parks and Wildlife Commission, and is also active in organizations outside the energy business—he serves on the board of directors of The Klyde Warren Park, The Lamplighter School, and The University of Texas at Arlington. He also supports a number of children’s charities around the country through Cherokee Crossroads, Inc. Warren received a Bachelor of Science from The University of Texas at Arlington.

These appointments are subject to Senate confirmation.

Hard to make much of these appointments.   Honestly, we've never heard of any other them.  They seem to be university graduates who've gone on to do other prestigious things.  That being said, extremely establishment/status quo.

One interesting tidbit: Three of the four don't seem to be major political donors.  A couple hundred here or there, but nothing eye-popping.  Seems noteworthy.

But then you see this from Kelcy Warren:

This author doesn't particularly care, but expect others to raise the issue.

Bottom Line: Missed opportunity.