Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa, an Austin Democrat, announced initial plans for the transition to the governor's office at a Nov. 5 news conference at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas, her alma mater. She said the transition and administration will be bipartisan and that she will be "the governor for all the people of Texas."
Joe Madden, a public affairs consultant and former chief of staff for Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, will serve as executive director of the transition team, according to Hinojosa's press team. Co-chairs include former Republican state Rep. Ernest Bailes of Shepherd and Ryan Pollock, executive director of the Texas State Building and Construction Trades Council. Tamala Barksdale, a former Austin ISD trustee who served with Hinojosa, will be senior adviser.
Bailes, who called himself a "conservative Republican," said the team would set partisanship aside and focus on education. Hinojosa said Republican Gov. Greg Abbott had been "gracious" and that his office would cooperate with the transition. Asked about possible efforts by Republican lawmakers to interfere, she urged officials of both parties to respect what Texans said in the election.