Gov. Abbott Names Chair, Appoints New Council Members
Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed five new Council members, reappointed one member, and named Andrew Crim from Fort Worth as chair for the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities (TCDD).
TCDD is governed by a 27-member Council that includes people with developmental disabilities (DD), family members, representatives from state agencies, DD university centers, and other organizations. According to state and federal law, the governor appoints members to TCDD’s Council for designated terms. At least 60 percent of Council members must be people with DD or immediate family members of people with DD.
Below are the names and hometowns of new Council members.
- Beatrice Degree, Missouri City
- Roni Jo Frazier, Porter
- Shana Halvorsen, Houston
- Barbara Knighton, Spring
- Lisa Marenco, El Paso
Abbott reappointed Robert Schier III from Elgin to the Council. Schier has served as a TCDD Council member since 2019.
New appointees will replace five outgoing members who served on the Council for terms of various lengths. TCDD would like to extend its gratitude to the following members for their service on the Council, their impact on our mission, and for improving the lives of Texans with disabilities.
- Ronald “Ronnie” Browning, Spring
- William “Bill” Coorsh, Houston, (in memoriam)
- Gladys Cortez, McAllen
- Mary Durheim, Spring
- Juan Carlos Lopez, Edinburg
The governor has named Andrew Crim as Council chair. Crim has served as vice-chair for two terms during his appointment on the Council. He shares, “I have always believed in the important work that TCDD does to enhance the quality of life for individuals with DD in Texas. … Serving on the Council means we can all work together to build a Texas where individuals with DD are fully included and can participate in all aspects of life.”
Crim will replace Mary Durheim, who provided remarkable leadership during her time as chair.
“It is a privilege to follow in the footsteps of Ms. Mary Durheim, the longest-serving and, in my opinion, most effective Council chair in its history,” states Crim. “Mary has guided the Council through numerous legislative sessions, budget constraints, and leadership transitions with the grace and tact of a true leader.”
You can read more about the newly appointed Council members from the Office of the Texas Governor. To learn more about the roles of Council members, visit the TCDD website.
