On Friday, May 16, Governor Rick Perry announced the appointment of Jesse R. Adams of Helotes to the Texas Racing Commission for a term to expire February 1, 2009. Adams is president of Adams & Polunsky, a real estate and tax consulting company in San Antonio.

Mr.. Adams serves on the boards of the Texas Association of Property Tax Professionals, the National Association of Home Builders and the San Antonio Board of Realtors. Adams is a former chair of the Zoning Commission of San Antonio and the State Deceptive Trade Task Force, and he also served on the Mayor's Neighborhood Advisory Committee, the City of San Antonio Planning Commission and the Department of Energy Conservation Task Force. He is a graduate of Texas A&M University (Class of '71) and a licensed real estate broker.

Mr. Adams is replacing Commissioner Terri Lacy, whose term expired in February of this year. Ms. Lacy was appointed to the Commission by former Governor George Bush and then later appointed Chairman of the Commission. At the time of Jesse Adams' appointment, there was no mention of who would serve as the new Chairman of the Commission. There is one other appointment to be made for the expired term of Commissioner David Garza, and there is bill being considered by the legislature that would expand the Texas Racing Commission by one more position. If that bill passes it would become effective on September 1, 2003 and require yet another appointment by Governor Perry.

Mr. Adams stated that he is looking forward to serving on the commission and that he is a fan of horseracing. This appointment is subject to final Senate confirmation.

In related news, Governor Perry today designated R. Dyke Rogers of Dalhart as the presiding officer of the Texas Racing Commission on Monday, May 26.

Rogers is president of Frontier Fuel Company. He is a member of the Petroleum Marketers Association, the Texas Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association, and the National Association of Convenience Stores. He is director of the Texas Gas Association and a steering committee member for the Chevron-McDonald's Alliance.

Rogers serves on the Dalhart Area Chamber of Commerce, where he is a member of the Economic Development Committee and chair of the Transportation Committee.

Rogers was originally appointed to the board in 1999 for a term expiring on February 1, 2005