The Evening Brief: Oct. 18, 2013

New in The Texas Tribune

•    Combs Endorses Hegar for Comptroller: "Comptroller Susan Combs endorsed state Sen. Glenn Hegar, R-Katy, to be her successor Friday morning while at a meeting of Republicans in San Antonio. 'I've known Glenn Hegar for many years,' Combs said in a statement released by Hegar’s campaign. 'He is a man of conservative principles, strong values and great integrity. He loves his state and nation and I trust him to help lead Texas as our next Comptroller.'"

•    Patrick Gets Nod From Key Conservative Group in Lt. Gov. Bid: "Texans for Fiscal Responsibility announced it would back GOP state Sen. Dan Patrick in the race for lieutenant governor because of his record 'of advocating for practical, reform-minded policies supported by Texans.'"

•    Cornyn Has "Grave Concerns" About DHS Nominee: "U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said Friday that he has 'grave concerns' over the person President Barack Obama is expected to announce as his choice to replace former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano."

•    Tommy Merritt to Run for Ag Commissioner as a Republican: "At the end of a week of shakeups in the race for agriculture commissioner, former state Rep. Tommy Merritt announced he will join the race for the Republican nomination."

•    Sheppard Touts Health Care, Schools in Campaign Ad: "In the special election for the open House District 50 seat in Austin, Democrat Jade Chang Sheppard is on TV with an ad promoting her support for affordable health care, money for schools and less high-stakes testing of students."

•    Sometimes, It's Hard to Make a Good Political Bet: "Political donors, endorsers and activists like to pick the winners, to be the early backers of the candidates who go on to become officeholders. They’ve grown accustomed to the certainty and comfort of a Republican state ticket full of incumbents. All of the competition this political season is disquieting."

Culled

•    Davis cites police support in receiving award (Austin American-Statesman): "In a queue up to the 2014 gubernatorial race, Wendy Davis, the Fort Worth state senator running for the Democratic nomination for governor, on Friday was honored by the state’s largest law-enforcement union as legislative crime-fighter of the year."

•    Patrick PAC paid his radio station (The Associated Press): "State Sen. Dan Patrick spent more than $46,000 in donations to a political action committee he co-founded on his Houston radio station and a marketing firm controlled by his former employees — payments that weren't illegal but that critics contend violated the spirit of Texas' ethics laws."

•    In London, Rick Perry presents plaque to mark former Republic of Texas embassy (The Dallas Morning News): "Gov. Rick Perry in London offered British officials a version of plaque build-up. The governor took a new marker, to go alongside one placed there 50 years ago, that commemorates Great Britain’s acknowledgement of the new, fledgling Republic of Texas. The plaque is on the site of the Texas Legation’s Embassy of the Republic of Texas."