Gov. Perry Announces Appointment of
Hope Andrade, Ted Houghton To Transportation Commission

Dec. 15, 2003

SAN ANTONIO – Gov. Rick Perry today announced the appointment of Esperanza “Hope” Andrade of San Antonio and Ted Houghton Jr. of El Paso to the Texas Transportation Commission, which oversees statewide activities of the Texas Department of Transportation.

“Hope Andrade and Ted Houghton Jr. share my vision for a reliable transportation system that will attract jobs, break gridlock and make Texas the free trade leader in the Western Hemisphere,” Perry said.

Andrade, vice president of OptimaCare, Inc., and Houghton, a self-employed financial services, executive benefits and estate planning expert, fill two new positions on the commission created when the Texas legislature expanded the commission from three to five members.

Andrade previously was a Perry appointee to the Texas Turnpike Commission until its functions were merged into the Texas Department of Transportation. She also has served on Via Metropolitan Transit and the Free Trade Alliance.

Andrade also served as chair of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in 1998, and currently serves on the board of the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. She also serves on the United Way of San Antonio board.

State Reps. Robert Puente, D-San Antonio, and Elizabeth Ames Jones, R-San Antonio, praised Andrade’s selection.

“Because of Hope Andrade’s private sector experience, transportation expertise and South Texas roots, Governor Perry could not have picked a more ideal Texan to serve on the Transportation Commission,” said Puente, chair of House Natural Resources Committee and dean of the San Antonio Delegation in the House.

"No Governor has demonstrated a greater commitment to improving our state's transportation system and creating jobs than Rick Perry,” said Jones. “In Hope Andrade, the Governor has picked a dynamic leader who will work tirelessly to represent the transportation needs of South Texas."

Houghton, a member of the School Land Board and former vice-chair of the El Paso Water Utilities Public Service Board, becomes the first El Paso resident to serve on the commission in its 86-year history.

He also previously served on El Paso’s Rapid Transit Board, as vice president, chair of its public relations and communications committee, and treasurer of its political action committee.

"The expansion of the Transportation Commission from three members to five members was the number one priority of the Border and International Affairs Committee," said Rep. Norma Chavez. The El Paso Democrat chairs the Border and International Affairs Committee. "Governor Perry's appointment of two people from the 43 county Border region is not only good for the border region but for all Texas as 78 percent of NAFTA traffic comes through Texas ports of entry. The appointments are pro-economic development and we are elated to have El Pasoan Ted Houghton appointed as one of the commissioners," Chavez added.

Perry has made transportation a priority of his administration because reliable, safe transportation is critical to the safety and quality of life of Texans, retaining and attracting jobs, and making Texas the leader when it comes to new trade and commercial opportunities.

Perry noted that the newly expanded Transportation Commission represents the geographic diversity of this state. Along with existing members John W. “Johnny” Johnson of Houston, Ric Williamson of Weatherford, Robert Lee Nichols of Jacksonville, commission members represent rural, urban and border interests, and each member comes from different regions of the state: East, West, North, South and Southeast Texas.