Governor announces new appointments to Texas Racing Commission

On Friday afternoon, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced new appointments to the Texas Racing Commission. The panel is operating on a temporary funding plan that runs through Nov. 30. The new appointments are Margaret Martin and Rolando Pablos, while Gary Aber was reappointed to the commission, according to a release. Their terms expire Feb. 1, 2021.

Martin, of Boerne, Texas, is an international businesswoman who served on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission from 2007-2015. She “specializes in bringing companies and individuals together in business development and energy,” according to the release.

Pablos, of El Paso, Texas, is a past chair of the Texas Racing Commission. He is chief executive officer of Borderplex Alliance.

Aber, of Simonton, Texas, was first appointed to the Texas Racing Commission in 2012. He is a veterinarian and owner of Simonton Veterinary Clinic and a member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners.

Aber’s term had expired Feb. 1, 2015. Also expiring that day were the terms of Michael F. Martin and Vicki Smith Weinberg.

A temporary funding plan to cover the commission’s administrative costs and avoid a racing shutdown in the state was announced in September. It runs through Nov. 30, and the commission has asked for funding to continue beyond that date in a request being reviewed by the state’s legislative budget board. When the temporary funding plan was first released, officials indicated the deal in part gave Gov. Abbott additional time to fill expired terms on the Texas Racing Commission.