Texas House Speaker Joe Straus has announced that Patricia Shipton will succeed Jesse Ancira as Chief of Staff in the Speaker’s office next spring.
Ancira, who has been Chief of Staff since 2012 and was previously the Speaker’s General Counsel, will depart March 31 to pursue other opportunities. Shipton has been the Speaker’s Strategic Legislative Advisor since 2012 and previously served as Legislative Director for former Governor Rick Perry.
Speaker Straus also announced that former Rep. Allan Ritter will join the Speaker’s office next year as Senior Advisor. Ritter represented Southeast Texas in the House from 1999 to 2015. During his House tenure, he chaired the Committees on Pensions and Investments, Economic Development and Natural Resources.
Speaker Straus also announced that he is expanding the portfolio of Andrew Blifford, who currently serves as the Speaker’s Budget Director. Blifford will become Director of Budget and Policy and assume leadership of the Speaker’s entire policy team. Blifford has been on the Speaker’s staff since 2009.