Retired General Finalist To Lead Texas Alcohol Regulators

AUSTIN (CBSDFW.COM/AP) — A Central Texas lawyer and retired Army general has been named the lone finalist to lead the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

A TABC statement released Wednesday said Bentley Nettles was the commission's pick for executive director.

Chairman Kevin Lilly says a meeting was held Tuesday to find a replacement for Sherry Cook, who resigned in April and then formally retired in May. Cook's resignation came amid criticism over taxpayer-funded trips to Hawaii and San Diego.

The acting TABC director, Ed Swedberg, resigned Monday after barely a month on the job.

Six candidates, chosen from more than 80 applicants, were interviewed during a special commission meeting. Nettles owns Nettles Law PLLC in Bryan. He served in the military and retired as a brigadier general, with tours in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Nettles was general counsel for the Army Element Joint Force Headquarters of the Texas Army National Guard.

There is a process of formal acceptance and background checks before the new executive director can begin work. The next regular commission meeting is set for July 25.

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