A key bloc of Republican members of the Texas House of Representatives appear to have settled on a three-term legislator from San Antonio as their candidate for House speaker.
El Paso state Rep. Joe Pickett said the Republicans met Friday and that District 121 Rep. Joe Straus emerged as the caucus’ favorite over current speaker, Rep. Tom Craddick of Midland.
Straus is considered a moderate who was elected in a special election in 2005. He has expressed frustration over Craddick’s leadership.
He was quoted by the Associated Press as saying he would "try to bring everyone together." [link]
Pickett said Friday evening that events would move quickly. "We’ll probably know ... by noon tomorrow how many Democrats will vote for him,” Pickett said.
The biography on Straus’ website states that he previously served as deputy director of business liaison of U.S. Department of Commerce and as assistant to the commissioners of customs for the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Straus received the Texas Public Power Association's Public Official Award for leadership and contributions to public power in 2007. He also received the Legislative Service Award from the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club for his work in the area of energy efficiency. Straus also received the Defender of the American Dream Award in 2008 from Americans for Prosperity for his record of commitment for protecting taxpayers.
Pickett expressed disappointment that the speaker candidate he was backing, Burt Solomons of Carrollton, didn’t win the Republican’s backing.
“I’m probably going to support Straus if my guy isn’t going to get in,” Pickett said, adding he’s not sure how the other four members of the El Paso delegation might vote because Straus “isn’t a name we have heard before.”
Straus' name did not appear on the list of speaker candidates that emerged by Tuesday. [Friday meeting of Republicans could be Craddick's end of the road, NPT Dec. 30, 2008]
El Paso’s five incoming House members are among the 64 House Democrats who signed a pledge after the November elections not to support Craddick’s bid for a fourth term as speaker.
The bloc of 11 Republicans, some of whom themselves had put in for speaker, are considered key for a successful candidate. But it does not mean Craddick is done. The announcement now shifts the action to the Democrats, as explained by the Dallas Morning News:
The gang of 11 GOPers is trusting that their number, coupled with 64 Democrats who have signed a pledge not to vote for Craddick under any circumstances, will prove a momentum and a math to others: 75 out of 150 House members oppose Craddick’s re-election as speaker.
Barring some of Craddick’s supporters splitting off – or some currently uncommitted Republicans going public – the 11 will need to show quick support from the Democratic bloc. [link]
All five El Paso House members signed the pledge not to support Craddick. The pledge letter and list was released by Democrats earlier this week, the first major public sign that Craddick didn't have a firm grip on the 76 votes he needs to retain the speaker position. [El Paso's five House members sign anti-Craddick pledge as speaker's race intensifies, NPT Dec. 29, 2008]
