Craddick Expected to Become First Republican Speaker of TX House

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal | 11-07-02 | Williams, Brian

[Theodore R.]

Craddick in, Laney out as House Speaker

By BRIAN WILLIAMS AVALANCHE-JOURNAL

Pete Laney's 10-year tenure as House Speaker appears to be over as Republican Tom Craddick staked his claim to be Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives on Thursday.

The election night success gave the GOP control of the chamber for the first time in 130 years.

Dozens of gleeful Republicans crowded around Craddick as he announced in Austin he had the support of a vast majority of the 150-member House. Republicans won 88 seats Tuesday.

The House will formally vote on its new speaker when the legislative session convenes in January.

Craddick will replace Laney, a Hale Center Democrat who has been at the helm for 10 years.

"I will guide the House with a fair, even hand. No one will be shut out. Everyone will have their chance to do what their constituents sent them to Austin to do," Craddick said.

Several Democrats joined him, including Rep. Glenn Lewis of Fort Worth, who introduced him as an experienced lawmaker who would be fair to members of both parties.

In a statement, Laney said he was proud of his work as speaker and pledged his help to new members.

"It is my hope that the Texas House will continue to serve as an example of bipartisan leadership and cooperation for the rest of our nation," Laney said.

"I have accomplished the goals I set out 10 years ago when the members of the House first elected me as their presiding officer. We opened up the legislative process to the public and to all House members so they could participate to the full extent of their ability and desire."

[Theodore R.]

At one point, Rep. Delwin Jones, R-Lubbock, planned to support Laney and try to create a coalition of Democrats and a few dissident Republican to block Craddick's long-planned accession to the speakership. But with 88 of the 150 seats, the Republicans are poised to elect Craddick as Speaker. The Speaker in TX appoints all House committee chairmen, but without regard to party affiliation. He also names half of the members of all 36 House committees. His counterpart in the state Senate, Lt. Gov.-elect David Dewhurst names all chairmen and half the committee members. But there are only 12 committees in the 31-member state Senate. The Senate will be 19-12 Republican, but one of the Republicans, Jeff Wentworth of San Antonio is on the liberal side.