More On The Speaker’s Race: The Valley, North Texas & More

First, I want to direct you over to the Kaufman Herald for another piece on a Republican who is (expectedly) sticking with House Speaker Tom Craddick.

Rep. Betty Brown (R-Terrell), had this to say on her support for Speaker Craddick:

“Speaker Craddick has shepherded us through some very troubling times,” Brown said. “He served in the minority for many years and was there when he suffered defeat after defeat. He didn’t give up; he stayed with it. As they say, he’s paid his dues.”

Meanwhile, the Chron reports on so-called “floaters” who are double-pledged.

Also, the Waxahachie Daily Light has a lengthy piece on its hometown Rep—Jim Pitts, who is running, of course, for Speaker.

The McAllen Monitor examines the role of Valley lawmakers in the Speaker’s Race, and notes that Kink Flores (D-Misson), remains pledged to Craddick. The Monitor also breaks down other Valley lawmakers:

State Rep. Rene Oliveira, D-Brownsville, openly supported Craddick’s first Republican rival, Rep. Brian McCall of Plano. When McCall dropped out and endorsed Pitts, Oliveira said he was leaning toward voting for Pitts.

Even if Craddick wins, opponents would not be left out of leadership positions for long, because the race has shown the House is divided, Oliveira said.

“I believe at this point, based on what I understand is happening, that Jim Pitts will be the next speaker,” Oliveira said Thursday. “If I’m wrong — and I don’t believe that to be true — the speaker will have to reach out to everyone, because he obviously has a very fractured House under his leadership.”

State Rep. Veronica Gonzales, D-McAllen, is the only Hidalgo County representative who did not show up on the lists Craddick released of non-binding pledges to vote for him.

She would not say Thursday for whom she planned to vote, explaining, “I learned a long time ago that loose lips sink ships.”

Gonzales did say, however, that the November elections showed voters want more bipartisanship in government — something she views as lacking in the House.

“I think it’s been very hard sometimes to maintain bipartisanship,” she said.

Several other Valley representatives said during the past two weeks that they planned to vote for Craddick, including Rep. Ryan Guillen, D-Rio Grande City; Rep. Aaron Peña, D-Edinburg; Rep.-elect Eddie Lucio III, D-Brownsville; and Rep. Armando “Mando” Martinez, D-Weslaco.

Note that  Martinez has announced he’s withholding his pledge and vote until election day.

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