Parliamentarian Terry Keel Becomes Center Of Latest Controversy In Race For Texas House Speaker

House Parliamenterian Terry Keel, the former legislator who House Speaker Tom Craddick installed last year after the previous parliamenterians resigned during efforts to outst him, has become the center of the latest controversy in the race for Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives.

State Rep. Burt Solomons (R-Carrolton), was the first candidate for Speaker to call for Craddick's resignation.

Late last week, State Rep. Burt Solomons (R-Carrolton) became the first of the nine candidates opposing Craddick to publicly call for Keel’s resignation in a letter to House members, complaining that Keel represents Craddick more than he represents the entire body:

“Too many of my House colleagues are not confident that your advice and parliamentary interpretations will be unbiased,” Solomons wrote.

He said many members fear “you will continue on a path of tortured interpretations and rulings designed solely to protect the current Speaker and frustrate the House parliamentary process.”

[...]

Solomons’ letter was released Friday night after the first meeting of an informal working group on rules for the 2009 legislative session. Two years ago, Solomons was Craddick’s point man on the rules.

Delwin Jones.

After Solomons issued his letter, two more candidates–Tommy Merritt (R-Longview) and Delwin Jones (R-Lubbock) joined the chorus.

Adding to the controversy, the members of the State Republican Executive Committee–the governing body of the Republican Party of Texas–passed a resolution this weekend damning any attempt at a secret ballot election. A secret ballot election would favor any candidate except Craddick. Merritt spoke out against the SREC’s actions:

Solomons’ letter was released Friday night after the first meeting of an informal working group on rules for the 2009 legislative session. Two years ago, Solomons was Craddick’s point man on the rules.

Merritt spoke out against the SREC actions:

Tommy Merritt.

“The private ballot is part of the foundation of this nation and should not be undermined by a few party activists more interested in seeing Speaker Tom Craddick re-elected than giving House members the same right when they vote,” Merritt said.

Michael Truncale , chairman of the resolutions committee for the State Republican Executive Committee, defended the resolution:

He said it simply reflected the party’s platform supporting open and transparent government and was not meant to be an endorsement. Mark McCaig, a committee member who’s called for Craddick to step down, noted that the party’s platform also calls for term limits for legislators but no one suggested that Craddick should step down as speaker after three terms.

And, to add to the fun, a letter is circulating from State Rep. Harold Dutton (D-Beaumont) in response to Solomon’s statements:

Harold Dutton.

After reading in the newspaper quotes attributed to you that were extremely disturbing to me and other members, I initially considered it best that I not put my thoughts in writing. I don’t recall the actual quote in the newspaper but after reading the quote, I remember letting the dog do his business on it and I quickly discarded the paper with the dog poop. However, I also remember thinking how in the hell does Burt Solomons know what I want, do or think. Or what gives him the right to disparage me? I haven’t spoken to you since last session and unless you have some cosmic powers I am not aware of you can’t know what I have been doing, thinking or desiring. Yet you attack me and several Democrats without speaking to either of us.

I did question who is Burt Solomons talking to and more especially who is he  listening to. Do you remember the king who had no clothes? It’s worst to have no thoughts-of your own.

As you critique my past support for Tom Craddick, let me put it bluntly, with a majority Republicans in the House, I stayed with Craddick because I failed to grasp why I would change a Midland Republican for a Waxahachie Republican. You can  throw in– a Carrollton Republican — if the shoe fits.

I assume the media accounts are correct that you are running for speaker. That’s good. I just wish we had a rule that if you run for speaker and lose, then your seat is vacated and you must leave the House. That would force speaker campaigns to be less tasteless. It would certainly reduce the number of show horses and blowhards,  leaving only serious candidates who must speak with each member and more especially listen to every member. Certainly it would be most unlikely that a candidate would begin a campaign by disparaging other members. I think you get my drift. Running for speaker does not cloak you or anyone else with the right to be stupid. That should be reserved for those who would vote for you.

The media quote you as suggesting that the House is so divided and can’t come together under Tom Craddick. What? And you begin your campaign by attacking members and now you have even targeted the parliamentarian. If that’s your method to heal the House and bring members together, you leave me speechless-almost. When I last checked the speaker appointed the parliamentarian. So, all you have to do is become speaker and you get to choose your parliamentarian. As my coach was fond of saying-stay focused. Abandon the pit bull attack.

Your December 5 Memo further states that your House colleagues joined you in calling for Terry Keel’ resignation. First, as one of your House colleagues, you do not speak for me. Secondly, Terry Keel and I had some rather spirited debates on the House floor but I always maintained the highest respect for Terry Keel as a lawyer and a legislator. I still do.

Leadership is defined as “the catalyst that changes struggle into progress.” So far, your leadership style seems to be consumed by a last session hangover. Let that go. When your rear view mirror becomes larger than your windshield, Texans don’t progress-we just struggle. Every Speaker candidate and each member of the House must commit themselves to transform our independence into an interdependence that fosters a better Texas. Democrat or republican, that’s the kind of member Texans want-and deserve. Speaker, too.

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