9 file to challenge Craddick for speaker
November 19, 2008
Mr. Craddick has been criticized for being heavy-handed and not letting members vote with their constituents' wishes. He denies the accusations but support within his own party has been eroding since before the speaker's race of January 2007, when several Republicans broke ranks to support a challenger.
Written by Karen Brooks, The Dallas Morning News
Rep. Tom Craddick
AUSTIN – State Rep. Burt Solomons, R-Carrollton, has added his name to a list of nine lawmakers lined up to unseat Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick.
Mr. Solomons, chairman of the House Financial Institutions Committee, said it's "time for a change" in how the House is governed.
Mr. Craddick has been criticized for being heavy-handed and not letting members vote with their constituents' wishes. He denies the accusations but support within his own party has been eroding since before the speaker's race of January 2007, when several Republicans broke ranks to support a challenger.
Mr. Solomons said Republicans need to be able to govern with more input from House members.
"I've been a past supporter of Tommy [Craddick]," Mr. Solomons said. "I like him. But I think it's a whole different management style.
"I believe the body wants to have more meaningful input into the issues of the day, how we're going to govern, into our rules, into everything. ... It's really putting the entire body in a position to feel good about being public servants, address the issues of the day and make sure that everybody has equal input. Everybody."
Mr. Solomons' entrance into the speaker's race makes 10 candidates for the post – five Democrats and five Republicans, including Mr. Craddick.
Mr. Solomons criticized Mr. Craddick's leadership toward the end of the 2007 session, saying it was time for the speaker to step aside.
As head of the committee that had helped fashion House rules, Mr. Solomon said he wasn't happy with Mr. Craddick's interpretation of "absolute authority." That interpretation allowed Mr. Craddick to avoid being thrown out of the speaker's chair.
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