Texas House members representing the border region are 100 percent united behind state Rep. Joe Straus’s bid for speaker.

The border region, stretching from El Paso to South Padre Island, has 16 representatives in the House. All 16 have pledged to support Straus, R-San Antonio.

“Joe Straus is a great guy. He is one of those very friendly, outgoing members; always willing to offer a helping hand,” Rep. Eddie Lucio, D-San Benito, told the Guardian on Monday morning.

The speaker of the House, one of the most powerful elected offices in Texas, is chosen by its 150 members. There are 76 Republicans and 74 Democrats. On Sunday, Straus all but wrapped up the race when current Speaker Tom Craddick announced he was ending his re-election campaign. Straus revealed the names of 85 supporters.

On Monday, more House members joined the Straus bandwagon. By 6.45 p.m., his list of supporters had grown to 99, according to the online newsletter Quorum Report. Austin's KVUE-TV was even reporting that the other two Republican speaker candidates, John Smithee of Amarillo and Dan Gattis of Georgetown, were pulling out of the race.

The 16 border representatives, all Democrats, are: Norma Chavez, Joe Moody, Joe Pickett, and Marisa Marquez, all of El Paso, Inocente “Chente” Quintanilla of Tornillo, Pete Gallego of Alpine, Tracy King of Batesville, Richard Raymond of Laredo, Ryan Guillen of Rio Grande City, Ismael “Kino” Flores of Palmview, Veronica Gonzales of McAllen, Aaron Peña of Edinburg, Armando “Mando” Martinez of Weslaco, Lucio, Rene Oliveira of Brownsville, and Tara Rios Ybarra of South Padre Island.

Four of the 16 were previously in Craddick’s leadership team. However, when they realized Craddick could not win Flores, Guillen, King and Peña quickly endorsed Straus.

“Joe Straus is a good man. He is not hyper-partisan and he wants to bring back balance and bipartisanship in the House,” Peña told the Guardian. “I think Joe is also the first speaker in modern history from South Texas. That is important. I have close relationship with him. He is a decent and honest man.”

Sixty-four Democrats signed a letter last week saying they would not vote for Craddick “under any circumstances.” Almost all of them were with Straus by Sunday evening. Some, like Gonzales, had expressed support for the San Antonio Republican, last week, before he had even filed for speaker.

“I am proud to have been an early supporter, along with many of my colleagues from both parties, of Representative Joe Straus as Speaker of the House,” Gonzales said.
 
“Joe and I began our career in the Legislature at the same time and I have always known him to be fair, a man of his word and someone who is willing to work with both sides.”

Gonzales said it is “refreshing” that Straus is from San Antonio because it means he “understands the needs of South Texas and areas with high Hispanic populations.” She predicted the start of a new era in the House.
 
“I believe Joe Straus will lead the Texas House of Representatives in a new direction, focusing on improving our state rather than advancing political agendas,” Gonzales said.
 
The McAllen Democrat also pointed out that both Republicans and Democrats were backing Straus, though at the present time he has, ironically, more support among Democrats.

“I am hopeful we can continue that bipartisan collaboration as we tackle the challenges facing our state this year. I promise to keep fighting for our region, to ensure our families are safe and healthy and have many economic opportunities,” Gonzales said.

Like Gonzales, Rep. Martinez said he was “proud” to be one of Straus’s initial supporters. “I have had the pleasure and good fortune to get to know Joe since the 79th Legislature. With his office directly across the hall from mine, I have been able to see Joe and his staff work the hours necessary to meet the needs of his constituents,” Martinez said.

“I am confident that Joe will do the same for all Texans after he is formally elected Speaker of the House. Joe will be a friend not only to the Rio Grande Valley, but he will also be a friend to every individual in our great State of Texas.”
 
Lucio said it could be significant that important positions in the state’s leadership appeared to be moving in a southward direction. He pointed to the selection of Dr. Francisco Cigarroa, of Laredo, as chancellor of the University of Texas System. Gov. Rick Perry had wanted former Lubbock state Sen. John Montford to run the System.

“In the past, most of the power in Texas has resided in the north and west. I know that Joe Straus is in tune with South Texas Hispanic thinking because of the district and city he represents,” Lucio said.

Lucio said both Cigarroa and Straus could be key allies for the Valley in the push to get a four-year medical school. Lucio has made this his number one legislative issue, pre-filing a bill to establish such a school. “The creation of such a school would have a tremendously positive impact on our area, which is currently facing some of the greatest economic and health challenges in the state,” Lucio said.