Straus heir apparent

San Antonio lawmaker stakes claim to speaker’s job

AUSTIN (AP) — Rep. Joe Straus all but laid claim to the powerful office of House speaker Monday, holding a triumphant news conference in the state capitol and laying out his vision for a new era of bipartisan leadership in the Texas House.

The official vote doesn’t take place until Jan. 13. Straus said 104 representatives, more than two-thirds of the chamber, supported his candidacy now that Speaker Tom Craddick has dropped out of the race.

Later Monday, state Reps. John Smithee, of Amarillo, and Dan Gattis, of Georgetown, withdrew their candidacies for speaker, saying it was apparent that Straus had enough votes to become the next speaker. Their decisions along with Craddick’s leaves Straus with no serious contenders.

“In the coming days I aim to meet with every member of the Texas House to better understand the needs of their districts and build trust and confidence in the legislative process,” Straus said. The heir-apparent to the speaker’s office also paid tribute to Craddick, who abruptly pulled out of the race Sunday night after key supporters abandoned him.

Straus said Craddick “should be honored for his historic public service.”

Straus said Smithee called to notify him that he was dropping out.

“John’s difficult decision and gracious gesture is another step towards unity in the House,” he said.

Earlier, in an interview with The Associated Press, Straus vowed to reduce the influence of special interests in Austin and promised to never use the post for personal gain.

Craddick’s withdrawal made Straus the clear front-runner in the race to succeed him.

If Straus ends up clenching the deal, as widely expected, he’ll inherit one of the most powerful positions in state government. The speaker sets the agenda in the Texas House and, in terms of political influence, is on par with the governor and lieutenant governor.

A wealthy San Antonio businessman, Straus, 49, was not measuring the curtains yet in the spacious speaker’s apartment. In fact, Straus, whose teenage daughters attend school in San Antonio, said he had no plans to even live in the recently renovated capitol residence. But he told the AP he was looking ahead to the 2009 session and promised to heal wounds and push reforms in the badly divided House chamber.

Many members have long complained that Craddick, the first GOP speaker since the Civil War era, ruled with an iron-fist and gave lobbyists too much sway over policy deliberations.

“There’s been this feeling that from time to time there’s been undue pressure and influence from special interests and I want the members to know that I’m going to protect them to do what their districts want them to do on issues,” Straus said. “The lobby plays an important role in forming public policy, but they shouldn’t dominate and members should feel free to act in the interests of people who sent them here.”

Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, said Straus is willing to reach across party lines and build consensus.

“I think Joe will go down in history as one of the great speakers because of his tone and temperament,” Branch said.

GOP critics have complained that Straus has more Democrats on his team than Republicans. But Branch noted that at 76-74, the GOP’s lead in the House chamber is razor thin.

“Joe understands that even as a Republican it’s critical for Texans that we have people that can reach across the aisle and work in a bipartisan way,” Branch said.

Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, one of the first Democrats to file for speaker, said she was “delightfully shocked” to learn that Straus had emerged as the front-runner earlier in the weekend. Republicans “couldn’t have chosen a better person to fill that post.”

“It has become apparent in the last 12 hours that Rep. Straus carries enough votes to become the next speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, and that any effort to challenge him is not in the best interest of the Texas House,” Smithee and Gattis said in a statement. “Our priority is to take the focus off speaker politics and concentrate on how we can best serve the people of Texas in the 81st Legislature.”

A core group of conservative Republicans, the bedrock of Craddick’s old coalition, had backed Smithee over Straus. They complained that Straus was not one of them, that he’s too liberal on abortion and gambling issues in particular. Straus’ family has been in the horse racing business for close to 100 years, and anti-gambling forces fear he would use his powerful post to promote an expansion of gambling in Texas.

Straus, whose family holds a stake in San Antonio’s Retama Park horse track, said he would take a hands-off approach to gambling bills and allow the chamber to exercise its will.

“I will not be involved in an issue, any issue, where my personal interests will be advanced,” Straus said in the AP interview.

“I don’t have a role in Retama,” he added. “I have a small limited partnership interest ... I don’t have any management or decision-making role in anything related to that industry.”

As for abortion, Straus noted that he supports restrictions on the procedure, including a requirement that parents give their consent before their minor children terminate a pregnancy. But he also made it clear that he favors laws that give women abortion rights.

“I support existing laws on abortion,” he said. “I believe the laws that are currently in place are not at this point a state matter.”

The Straus family is prominent in business, political, arts and philanthropy circles. Branch, who grew up in San Antonio, described the family as key players in the emergence of the modern Republican party of Texas.

Besides its race track interests, the Straus family has been known for its friendship with former President George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush. Straus, who was elected to the Texas House in 2005, held minor posts in Bush’s and Ronald Reagan’s presidential administrations.

Jocelyn Straus, the lawmaker’s mother, has served on the State Preservation Board and led an effort to restore the aging Majestic Theatre, now a crown jewel along one of downtown San Antonio’s revitalized main streets.

While Straus touts his deep GOP ties, grassroots Republican activists have unleashed a torrent of e-mails suggesting Smithee is the better choice for conservatives.

Straus fired back at his detractors.

“That kind of politics is why we’re all here today; it’s what we stand against,” Straus said. “I’m not going to be distracted by some interest group, or whatever, popping off about something that’s not true.”