Chisum Cracks Keffer Over Craddick

After Rep. Jim Keffer, R-Eastland, put out his press release yesterday basically decaring himself House Speaker-elect, the question was obvious: Who does he have on his list of supporters in his hunt to oust Speaker Tom Craddick and take up the gavel himself?

Well, definitely not Craddick loyalist Rep. Warren Chisum, R-Pampa, who came out swinging with this response to Keffer's presser:

"House members know that Representative Keffer's press release is just hyperbole and is not credible. Speaker Craddick has worked tirelessly this year to help members seeking re-election. That is the kind of leadership that legislators expect and desire from a Speaker."

And who is sat back, laughing? Bill Dingus, the Democrat challenging Craddick for his House seat. He has put out his own press release, saying that he really feels that this is a time for putting the bitter in-fighting behind the House and they should all set about "rooting out the special interests and approaching problems in an honest, pragmatic way" (presumably by dumping Craddick from his House seat before there's even a speaker race to talk about).

See below the jump for Dingus' full press release.

Republicans Divided Over Craddick

MIDLAND – Recent comments point to a growing rift among Republicans over Tom Craddick's special interest-driven, authoritarian rule of the Texas House of Representatives.

Yesterday, State Representative Jim Keffer, R-Eastland, released a statement saying he is "100 certain" that House members will dethrone Craddick as Speaker, regardless of which party is in power.

"The sentiment for change is not personal, members in the Texas House just want bipartisan leadership which is committed to restoring the rules of conduct and fairness," Keffer stated. "Those who served last session remember all too well the four months of absolute chaos that preceded Craddick's last minute claim of absolute authority."

Keffer, who will run for Speaker, also said: "I will be a Speaker for the members, not the special interests."

Meanwhile, Mark McCaig, a State Republican Executive Committee member, recently called on Craddick to quit in an op-ed column in the Austin American-Statesman. "The only way to prevent further erosion of the Republican majority in the Texas House is for Tom Craddick to immediately announce that he will not seek another term as speaker," McCaig wrote. "In addition to his failed leadership, Craddick has abandoned the conservative principles he was elected on and promoted a lobby-driven agenda at the expense of issues important to ordinary Texans."

Bill Dingus said the views of these two Republicans match those of many he has met campaigning door-to-door. "This is not about political parties," Dingus said. "It's about rooting out the special interests and approaching problems in an honest, pragmatic way."