Craddick Withdraws
Smithee touted as new conservative candidate for speakership
By Richard Whittaker, 8:43PM, Sun. Jan. 4, 2009
The impossible seems to have come true: Speaker Tom Craddick will be speaker no more.
Lieutenants for the Midland Republican, including Reps. Will Hartnett, R-Dallas, and Sid Miller, R-Stephenville, are telling the press that he's withdrawing from the race, and it seems that the right wing of the party will get behind Rep. John Smithee, R-Amarillo. There is no formal confirmation from Craddick as of yet, and no solid word on whether Rep. Dan Gattis, R-Georgetown, will stand aside, but with Straus on 85 pledged votes, Smithee will have to make a convincing argument to take the gavel.
Of course, it seems strange that the battle for the speaker's chair is coming down to two Republican candidates who weren't more than rumors a week ago. It seems even stranger that Craddick, who was talked about like an unbeatable leviathan, is now gone. Exactly where he goes seems like the next big mystery, but a major committee appointment seems almost inevitable.
Got something to say on the subject? Send a letter to the editor.
A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.
Richard Whittaker, Feb. 21, 2013
Richard Whittaker, Jan. 10, 2013
Richard Whittaker, July 14, 2010
Richard Whittaker, Jan. 13, 2010
May 16, 2025
May 16, 2025
Speaker Race, 81st Legislature, Tom Craddick, Speaker Race, Johm Smithee
