Naked City

"It would be a stretch to try to put the image of Trent Lott on the newly designated speaker. I know Tom Craddick. I can't say he's a personal friend of mine, but I can say he's no Trent Lott." That was Houston Democratic Sen. Rodney Ellis' ringing defense of House Speaker-to-be Tom Craddick, R-Midland, in response to questions from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram about Craddick's conservative voting record. Houston Democratic Rep. Senfronia Thompson, the longest-serving African-American House member, had characterized Craddick as "always ... a conservative person [who] voted against those things that have been near and dear to the hearts of minority citizens. He does seem to have a pattern, a voting record, that pretty much mirrors the voting record of Trent Lott in a lot of respects."

Craddick has opposed affirmative action in state contracting, voted repeatedly against the hate crimes bill (sponsored by Ellis and Thompson), and in 1991 against a state holiday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. On the King holiday, Craddick and five other representatives (including one Democrat) insisted that their negative votes be recorded, although the measure was passed on a voice vote. Craddick declined to speak to the Star-Telegram about his voting record, but released a brief statement: "In my 34-year career, I've had tens of thousands of votes, none of which have ever reflected any antipathy toward any group in Texas. With respect to minorities, they will play a very large role and important part in my leadership team as speaker."