Puente: Hey, we all know how bad I-35 can be. The man had a tough commute.

The battle for Democratic orthodoxy over Tom Craddick may have tilted a little more to the speaker’s opponents with the retirement of Rep. Robert Puente, D-San Antonio, effective Feb. 1.

Last October, Puente had said that he would not run for re-election, but this early exit changes the situation. He has long been seen by his opponents as a core Craddick D, and was an original member of Democrats for Reform. Now there will almost inevitably have to be a special election, which councilman Roland Gutierrez seems likely to sweep (even if the Republicans can rustle up a challanger in time.) Gutierrez is no bush-league rookie: he successfully lobbied the lege to put the new Texas A&M San Antonio campus in his district, and spearheaded the Project Clean Air San Antonio, intended to bring the city into TCEQ attainment status.

Even though he’ll be an interim addition to the House, and may have to defend the seat in November, it would be easier on Gutierrez to go into the general election as an incumbent.

This article appears in January 25 • 2008.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.