Burnt Orange Report

Craddick Handing Out Candy To Opposed GOP Members

By Vince Leibowitz

I rarely read the Texas Insider because it almost always seems out of date or difficult to find anything aside from mundane press releases, but I surfed over there this evening and, to my surprise, what did I discover but that Speaker Tom Craddick (R-Midland) is handing out goodies to the GOP faithful in contested primaries.

I'm referring to Craddick's appointment of Rep. Dan Flynn (R-Van) to the Sunset Advisory Commission.

Keep in mind Flynn is one of several Republicans ushered into the House in the 2002 election cycle via millions in funding from Texans for a Republican Majority and the Texas Association of Business. He's also named in the indictment of Tom DeLay, John Colyandro, and Jim Ellis because he received RNC/TRMPAC funds as well as being named in the Robold/Colyandro/Ellis indictments that also included various corporations.

So, of course, when the GOP sees that he has a primary opponent who, in spite of not having a website, very few signs I've seen, etc., they get scared as heck and name their man to the Sunset Advisory Commission.

Chuck Tull (R-Edgewood), Flynn's opponent, is a candidate with a Democratic primary voting history through the 2004 election cycle reportedly talked into running as a Republican by various education PACS. Nevertheless, (and regardless of what special assignments Craddick throws his way), Flynn is pretty much a hands-down winner in the HD2 GOP Primary, period. End of story. The primary voters in Hunt and Van Zandt Counties are made up of far, far too many of the GOP Faithful for Tull to have a shot. Given the area he is from and his background, Tull would have had a better shot going head-to-head with Flynn as a Democrat in a general election contest.