Democratic Representatives Joaquin Castro, MALC Chair Trey Martinez Fischer, Mike Villarreal, Joe Farias, Roland Gutierrez, and David Leibowitz have all just announced their "enthusiastic support" for fellow San Antonian Republican Joe Straus.
Democratic members of the Bexar County Delegation have enthusiastically thrown their support behind Representative Joe Straus (R-San Antonio), who will be elected Speaker of the House of Representatives on January 13th.
After bipartisan discussions this weekend in Austin, Representative Straus has been selected as the consensus candidate to run the House of Representatives. He is expected to have the majority of votes from House members, including the support of most Bexar County Democrats.
Representatives Joaquin Castro, Trey Martinez Fischer, Mike Villarreal, Joe Farias, Roland Gutierrez, Jose Menendez, and David Leibowitz have all extended their full support to Representative Straus and believe his election as Speaker will be a historic victory for the Alamo City, especially in a moment when the stakes are so high.
Representative Straus will significantly help advance San Antonio's agenda in the upcoming legislative session.
During the 81st Legislative Session, lawmakers are expected to name a third top tier research university in the state, making the University of Texas at San Antonio a front runner for consideration. Straus as Speaker of the House would make up for the absence of a San Antonio member on the important Texas Transportation Commission, and a Speaker Straus will be invaluable in securing funding for critical infrastructure projects, and private sector development in Bexar County.
Democratic members of the Bexar County Delegation are excited to join Republicans and Democrats from across the state to support Representative Straus in his candidacy for Speaker of the House of Representatives, and they look forward to the opportunities this will present for San Antonio in 2009. The Delegation urges other uncommitted lawmakers to throw their support behind Representative Straus.
Representative Straus is expected to publicly identify his list of more than 76 supporters within the next 18 to 24 hours.
The most interesting part of this whole release is the very last paragraph.
This is from a source with ears open and listening in San Antonio. Consider this the initial list of anyone who could potentially run and may be looking at their options, not a list of those that will end up in the much smaller list that we should have settle over the weekend.
Julian Castro (former City Councilman and Mayoral candidate), State Rep. David Leibowitz, former Congressman Ciro Rodriguez (for sure), SA City Councilman Art Hall (Dem who gave the opening invocation at the state convention in June, and who represents the North/Northwest portion of CD-23 in Bexar County), SA City Councilman Richard Perez, current candidate Rick Bolanos, and attorney Rene Barrientos.
Names are being thrown around like crazy right now. I can tell you for sure that SA City Councilman Roland Gutierrez is out (he's gonna be our next mayor... you heard it here first) and some crazy bastard just told me that Madla is thinking about running. My major question is, where is West Texas and border Rep. Pete Gallegos gonna stand?
Seriously, this is the first time in forever that we've had an open opportunity for a SA Dem to move up to Congress so they are coming out of the woodwork right now.
Early speculation? Ciro has early money, but I don't know if anyone else gives to him. I think that the two strongest candidates are Gallegos and Castro. And we need to be worried about too many Dems hopping in this race, fighting amongst themselves and letting Bonilla rise above the fray and take 50% plus 1 on November 7.
Absent from that is State Sen. Carlos Uresti. While his senate district almost exactly overlaps the new 23, he just got out of the primary beating incumbant Frank Madla this spring. While I'd love him, there is far less chatter about him. Now Pete Gallego in HD-73 which covers the western half of the district is certainly one I'll keep an eye on too... Remember, it's open filing and the prior filings are void. That means candidate Rick Bolanos has to physically refile if he wants to run; it doesn't automatically switch over.
But if you asked me right now, the short list I'd give you (in order) are Julian Castro, Ciro Rodriguez, and Pete Gallego...
