Some Valley Democrats have stood side-by-side with Craddick, but will they stick?

AUSTIN - The faithful Democratic allies of Republican Speaker Tom Craddick face a new quandary now that his top Democratic lieutenant is challenging the embattled speaker.

On Wednesday Speaker Pro-Tem Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, announced that he wants Craddick’s job when the Legislature returns in 2009.

Democratic allies of Craddick, called “Craddick Ds” include Rep. Ryan Guillen, D-Rio Grande City; Rep. Ismael “Kino” Flores, D-Palmview; and Rep. Aaron Pena, D-Edinburg.

Each crossed party lines to support Craddick, who faces an unprecedented list of opponents for the Speaker’s race in 2009. The move earned them disfavor among some party faithful, but brought them close to negotiations that allowed them to secure pet projects for their districts.

It is rare for House members to challenge an incumbent speaker, and to announce it before the legislative session ends. But five Republicans and two Democrats have filed paperwork saying they want to replace Craddick, who they say has a heavy-handed and unfair leadership style that mutes those in the 150-member House who aren’t his favorites.

Craddick himself has filed paperwork, too, and has said he plans to run again.

“It’s unique, absolutely unique,” said Jerry Polinard, professor of political science at the University of Texas-Pan American.

The Craddick Ds must now decide whether to jump off ship Craddick, which has carried them to lush lands. The Valley received millions in funding for parks, law enforcement, technology training and colonia improvements in two-year budget approved last weekend.

Flores said he is supporting Craddick, at least for now. He said Thursday morning he had not yet spoken to Turner, but wanted to learn if there would be a united effort among Democrats to take over the Speaker seat.

Flores wants to represent the district as a Democrat, but more importantly is aligning himself with leadership, he said.

“I want to take care of my district first,” Flores said. “I want to make sure that my district is in a position where we can have the opportunity to accomplish our goals. Evidence it works is the money that we brought home to our district.”

Pena said he gained great respect for Turner in the last few months as he watched him negotiate an agreement with the Speaker, Governor and Lt. Governor on expanding the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Pena was a sponsor of the bill and saw the negotiations up-close, he said. Turner didn’t back down.

Pena said he would like to see a Democrat in the Speaker’s chair and considers Turner a good friend. He said “it would be hard not to” support Turner.

But he wants to back a winner, he said.

“I’m a person who works with the person whoever holds the office, whether that be Tom Craddick or Sylvester Turner, or whomever, you will find that I will support that person,” Pena said.

Pena had strongly suggested last week he would not run for another two-year term, but on Thursday he said he had discussed it with his wife after returning home this week and plans to defend his seat in 2008.

Guillen did not return a call left on his cell phone voice mail seeking comment on the Speaker’s race. His chief of staff, Bob McVey, returned the call instead and denied a request for an interview with Guillen.

McVey released a statement from Guillen saying he would “not make any decision about change at this time.”

Guillen, Pena and Flores stayed on the House floor in the early morning Monday, when more than 50 Republicans and Democrats walked off in protest of Craddick. It was the last day of the 140-day legislative session that happens once every two years.

It was also the culmination of a session full of tensions about Craddick’s leadership style, and a weekend in which Craddick repeatedly denied request by his opponents for a vote on whether to oust him, or vacate the chair.

It remains to be seen whether Democrats who supported Craddick have made themselves a target in March primaries.

Polinard doesn’t think they have.

“I don’t think that support of Craddick has strong negative consequences for any of the Valley Craddick Ds, particularly because they have been able to use their influence to bring goodies home to the district,” Polinard said.

Rep. Eddie Lucio III, D-Brownsville, voted for Craddick in January, but withdrew his support about one week before the attempts to overthrow him were unsuccessful.

Four other Valley representatives, all Democrats, did not support Craddick for re-election in January. They are: Rep. Rene Oliveira of Brownsville, Rep. Armando “Mando” Martinez of Weslaco, Rep. Veronica Gonzales of McAllen and Rep. Juan M. Escobar of Kingsville.

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