Joe Straus Elected Speaker
January 13, 2009
AUSTIN – Texas legislators unanimously elected Rep. Joe Straus III speaker of the state House Tuesday, making Straus the first San Antonio leader of the 150-member chamber in nearly 100 years. Straus, a Republican, is starting his second full session in the state House. Straus emerged as the consensus choice 11 days ago of 11 maverick Republicans who decided that a fresh face would be their best bet to oust veteran Tom Craddick, a Midland Republican who wanted a fourth term as House speaker. Craddick has been in the Legislature for 40 years. Many members have grown weary of a bitterly