Tom Craddick
Encyclopedia
Thomas Russell Craddick, known as Tom Craddick (born September 19, 1943), was the first Republican
to have served as Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives
since Reconstruction. Craddick wielded the Speaker's gavel from 2003-2009. A House member from the district based in Midland
, Craddick was first elected in 1968 at the age of twenty-five.
in Lubbock
, Craddick decided to run for the legislature as a Republican. The incumbent, Republican Frank Kell Cahoon
of Midland, was not seeking a third two-year term. According to Craddick's official biography, even his father, businessman R.F. Craddick (1913–1986), warned him: "Texas is run by Democrats
. You can't win." Although this part of Texas had become very friendly to Republicans at the national level (portions of this area, for instance, supported Barry M. Goldwater's 1964 presidential run, and Midland itself has not voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since 1948), Democrats held most offices at the local level well into the 1980s.
Nonetheless, the Eagle Scout
was elected to the Texas House in 1968, one of eight Republicans in the chamber at that time. His victory came on the same day that Richard M. Nixon was elected as U.S. President.
In 1975, Craddick was named chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, the first Republican to have chaired a Texas legislative committee in more than a century. In Texas, a legislator need not be in the majority party to head a committee.
In December 2006, Craddick faced a credible challenge to his re-election as Speaker for the Eightieth Texas Legislature
. Brian McCall
(R
-Plano
) and Jim Pitts
(R-Waxahachie
), as well as Democrat Senfronia Thompson
(D-Houston) all of whom announced candidacies for the speakership. In early January, McCall withdrew and endorsed Pitts.
Supporters of Pitts pressed for a secret ballot in order to avoid retribution should their efforts fail,
while Craddick had maintained all along that he had more than the minimum number of votes needed for re-election.
When the secret ballot measure failed, Pitts withdrew, and Craddick was re-elected to a third term as Speaker on January 9, 2007, by a vote of 121-27.
In January 2009, Craddick was finally ousted as Speaker after nearly the entire Democratic Caucus and sixteen wayward Republicans broke ranks to vote for Joe Straus
, a two-term Republican from San Antonio.
Craddick won reelection to his House seat in the general election on November 2, 2010. Straus then won a second term as Speaker in January 2011. Two other Republicans, Leo Berman
from Tyler
and Warren Chisum
from Pampa
unsuccessfully sought to challenge Straus for the position.
Chaos erupted in the Texas House of Representatives
on Friday, May 25, 2007, when Representative Fred Hill, a Republican from Richardson
, attempted to make raise a question of privilege to remove Craddick from office, but Craddick refused to allow him to raise the question. The attempts to oust Craddick continued through the weekend as other Republicans made additional motions, which were also disallowed for a time, although ultimately successful.
The last previous Texas House speaker to be removed was also a Republican, Ira Hobart Evans
, who was rejected in 1871 for cooperating with Democrats on an elections bill.
Craddick's close allies, such as Representative Phil King
of Weatherford
, said that the actions against the Speaker were an effort by Democrats to gain control of the legislature before the legislative and congressional redistricting process of 2011. However, Representative Byron Cook
, a Republican from Corsicana
, said that the fight was about Craddick having consolidated power with lobbyists and having used campaign contributions to maintain control in the House: "This is about the convergence of money and power and influence," Cook said.
Specifically, Craddick recessed the Legislature for two and a half hours after Representatives attempted to gain recognition to put the question of Craddick's removal to a vote. When Representative Hill asked to vote to remove Mr. Craddick, the Speaker replied: "The Speaker's power of recognition on any matter cannot be appealed."
His parliamentarian
, Denise Davis disagreed, stating that question of privilege relating to the removal of a Speaker from office is so highly privileged one that even the leader may not refuse. When Craddick shunned her advice, Davis and her assistant, Chris Griesel, resigned. Craddick immediately hired former Representative Terry Keel
of Austin
to the post as well as former Representative (and present-day lawyer) Ron Wilson as Keel's assistant.
After calling the recess, Democratic Representative Garnet Coleman
of Houston
called the speaker "Chicken Craddick."
The session resumed until 1 a.m. and despite further protests from members of the legislature, Craddick remained in his position as Speaker, and the session was recessed.
in west Texas. She is of Lebanese
descent. His children are Thomas, Jr., and Christi Craddick. Thomas, Jr., and his wife, the former Laura Parker, have a son, Thomas Russell Craddick, III. Craddick holds undergraduate and graduate business
degrees from Texas Tech. He lists his occupation as sales representative for Mustang Mud, an oil
field supply company, although he also is a real estate
speculator and developer.
In 2011, Christi Craddick announced her candidacy in the March 2012 Republican primary for the Texas Railroad Commission seat being vacated by Elizabeth Ames Jones
of San Antonio
, who is running for the United States Senate
to succeed Kay Bailey Hutchison
.
Craddick is a neighbor and close friend of Ernest Angelo
, who served as mayor of Midland from 1972–1980, as Republican national committeeman from 1976–1996, and was co-chairman with Ray Barnhart
and Barbara Staff
of the 1976 Ronald W. Reagan campaign in Texas.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to have served as Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives
Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives
The Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives is the presiding officer of the Texas House of Representatives. The Speaker's main duties are to conduct meetings of the House, appoint committees, and enforce the Rules of the House...
since Reconstruction. Craddick wielded the Speaker's gavel from 2003-2009. A House member from the district based in Midland
Midland, Texas
Midland is a city in and the county seat of Midland County, Texas, United States, on the Southern Plains of the state's western area. A small portion of the city extends into Martin County. As of 2010, the population of Midland was 111,147. It is the principal city of the Midland, Texas...
, Craddick was first elected in 1968 at the age of twenty-five.
Early career
While he was a doctoral student at Texas Tech UniversityTexas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
in Lubbock
Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically as the Llano Estacado, and the home of Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University...
, Craddick decided to run for the legislature as a Republican. The incumbent, Republican Frank Kell Cahoon
Frank Kell Cahoon
Frank Kell Cahoon is an oilman and natural gas entrepreneur from Midland, Texas, who was the only Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives in the regular 1965 legislative session. Cahoon served two terms in the legislature from 1965 to 1969...
of Midland, was not seeking a third two-year term. According to Craddick's official biography, even his father, businessman R.F. Craddick (1913–1986), warned him: "Texas is run by Democrats
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. You can't win." Although this part of Texas had become very friendly to Republicans at the national level (portions of this area, for instance, supported Barry M. Goldwater's 1964 presidential run, and Midland itself has not voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since 1948), Democrats held most offices at the local level well into the 1980s.
Nonetheless, the Eagle Scout
Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America . A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men...
was elected to the Texas House in 1968, one of eight Republicans in the chamber at that time. His victory came on the same day that Richard M. Nixon was elected as U.S. President.
In 1975, Craddick was named chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, the first Republican to have chaired a Texas legislative committee in more than a century. In Texas, a legislator need not be in the majority party to head a committee.
Speaker of the House
On January 11, 2003, after thirty-four years in the House, Craddick became the first Republican Speaker in more than 130 years. He held the presiding officer's position for six years.In December 2006, Craddick faced a credible challenge to his re-election as Speaker for the Eightieth Texas Legislature
Eightieth Texas Legislature
The Eightieth Texas Legislature met in regular session beginning 9 January 2007. All members of the House of Representatives and 16 members of the Senate were up for election on 7 November 2006 in the Texas Legislature election....
. Brian McCall
Brian McCall
Brian Allen McCall is a retired American professional baseball player, an outfielder who appeared in seven Major League Baseball games for the Chicago White Sox in –...
(R
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
-Plano
Plano, Texas
Plano is a city in the state of Texas, located mostly within Collin County. The city's population was 259,841 at the 2010 census, making it the ninth-largest city in Texas and the 71st most populous city in the United States. Plano is located within the metropolitan area commonly referred to as...
) and Jim Pitts
Jim Pitts
James R. "Jim" Pitts is an American state politician and lawyer who currently serves in the Texas House of Representatives as the chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee...
(R-Waxahachie
Waxahachie, Texas
Waxahachie is a city in Ellis County, Texas, United States, and a southern suburb of Dallas. The population was 21,426 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Ellis County....
), as well as Democrat Senfronia Thompson
Senfronia Thompson
Senfronia Calpernia Thompson is a well-known civil rights leader and Democratic member of the Texas House of Representatives, representing the 141st District since 1972....
(D-Houston) all of whom announced candidacies for the speakership. In early January, McCall withdrew and endorsed Pitts.
Supporters of Pitts pressed for a secret ballot in order to avoid retribution should their efforts fail,
while Craddick had maintained all along that he had more than the minimum number of votes needed for re-election.
When the secret ballot measure failed, Pitts withdrew, and Craddick was re-elected to a third term as Speaker on January 9, 2007, by a vote of 121-27.
In January 2009, Craddick was finally ousted as Speaker after nearly the entire Democratic Caucus and sixteen wayward Republicans broke ranks to vote for Joe Straus
Joe Straus
Joseph R. Straus, III, known as Joe Straus , is the current Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives. He represents District 121, which comprises northeastern Bexar County, including part of San Antonio, Texas, and several surrounding communities...
, a two-term Republican from San Antonio.
Craddick won reelection to his House seat in the general election on November 2, 2010. Straus then won a second term as Speaker in January 2011. Two other Republicans, Leo Berman
Leo Berman
Leo C. Berman is a retired businessman and military officer who has been a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 6 since January 1999. Berman announced a challenge to Speaker Joe Straus of San Antonio for the presiding officer's position in January 2011...
from Tyler
Tyler, Texas
Tyler is a city in and the county seat of Smith County, Texas, in the United States. It takes its name from President John Tyler . The city had a population of 109,000 in 2010, according to the United States Census Bureau...
and Warren Chisum
Warren Chisum
Warren Darrel Chisum is a conservative Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from the Panhandle city of Pampa, a community of some 20,000 people and the seat of Gray County. He has served in the state House since 1989...
from Pampa
Pampa, Texas
Pampa is a city in Gray County, Texas, United States. The population was 17,887 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Gray County.Pampa is the principal city of the Pampa Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Gray and Roberts counties....
unsuccessfully sought to challenge Straus for the position.
Speaker of the House controversy
Craddick became increasingly unpopular with not only Democrats but those of his own party, and many called for a new Speaker to be elected.Chaos erupted in the Texas House of Representatives
Texas House of Representatives
The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits...
on Friday, May 25, 2007, when Representative Fred Hill, a Republican from Richardson
Richardson, Texas
Richardson is a city in Dallas and Collin Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 99,223. In 2011 the population was estimated to be 107,684. Richardson is an affluent inner suburb of Dallas and home of the Telecom Corridor with a high...
, attempted to make raise a question of privilege to remove Craddick from office, but Craddick refused to allow him to raise the question. The attempts to oust Craddick continued through the weekend as other Republicans made additional motions, which were also disallowed for a time, although ultimately successful.
The last previous Texas House speaker to be removed was also a Republican, Ira Hobart Evans
Ira Hobart Evans
Ira Hobart Evans was an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War and received the Medal of Honor. He was also a prominent Texas businessman and philanthropist.-Early life:...
, who was rejected in 1871 for cooperating with Democrats on an elections bill.
Craddick's close allies, such as Representative Phil King
Phil King (Texas politician)
Phillip Stephen "Phil" King is a Weatherford, Texas, attorney who has been a conservative Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives since 1999. He represents District 61, which encompasses Parker and Wise counties to the west of Fort Worth.-Conservative legislator:King was named...
of Weatherford
Weatherford, Texas
Weatherford is a city in Parker County, Texas, United States, and a western suburb of Fort Worth. The population was 19,000 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Parker County and is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.-Geography:...
, said that the actions against the Speaker were an effort by Democrats to gain control of the legislature before the legislative and congressional redistricting process of 2011. However, Representative Byron Cook
Byron Cook (Texas politician)
Byron Curtis Cook is a rancher and businessman from Corsicana, Texas, who is a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 8, which encompasses Anderson, Freestone, Limestone, and Navarro counties.-Early life:...
, a Republican from Corsicana
Corsicana, Texas
Corsicana is a city in Navarro County, Texas, United States. It is located on Interstate 45 some fifty-five miles south of downtown Dallas. The population was 24,485 at the 2000 census...
, said that the fight was about Craddick having consolidated power with lobbyists and having used campaign contributions to maintain control in the House: "This is about the convergence of money and power and influence," Cook said.
Specifically, Craddick recessed the Legislature for two and a half hours after Representatives attempted to gain recognition to put the question of Craddick's removal to a vote. When Representative Hill asked to vote to remove Mr. Craddick, the Speaker replied: "The Speaker's power of recognition on any matter cannot be appealed."
His parliamentarian
Parliamentarian (consultant)
A parliamentarian is an expert on parliamentary procedure who advises organizations and deliberative assemblies. This sense of the term "parliamentarian" is distinct from the usage of the same term to mean a member of Parliament....
, Denise Davis disagreed, stating that question of privilege relating to the removal of a Speaker from office is so highly privileged one that even the leader may not refuse. When Craddick shunned her advice, Davis and her assistant, Chris Griesel, resigned. Craddick immediately hired former Representative Terry Keel
Terry Keel
Terrence McCauley "Terry" Keel , is a founding partner of the Keel & Nassour law firm in Austin, and he served as the Parliamentarian of the Texas House of Representatives from May 25, 2007 until January 13, 2009. He was appointed by Speaker Tom Craddick of Midland...
of Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
to the post as well as former Representative (and present-day lawyer) Ron Wilson as Keel's assistant.
After calling the recess, Democratic Representative Garnet Coleman
Garnet Coleman
Garnet F. Coleman is a U.S. politician and a member of the Texas House of Representatives for District 147 since 1991. He is the son of John B. Coleman, M.D...
of Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
called the speaker "Chicken Craddick."
The session resumed until 1 a.m. and despite further protests from members of the legislature, Craddick remained in his position as Speaker, and the session was recessed.
Personal life
Thomas Craddick is married to the former Nadine Nayfa, a native of SweetwaterSweetwater, Texas
Sweetwater is the county seat of Nolan County, Texas, United States. The population was 11,415 at the 2000 census.-History:Sweetwater received a U.S. post office in 1879. The Texas and Pacific Railway started service in 1881, with the first train arriving on March 12 of that year, beginning...
in west Texas. She is of Lebanese
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
descent. His children are Thomas, Jr., and Christi Craddick. Thomas, Jr., and his wife, the former Laura Parker, have a son, Thomas Russell Craddick, III. Craddick holds undergraduate and graduate business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
degrees from Texas Tech. He lists his occupation as sales representative for Mustang Mud, an oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
field supply company, although he also is a real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
speculator and developer.
In 2011, Christi Craddick announced her candidacy in the March 2012 Republican primary for the Texas Railroad Commission seat being vacated by Elizabeth Ames Jones
Elizabeth Ames Jones
Elizabeth Ames Jones is one of the three members of the elected Texas Railroad Commission, a regulatory body that oversees the oil and natural gas industries in Texas — as opposed to railroads, as its name suggests...
of San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
, who is running for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
to succeed Kay Bailey Hutchison
Kay Bailey Hutchison
Kathryn Ann Bailey Hutchison, known as Kay Bailey Hutchison , is the senior United States Senator from Texas.She is a member of the Republican Party. In 2001, she was named one of the thirty most powerful women in America by Ladies Home Journal. The first woman to represent Texas in the U.S....
.
Craddick is a neighbor and close friend of Ernest Angelo
Ernest Angelo
Ernest Angelo, Jr., known as Ernie Angelo , is a Texas oilman and Republican politician who served from 1972–1980 as mayor of the West Texas city of Midland and was in 1976 the co-manager of the Ronald W...
, who served as mayor of Midland from 1972–1980, as Republican national committeeman from 1976–1996, and was co-chairman with Ray Barnhart
Ray Barnhart
Ray Anderson Barnhart is a retired businessman and Republican politician, formerly from Pasadena in Harris County, Texas.From 1981–1987, Barnhart was director of the Federal Highway Administration under U.S. President Ronald W. Reagan...
and Barbara Staff
Barbara Staff
Barbara Ruth Wright Staff is a retired Republican political activist from Plano, Texas. She was co-chairman of her state's 1976 Ronald Reagan presidential primary campaign.-Background:...
of the 1976 Ronald W. Reagan campaign in Texas.