Joe Straus
Encyclopedia
Joseph R. Straus, III, known as Joe Straus (born September 1, 1959), 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. Straus joined the House after defeating fellow Republican
Glenn Scott Starnes, later the city manager in Eagle Pass
, Texas, in a special election held in February 2005. Straus was first elected Speaker on January 13, 2009. He was elected to a second two-year term on January 11, 2011.
from 1989 through 1991 as Deputy Director of Business Liaison at the U.S. Department of Commerce and also under Ronald W. Reagan as Executive Assistant to the Commissioner of Customs. In 1986, he was U.S. Representative Lamar Smith
's campaign manager in Smith's first race for Congress.
(born 1943) of Midland
, the senior Republican in the Texas House. Dissent against Craddick had been brewing in the Texas House. The latest round of disappointing election results hurt Craddick's standing with his Republican colleagues. Shortly after New Year's Day
, eleven House Republican members, including the late Edmund Kuempel
of Seguin
, met in the Austin home of Representative Byron Cook
of Corsicana
(ten in person and one via webcam). Each wanted an alternative to Craddick. After four rounds of secret balloting, with state and local media hanging around outside in the neighbors' lawns, Straus emerged as their challenger to unseat the Speaker. Over the next several days, the group, dubbed by the media as the "Gang of 11", set out to garner the required minimum of 76 votes (of the 150 members) to achieve their mission. After several days of phone calls, e-mails, pledge cards and signature gathering, Joe Straus announced on Sunday, January 4, 2009, he had enough votes to win the job. By the following evening remaining opposition to Straus conceded. After securing his position as House Speaker, Straus proceeded to appoint Democrats to 16 of the House's 34 chairmanship positions.
San Antonio Democrat Mike Villarreal
said that Straus brought "the right temperament [to the Speakership]. After three sessions of Tom Craddick, the House was ready for a change."Frank Corte, Jr.
, a San Antonio Republican who had been committed to retaining Craddick as Speaker, said that Straus "has a different leadership style, there's no doubt about it. He has an indirect way of handling things. He doesn't weigh in heavily at first." Straus' rabbi
, Barry H. Block, said "If people underestimated Joe, they'll stop now."
An aide said that Straus "doesn't like to label himself on social issues. . . . He considers himself pro-life, just not a proselytizing one. . . . He sees the big picture -- jobs, economy, education." Another Republican, Leo Berman
from Tyler
, had indicated an intention to run for Speaker, but has pulled out and is now endorsing Warren Chisum
, a Republican from Pampa
, who unsuccessfully challenged Straus for the Speaker's gavel. McKinney
Republican Ken Paxton
also sought the position.
and Warren Chisum
, are Christians; both condemned the comments.
John Cook, author of some of the e-mails, said, "I want to make sure that a person I'm supporting is going to have my values. It's not anything about Jews and whether I think their religion is right or Muslims and whether I think their religion is right. ... I got into politics to put Christian conservatives into office. They're the people that do the best jobs over all." Cook denied allegations that he is antisemitic, saying that he had Jewish friends and that Jesus Christ, a Jew, is his favorite person.
in south Texas. The Laredo Morning Times
referred to Straus as "a relative newcomer to state elected office, [who] quickly took on a highly respected leadership role with his cool, unflappable style and insistence on civility in an often rowdy House." Straus was presented a gold medallion and large framed proclamation installing him in "Los Caballeros de la Republica del Rio Grande," or "Gentleman of the Republic of the Rio Grande
."
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...
of 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...
. He represents District 121, which comprises northeastern Bexar County
Bexar County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,392,931 people, 488,942 households, and 345,681 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,117 people per square mile . There were 521,359 housing units at an average density of 418 per square mile...
, including part 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,...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, and several surrounding communities. Straus joined the House after defeating fellow Republican
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...
Glenn Scott Starnes, later the city manager in Eagle Pass
Eagle Pass, Texas
Eagle Pass is a city in and the county seat of Maverick County The population was 27,183 as of the 2010 census.Eagle Pass borders the city of Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, which is to the southwest and across the Rio Grande. The Eagle Pass-Piedras Negras Metropolitan Area is one of six...
, Texas, in a special election held in February 2005. Straus was first elected Speaker on January 13, 2009. He was elected to a second two-year term on January 11, 2011.
Business and community experience
A lifelong San Antonian, Straus currently serves on the Board of Governors of the Cancer Therapy and Research Center as well as on the Texas Cord Blood Bank. Previously, he served on the board of directors of the San Antonio Zoological Society, the Texas Nature Conservancy, the Southwest School of Art and Craft, and the Winston School.Political experience
Representative Straus has previously served on the Management Committee of the Bexar County Republican Party, as a precinct chairman, and on numerous campaign committees for federal, state, and local candidates. He served in the administration of U.S. President George H. W. BushGeorge H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
from 1989 through 1991 as Deputy Director of Business Liaison at the U.S. Department of Commerce and also under Ronald W. Reagan as Executive Assistant to the Commissioner of Customs. In 1986, he was U.S. Representative Lamar Smith
Lamar S. Smith
Lamar Seeligson Smith is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1987. The district includes most of the wealthier sections of San Antonio and Austin, as well as nearly all of the Texas Hill Country...
's campaign manager in Smith's first race for Congress.
Challenge against Tom Craddick
After witnessing his fellow Republicans lose three House seats in the November 2008 elections, Straus decided to run against then Speaker Tom CraddickTom Craddick
Thomas Russell Craddick, known as Tom Craddick , 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...
(born 1943) of 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...
, the senior Republican in the Texas House. Dissent against Craddick had been brewing in the Texas House. The latest round of disappointing election results hurt Craddick's standing with his Republican colleagues. Shortly after New Year's Day
New Year's Day
New Year's Day is observed on January 1, the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian calendar used in ancient Rome...
, eleven House Republican members, including the late Edmund Kuempel
Edmund Kuempel
Edmund Perry Kuempel was a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 44, based at Seguin, the seat of Guadalupe County in central Texas.-Background:...
of Seguin
Seguin, Texas
Seguin is a city in Guadalupe County, Texas, in the United States. It is part of the San Antonio-New Braunfels Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 22,011; the July 1, 2009 Census estimate, however, showed the population had increased to 26,842...
, met in the Austin home of 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:...
of 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...
(ten in person and one via webcam). Each wanted an alternative to Craddick. After four rounds of secret balloting, with state and local media hanging around outside in the neighbors' lawns, Straus emerged as their challenger to unseat the Speaker. Over the next several days, the group, dubbed by the media as the "Gang of 11", set out to garner the required minimum of 76 votes (of the 150 members) to achieve their mission. After several days of phone calls, e-mails, pledge cards and signature gathering, Joe Straus announced on Sunday, January 4, 2009, he had enough votes to win the job. By the following evening remaining opposition to Straus conceded. After securing his position as House Speaker, Straus proceeded to appoint Democrats to 16 of the House's 34 chairmanship positions.
San Antonio Democrat Mike Villarreal
Mike Villarreal
Michael U. “Mike” Villarreal is an American state politician serving as a member of the Texas House of Representatives from a district centered in north central San Antonio...
said that Straus brought "the right temperament [to the Speakership]. After three sessions of Tom Craddick, the House was ready for a change."Frank Corte, Jr.
Frank Corte, Jr.
Frank Julius Corte, Jr. , is a real estate businessman in San Antonio, Texas, who served as a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from Bexar County between 1993 and 2011....
, a San Antonio Republican who had been committed to retaining Craddick as Speaker, said that Straus "has a different leadership style, there's no doubt about it. He has an indirect way of handling things. He doesn't weigh in heavily at first." Straus' rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
, Barry H. Block, said "If people underestimated Joe, they'll stop now."
An aide said that Straus "doesn't like to label himself on social issues. . . . He considers himself pro-life, just not a proselytizing one. . . . He sees the big picture -- jobs, economy, education." Another Republican, 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...
, had indicated an intention to run for Speaker, but has pulled out and is now endorsing 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...
, a Republican 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....
, who unsuccessfully challenged Straus for the Speaker's gavel. McKinney
McKinney, Texas
McKinney is a city in and the county seat of Collin County, Texas, United States, and the second in population to Plano. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 131,117 The Census Bureau listed McKinney as the nation's fastest growing city from 2000 to 2003 and again in...
Republican Ken Paxton
Ken Paxton
Ken Paxton, Jr., is a conservative Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives for District 70. The district includes the central western portion of Collin County, and includes parts of McKinney, Allen, Frisco, and other surrounding communities.On November 11, 2010, Ken Paxton...
also sought the position.
Antisemitism controversy as Speaker
In 2010, e-mails circulated among members of the Texas State Republican Executive Committee (SREC) calling for Straus to be replaced by a "Christian conservative" as Speaker, on the grounds that "we elected a house with Christian, conservative values. We now want a true Christian, conservative running it." Straus's opponents for the Speakership, Ken PaxtonKen Paxton
Ken Paxton, Jr., is a conservative Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives for District 70. The district includes the central western portion of Collin County, and includes parts of McKinney, Allen, Frisco, and other surrounding communities.On November 11, 2010, Ken Paxton...
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...
, are Christians; both condemned the comments.
John Cook, author of some of the e-mails, said, "I want to make sure that a person I'm supporting is going to have my values. It's not anything about Jews and whether I think their religion is right or Muslims and whether I think their religion is right. ... I got into politics to put Christian conservatives into office. They're the people that do the best jobs over all." Cook denied allegations that he is antisemitic, saying that he had Jewish friends and that Jesus Christ, a Jew, is his favorite person.
Mr. South Texas
In 2011, Straus was named "Mr. South Texas" during the Washington's Birthday Celebration in LaredoLaredo, Texas
Laredo is the county seat of Webb County, Texas, United States, located on the north bank of the Rio Grande in South Texas, across from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. According to the 2010 census, the city population was 236,091 making it the 3rd largest on the United States-Mexican border,...
in south Texas. The Laredo Morning Times
Laredo Morning Times
The Laredo Morning Times is a daily newspaper publication based in Laredo, Texas, USA. It is owned by the Hearst Corporation.The Laredo Morning Times was founded on June 14, 1881 as "the Laredo Weekly," a four-page newspaper published by James Saunders Penn. Two years later, the paper became a...
referred to Straus as "a relative newcomer to state elected office, [who] quickly took on a highly respected leadership role with his cool, unflappable style and insistence on civility in an often rowdy House." Straus was presented a gold medallion and large framed proclamation installing him in "Los Caballeros de la Republica del Rio Grande," or "Gentleman of the Republic of the Rio Grande
Republic of the Rio Grande
The Republic of the Rio Grande was an independent nation that insurgents against the Central Mexican Government sought to establish in northern Mexico. The rebellion lasted from January 17 to November 6, 1840 and the Republic of the Rio Grande was never officially recognized.- Background :After a...
."
External links
- Speaker of the House Joe Straus official Texas House of Representatives site