Burnt Orange Report

Dawnna Dukes, 31 Other Democrats, Pledge to Craddick

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Once again, Vince over at the Free State Standard gives us some interesting news.

Democrats for the first time in decades actually had a net gain of seats in the Texas House. Craddick of course has his own issues of ethics swirling about him with the off chance of being investigated by Ronny Earle as part of the Delay Money Matters. You wouldn't think that Texas House Democrats would be so eager to pledge their support to him for speaker.

Apparently not. 32 Texas House Democrats have done so. Of course, some are expected because they are rural Democrats or part of his leadership team (Patrick Rose, Vilma Luna, Ron Wilson types (though Wilson was knocked out in the Democratic Primary like the rest of DemoCraddickcrats should next time).

But why are Alma Allen (who defeated DemoCraddickcrat Wilson) and Austin's liberal Dawna Dukes on his list?

Because they think that no one can challenge Craddick for the position. They don't want to even bother trying to align with other Republicans for a different Republican leader. Granted Craddick got every Republican's support, but is nobody putting a feeler out for dissention? And even then, why bother adding your name to his list, if you know you aren't getting anything in return and you don't agree with him? I'm talking to you Rep. Dukes...

Her Statement in the Austin Chronicle...

"Let's be realistic. No one else was going to be elected speaker, and this is about doing what's best for your constituency. This is about being realistic. Craddick is going to be the speaker for the foreseeable future, and this is about doing what's best for my constituency."

Dukes noted that there is a bipartisan House tradition of supporting the presumptive speaker – "everyone pledged with Laney every time" – and that she told Craddick when he requested her pledge that she would still take the same positions on legislation, and that she was promised nothing in return.

Dukes Office - (512) 463-0506

The full list of his 'supporters' is in the extended entry. If someone wants to go through and pull out all 32 Democrats, that would be helpful. I don't have the time at the momment but could bold them all if someone posts a comment with their names in it.

2004 Pledge List

Alma Allen
Ray Allen
Charles"Doc" Anderson
Kevin Bailey
Todd Baxter
Leo Berman
Roy Blake, Jr.
Dwayne Bohac
Dennis Bonnen
Dan Branch
Betty Brown
Fred Brown
Bill Callegari
Scott Campbell
Carter Casteel
Norma Chavez
Warren Chisum
Byron Cook
Robby Cook
Frank Corte
Joe Crabb
Tom Craddick
Myra Crownover
John Davis
Glenda Dawson
Dianne Delisi
Mary Denny
Joe Driver
Dawnna Dukes
Harold Dutton, Jr.
Al Edwards
Craig Eiland
Rob Eissler
Gary Elkins
David Farabee
Ismael "Kino" Flores
Dan Flynn
Dan Gattis
Charlie Geren
Helen Giddings
Veronica Gonzales
Toby Goodman
Tony Goolsby
Bob E. Griggs
Kent Grusendorf
Ryan Guillen
Pat Haggerty
Mike "Tuffy" Hamilton
Peggy Hamric
Rick Hardcastle
Linda Harper-Brown
Will Hartnett
Glenn Hegar
Harvey Hilderbran
Fred Hill
Mark Homer
Ruben Hope
Chuck Hopson
Charlie Howard
Bryan Hughes
Bob Hunter
Suzanna Hupp
Carl Isett
Jim Jackson
Delwin Jones
Elizabeth Jones
Terry Keel
Jim Keffer
Bill Keffer
Phil King
Tracy King
Lois Kolkhorst
Mike Krusee
Edmund Kuempel
Jodie Laubenberg
Vilma Luna
Jerry Madden
Armando Martinez
Brian McCall
Ruth Jones McClendon
Jim McReynolds
Jose Menendez
Tommy Merritt
Sid Miller
Geanie Morrison
Anna Mowery
Joseph "Joe" Nixon
Rene Oliveira
Rob Orr
John Otto
Ken Paxton
Aaron Pena
Larry Phillips
Joe Pickett
Jim Pitts
Robert Puente
Chente Quintanilla
Elvira Reyna
Debbie Riddle
Allan Ritter
Patrick Rose
Gene Seaman
Todd Smith
Wayne Smith
John Smithee
Burt Solomons
David Swinford
Robert Talton
Larry Taylor
Yvonne Toureilles
Vicki Truitt
Sylvester Turner
Carlos Uresti
Corbin Van
Arsdale Mike Villarreal
G.E. "Buddy" West
Martha Wong
Beverly Woolley
William "Bill" Zedler