| Joseph R. "Joe" Straus, III | |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 2005 |
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| Preceded by | Elizabeth Ames Jones |
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Speaker of Texas House of Representatives
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 13, 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Tom Craddick |
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| Born | September 1, 1959 San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, USA |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Julie Brink Straus |
| Children | Sara Straus, Robyn Straus |
| Residence | San Antonio, TX |
| Alma mater | Vanderbilt University (B.A.) |
| Occupation | Politician, Businessman |
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 and several surrounding communities. Straus joined the House after defeating fellow Republican Glenn Scott Starnes in a special election in February 2005. Straus was elected Speaker on January 13, 2009.
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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.[1]
Political experience
As an active Republican, 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. Bush from 1989 through 1991 as Deputy Director of Business Liaison at the U.S. Department of Commerce and also in the Ronald W. Reagan administration 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.[1]
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 Craddick (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 met in the Austin home of Representative Byron Cook (ten in person and one via webcam). All were determined to choose an alternative candidate for Speaker to challenge Craddick. After four rounds of secret balloting, with state and local media hanging around outside in the neighbors' lawns, Joe 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.
References
- ^ a b "Representative Joe Straus". Texas House of Representatives. 13 January 2009. http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist121/bio/straus.htm. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
External links
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by Tom Craddick |
Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives January 13, 2009–present |
Incumbent |
| Preceded by Elizabeth Ames Jones |
Texas State Representative from District 121 2005–present |
Incumbent |
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