• Madeline Lewis •
• Originally published January 6, 2009 at 2:24 a.m., updated January 6, 2009 at 2:24 a.m.

AUSTIN - In 1983, state Rep. Gib Lewis claimed the speakership of the Texas House of Representatives by a vote of 148 to 2, said Ken Armbrister, an adviser to Texas Gov. Rick Perry.

"It really wasn't much of speaker's race," recalled Armbrister, who was then a first-term house member from Victoria.

This year, the situation couldn't be more different. For months, current House Speaker Tom Craddick, R-Midland, tried to fight off challenges to his position.

On Sunday night, he dropped out of the race and gave his support to Amarillo Republican John Smithee.

But by Monday evening, Smithee also withdrew from the race - a casualty of the tide of support going to San Antonio Republican Joe Straus.

State Representative Geanie Morrison of Victoria, who in the past has supported Craddick, did not return phone calls for comment on the speaker's race

However, Straus said in an e-mail Monday that he did not have her support.

If Straus wins the speakership on Jan. 13, he may choose to change the leadership and composition of House committees. This may mean that Morrison will not retain her position as chairman of the House Committee on Higher Education.

"To the victor, go the spoils," said Sherri Greenberg, a professor at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas-Austin and a former state representative, adding. "I wouldn't look to her to be a committee chair."

Losing the chairmanship may affect Morrison's ability to push through legislation that would make the University of Houston-Victoria a four-year university.

"If a change is made, certainly it will have some effect," Armbrister said. "But will it sound a death knoll? No, I don't think so because it's really a local matter."

Ultimately, Armbrister thought the decision about UHV would come down to budget as opposed to the merits of the change to a four-year program.

"Regardless of what anybody tells you, it's always about do we have the money to have this facility," he said.

In an e-mail, Straus said he first wants to focus on winning the speaker's race before deciding who should chair House committees. But, he added:

"If elected by my colleagues, I will do my best to align committees with their personal interests and the needs of their Districts."

His opponents for Speaker, Smithee and Craddick, enjoyed the support of some other Republicans from the Crossroads area. State Representative John Zerwas and state Representative-elect Randy Weber backed Craddick until he dropped out of the race Sunday. They then switched their support to Smithee.

"He's a conservative Republican with good family values," said Weber of Pearland, whose district includes Matagorda County.

Zerwas, of Katy, whose district includes Wharton County, emphasized Smithee's experience when describing why he supported the Amarillo Republican.

"It's certainly nothing against Joe Straus," he said, adding. " I just really haven't come to know his background and record."

• Why did Straus enter the speaker's race?

  Straus said in an e-mail Monday:

  "I was humbly asked to serve by my colleagues who agree with my vision for a more positive and productive institution for the people of Texas."

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