Marjorie Kamys Cotera
State Rep. Four Price, R-Amarillo, on Sunday, dropped his bid for Texas House speaker and threw his support behind state Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, the most recent Republican entrant into the race to replace to retiring Joe Straus, R-San Antonio.
“Recently, Representative Dennis Bonnen and I had a number of candid and productive conversations about our vision for the future of Texas and how we can work together to make that future as bright as possible,” Price said in an emailed statement. “We both agreed that the Texas House deserves to be united behind a strong and capable leader who will respect the will of the members and allow them to represent their districts free from influence or interference.”
Price is the second Republican to drop his speaker bid. Last month, state Rep. John Zerwas, R-Richmond, announced he was ending his campaign for the top leadership slot in the lower chamber. Zerwas’ announcement came amid a gathering of roughly 40 Republicans in Austin to discuss urging Bonnen to throw his hat into the ring. Bonnen did so two days later.
Alongside Bonnen, Tan Parker of Flower Mound, Phil King of Weatherford, Travis Clardy of Nacogdoches, Drew Darby of San Angelo are currently in the running for control of the dais during next year’s legislative session. Democrat Eric Johnson of Dallas also filed to run for House speaker.
Source: Texas Tribune Blue Left News
