Posted 9:45 pm Monday, December 10, 2012
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Rep. Simpson will run for Speaker of the Texas House
BY ADAM RUSSELL
arussell@tylerpaper.com
Rep. David Simpson, R-Longview, announced his candidacy for Speaker of the Texas House.
arussell@tylerpaper.com
Rep. David Simpson, R-Longview, announced his candidacy for Speaker of the Texas House.
“For some time I have been prompted and encouraged to run for Speaker,” said Simpson in a release.
“After much prayer, consideration, and counsel, I made the decision to enter the race and filed the requisite paperwork.”
Simpson said “a number of my colleagues” have offered their support and are looking forward to sharing our vision of fair and open government with every member of the Legislature.
“After much prayer, consideration, and counsel, I made the decision to enter the race and filed the requisite paperwork.”
Simpson said “a number of my colleagues” have offered their support and are looking forward to sharing our vision of fair and open government with every member of the Legislature.
He said he respects Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, as a fellow legislator but differs on the way that the House should be led.
“The culture of 'go along to get along' politics, where members face intimidation and retribution should they disagree with a leadership decision, stifles representative government.”
Rep. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, who has been a candidate for speaker since summer, endorsed Simpson's candidacy effectively ending his run.
“David is uniquely qualified to lead the House at this pivotal time in history,” he said in a statement. “David Simpson has earned his reputation as an eminently fair, highly principled, and hardworking legislator.”
Hughes said after traveling the state and speaking with Texans during his run for speaker he is “more convinced than ever that we need new leadership in the Texas House.”
Simpson said the House rules have been considered advisory rather than mandatory and applied disparately. He believes the rules should be enforced without regard to party, personality, or seniority.
“The responsibility for the solution lies with the current members. I invite my fellow legislators to join me in transforming the way the House operates. Now is the time to change the spirit of our Legislature and put the principles of liberty and open government above the politics of intimidation.”
Simpson lives in Longview with his wife of 27 years, Susan, and their children. Simpson, a seventh-generation Texan, runs a family business and previously served as the mayor of Avinger for several years.
He was elected in 2010.
“The culture of 'go along to get along' politics, where members face intimidation and retribution should they disagree with a leadership decision, stifles representative government.”
Rep. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, who has been a candidate for speaker since summer, endorsed Simpson's candidacy effectively ending his run.
“David is uniquely qualified to lead the House at this pivotal time in history,” he said in a statement. “David Simpson has earned his reputation as an eminently fair, highly principled, and hardworking legislator.”
Hughes said after traveling the state and speaking with Texans during his run for speaker he is “more convinced than ever that we need new leadership in the Texas House.”
Simpson said the House rules have been considered advisory rather than mandatory and applied disparately. He believes the rules should be enforced without regard to party, personality, or seniority.
“The responsibility for the solution lies with the current members. I invite my fellow legislators to join me in transforming the way the House operates. Now is the time to change the spirit of our Legislature and put the principles of liberty and open government above the politics of intimidation.”
Simpson lives in Longview with his wife of 27 years, Susan, and their children. Simpson, a seventh-generation Texan, runs a family business and previously served as the mayor of Avinger for several years.
He was elected in 2010.
