December 13, 2006

Wilder's Pick: Wilder By A Nose

Lt. Gov. John Wilder, Democrat, predicts he'll be re-elected Speaker of the state Senate even though the Republicans have a 17-16 majority, says a report in today's City Paper. Meanwhile, here is the City Paper story on the GOP caucus leadership elections in the state legislature. Great quote in it from state Rep. Glen Casada, newly elected as House Caucus Chairman, the number 2 position in the House GOP Caucus. Casada has said that the "days are over" for worrying "about whether the Democrats like us or not." Casada will be a thorn in the side of Democratic House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh. And that's a good thing.

On the Senate side, Martin Kennedy reports that state Sen. Randy McNally was blindsided by state Sen. Mark Norris in the race to be chairman of the Senate GOP caucus. Kennedy: "One source tells me that McNally 'never saw it coming.' Apparently he didn't know he was being challenged until about 30 minutes before the election. Norris campaigned efficiently but quietly."