Changes

Despite the snub among conservatives in his own San Antonio, community leaders across West Texas hailed Straus' leadership of the state House. Moderate Republican Mayor Dan Pope of [[Lubbock]] said that Straus represented rural Texas "admirably. His common-sense leadership in support of business and education - often in the face of criticism - will be his legacy.”<ref name=laj/> Straus championed the request of [[Texas Tech University]] to establish a school of veterinary medicine in [[Amarillo]] despite opposition coming from within the GOP. Texas Tech System Chancellor Robert Lloyd Duncan, a Moderate Republican former state senator, described Straus as "an advocate for higher education and its importance in making our state better. He is also a common-sense legislator who recognizes state needs and works to address them. His support was instrumental in the Texas Tech University System receiving funding to pursue a dental school and school of veterinary medicine. We will miss his pragmatic leadership.”<ref name=laj>{{cite web|url=http://www.lubbockonline.com/news/2017-10-25/speaker-straus-commended-keeping-west-texas-policy-decisions|title=Speaker Straus commended for keeping West Texas in policy decisions|author=Matt Dotray|publisher=''The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal''|date=October 25, 2017|accessdate=February 16, 2018}}</ref> State Representative John T. Smithee of Amarillo called Straus "a critical ally" for the needs of West Texas.<ref name=laj/>

Despite the snub among conservatives in his own San Antonio, community leaders across West Texas hailed Straus' leadership of the state House. Moderate Republican Mayor Dan Pope of [[Lubbock]] said that Straus represented rural Texas "admirably. His common-sense leadership in support of business and education - often in the face of criticism - will be his legacy.”<ref name=laj/> Straus championed the request of [[Texas Tech University]] to establish a school of veterinary medicine in [[Amarillo]] despite opposition coming from within the GOP. Texas Tech System Chancellor Robert Lloyd Duncan, a Moderate Republican former state senator, described Straus as "an advocate for higher education and its importance in making our state better. He is also a common-sense legislator who recognizes state needs and works to address them. His support was instrumental in the Texas Tech University System receiving funding to pursue a dental school and school of veterinary medicine. We will miss his pragmatic leadership.”<ref name=laj>{{cite web|url=http://www.lubbockonline.com/news/2017-10-25/speaker-straus-commended-keeping-west-texas-policy-decisions|title=Speaker Straus commended for keeping West Texas in policy decisions|author=Matt Dotray|publisher=''The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal''|date=October 25, 2017|accessdate=February 16, 2018}}</ref> State Representative John T. Smithee of Amarillo called Straus "a critical ally" for the needs of West Texas.<ref name=laj/>

Candidates seeking to succeed Straus in the March 6 primary include Matt Beebe, a business owner and two-time former Straus opponent; Marc Whyte, a business attorney; Carlton Soules, a former member of the San Antonio City Council and an unsuccessful candidate for Bexar County judge in 2012; Charlotte Williamson, who works for her family's petroleum and natural gas company, and attorney Adrian Spears. However, ''The San Antonio Express-News'' endorsed none of these candidates but instead urged Republicans to nominate a more Moderate Republican in the Straus mold, Stephen Philip "Steve" Allison (born January 4, 1947), a 12-year member of the Alamo Heights Independent School District trustees and a former VIA San Antonio transit board member.<ref>"Pick Allison to replace Straus in 121", ''The San Antonio Express-News'', February 16, 2018, p. 14A.</ref>

Candidates seeking to succeed Straus in the March 6 primary include Matt Beebe, a business owner and two-time former Straus opponent; Marc Whyte, a business attorney; Carlton Soules, a former member of the San Antonio City Council and an unsuccessful candidate for Bexar County judge in 2012; Charlotte Williamson, who works for her family's petroleum and natural gas company, and attorney Adrian Spears. However, ''The San Antonio Express-News'' endorsed none of these candidates but instead urged Republicans to nominate a more Moderate Republican in the Straus mold, Stephen Philip "Steve" Allison (born January 4, 1947), a partner in the Haynes and Boone law firm in San Antonio, a 12-year member of the Alamo Heights Independent School District trustees and a former VIA transit board member.<ref>"Pick Allison to replace Straus in 121", ''The San Antonio Express-News'', February 16, 2018, p. 14A.</ref>

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==References==