Chisum In, Berman Out of Speaker’s Race

AUSTIN (AP/Staff) – Republican State Representative Leo Berman of Tyler says he’s dropping out of the Texas House speaker’s race. Conservative Warren Chisum, a Republican from Pampa, filed his speaker candidacy paperwork Wednesday with the House Ethics Commission in Austin. Berman says he’ll support Chisum, who’s been considering a run for several weeks. Chisum is challenging incumbent Republican Speaker Joe Straus, a moderate from San Antonio who took over as speaker in 2009. Chisum has said he wants to make sure experienced leaders are in place to tackle the state’s mounting budget shortfall in 2011.