Bye-Bye, Fred

With filing season fast approaching (Dec. 3-Jan. 2, electoral calendar watchers!) for the next state lege elections, all the reps are having to answer that age-old question: do I really want to stand for re-election again?

A surprising name and big gun has mused that over and said, "nah." The office of Rep. Fred Hill, R-Richardson, has confirmed that the nine-term veteran will be not be seeking re-election next November.

He'll be seeing out the end of his term, but his departure could have significant ramifications for the House. Not only was he arguably the most senior Republican to challenge Speaker Tom Craddick; not only was he the man that started the whole "motion to vacate" push to dethrone 'Tyrant Tom'; but he had actually filed papers with the Texas Ethics Commission to run for speaker next session. Also, as one of the leading Republican (relative) moderates and a firm believer in local and municipality autonomy, he'd used his position as chair of the House Local Government Ways and Means Committee to derail or injure dogma-driven conservative touchstone bills like appraisal caps and red-light camera bans.