The field for House speaker shrank and competition intensified this week when Rep. Bob Robson, R-20, saying he was worried about party unity, withdrew from the race and said he will support fellow conservative Jim Weiers, running to return to the House from the Senate in Dist.10, for speaker, and Rep. Bill Konopnicki, R-5, for majority leader.

Mr. Robson said he had hoped to appeal as a candidate for speaker not only to conservatives but to the 16 members of the caucus who voted to pass the Democrats’ budget last session. Their numbers have dwindled to nine since the Sept. 7 primary, and Mr. Robson said that although he retained a significant number of supporters, he did not want to divide the caucus.

Reps. Eddie Farnsworth, R-22, Gary Pierce, R-19, Steve Tully, R-11, and Mr. Weiers remain in the race for speaker. In addition to Mr. Robson, Rep. Tom O’Halleran, R-1, one of the 16 budget votes, dropped out after the primary.

Mr. Robson said he, Mr. Farnsworth and Mr. Weiers were likely to capture most of the votes and divide the caucus three ways.

“Why should we throw the caucus into total upheaval?” he asked. “In the end, what does it do for the members of the party and the party in general?”

GOP Unity Stressed

The majority party, Mr. Robson said, needs to enter next session unified, especially in the wake of the caucus-dividing budget vote.

He said he has encouraged his supporters to vote for Mr. Weiers and Mr. Konopnicki because he feels they are the strong leaders who are needed to stabilize the party after last session’s budget vote.

“Maybe we need somebody who’s had the opportunity before to solidify the party,” Mr. Robson said, referring to the fact that Mr. Weiers was speaker in 2001 and 2002 and built a reputation for dealing fairly with members of both parties

“Jim and I worked very well together during our first term, and I’m confident I’ll have a voice (in the caucus),” he said.

One news report said Mr. Robson’s endorsement is enough to give Mr. Weiers the victory. Some legislators disagree. They say Mr. Weiers is indeed the frontrunner, but nothing has yet been decided for sure.

“I think right now either one could get it,” said Rep. Russell Pearce, R-18, referring to Mr. Farnsworth and Mr. Weiers. “The edge has been with Mr. Weiers, (but) I think that many of the conservatives are in Mr. Farnsworth’s camp.”

Pearce: Debate To Focus On Who Will Be Better Leader

Mr. Pearce said both of the top candidates share conservative values and the debate will boil down to who will be a better leader. He said he committed his own vote to Mr. Farnsworth months ago and has not changed his mind.

Mr. Tully said he thinks there is excessive deal making by speaker candidates and it could backfire in the end. He declined to elaborate.

“You can make one too many deals,” he said. “I’ll leave it at that.” He said the race is “wide open.”

Referring to the news story that said the race is all but over, Mr. Tully said, “I was surprised at the claim that this wrapped it up” and said the story has created “a wedge in the party.” Again, however, he declined to elaborate.

Mr. Tully said he is not sure how Mr. Robson’s withdrawal and endorsement of Mr. Weiers will affect the race but that he does not feel it hurts his chances of winning.

Majority Leader Contest

Mr. Robson’s endorsement of Mr. Konopnicki for majority leader, a post now held by Mr. Farnsworth, drew immediate fire from caucus conservatives.

Mr. Pearce, himself a candidate for majority leader, said there is no possibility that Mr. Konopnicki will be elected to lead the GOP caucus.

“You can’t reward people who rolled their own caucus,” he said. “Bill Konopnicki isn’t going to be majority leader – it ain’t going to happen.”

Mr. Konopnicki was one of the 16 Republicans who bucked the GOP leadership and crossed party lines on the budget vote.

The caucus, Mr. Pearce said, is too conservative this year to promote any of the remaining budget rebels to positions of power. He said loyalty and trust are key attributes for a leader and the Republicans who rolled over the leadership last session demonstrated they are neither loyal nor trustworthy.

“I, for one, will not vote for anyone who was a party to that, and I think the majority of my caucus is in agreement,” he said. “How can you support someone to lead your caucus who isn’t loyal?”

Another conservative, Rep. Andy Biggs, R-22, asked whether he can support Mr. Konopnicki for majority leader, said, “Not in a million years.”—