Burt Solomons is official. He filed papers to run for speaker of the Texas House this morning.

Solomons, R-Carrollton, isn't shooting at House Speaker Tom Craddick or at any of the other real and potential speaker candidates. Craddick put him in the chairmanship of the House Committee on Financial Institutions.

"I'm not running against Tom," he says. "I'm running not so much against them as for how we govern.

"I'm a pretty conservative Republican. I'm not off the reservation. We need to change how we're governed.

"It doesn't have to be this hard."

He's not sharing his list, but says he's already got "several commitments" from other members who'll support him.

Solomons says members are "timid and uncertain" about change, because that's how politicians are. But he said their public silence differs from their private conversations. "Everybody's talking about it... somebody's got to say, 'It's been three sessions — why can't we try something else?'"

What would members get from a Speaker Solomons? "I have a totally different management style," he says. "The body always has philosophical disagreements... but there's a hole to fill — people need to feel they can have their say.

"I like Tom personally. He was a great first choice as a Republican speaker, and he's a historic figure.

"After last session, I really think we need to try a different approach. The end result is important, but it's important how you get there."

Here's his press release announcing the filing:

For Immediate Press Release

Burt Solomons Formally Files For Speaker Of The Texas House of Representatives

Austin, Texas (November 18, 2008) − "I want to restore the public and legislators' confidence in the legislative process," said State Representative Burt Solomons (R-Carrollton). "This is all about how we are going to govern the Texas House and it's time for this change. Legislators need to be able to disagree respectfully and still end up passing good legislation for their districts and our state, which is why I have now filed and am running for Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives. I plan to offer both Republican and Democrat colleagues new stewardship and fair treatment."

Solomons, a past supporter of Speaker Tom Craddick for the past three sessions, said he filed for Speaker on Tuesday morning in order that new Republican leadership have the opportunity to tackle the tough issues of our state with a less controversial approach to the House Rules and process.

A 58 year-old attorney with experience as a City Attorney, Municipal Court Judge and a Fellow of the University of Texas Center for Public Policy Dispute Resolution, Solomons is one of the House's most respected members for his knowledge of the House Rules and parliamentarian procedure.

Raised in Dallas, Solomons is a 1972 graduate of Texas Tech University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Government. He also earned a Masters of Public Administration from Southern Methodist University, and his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Tulsa. Solomons' House District 65, includes the cities of Carrollton, Coppell, Dallas Frisco, Hebron, Lewisville, Plano, and The Colony.

Preparing to begin his eighth term representing Denton County, Solomons has authored and passed some of Texas' most sweeping legislation including the state's very popular "Texas No-Call List" legislation to prevent telemarketing abuse; the state's new Workers' Compensation Reform Act; the state's first countywide transit bill; and legislation which now allows Texans to borrow money using home equity loans.

Known as a bridge builder, Solomons recently brought divergent groups such as organized labor unions, business associations, insurance, patient groups and healthcare providers together who all ultimately agreed on the state's new consensus Workers' Compensation Reform Act.

Solomons not only talks a bipartisan game, during legislative sessions he shares an Austin apartment with El Paso Democrat State Representative Joe Pickett. "We are like the Odd Couple movie" Solomons mused. "I'm Republican, Joe is a Democrat, I'm a North Texas conservative and Joe is an El Paso moderate--- I like boats and Joe likes cars. We get along great because we respect each other and the legislative process affords plenty of common ground for bipartisan accomplishment," offered Solomons.
Solomons currently serves as Chairman of the Texas House Financial Institutions Committee and is past Chairman of the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission. Solomons also serves on the Texas House Committee on Business and Industry.

In 2001, the American Association of Retired Persons named him as an "Outstanding Legislator." In 2005, Rep. Solomons was honored by the Texas Chapter of the American College of Cardiology which gave him the "Heroes of the Heart Award" for legislation he championed as a heart bypass survivor. That same year the Texas Hospital Association honored him with the "Texas Hospital Advocacy Award."

Rep. Solomons resides in Carrollton with his wife, Jamie, and their daughter, Haley. His family attends Prestonwood Baptist Church.