Here’s a statement put out by Speaker of the House candidate Bill O’Brien today:
As with all Republicans who will be sworn in as state representatives for the upcoming session, I ran to promote the principles of our party as providing the foundation for the legislative agenda for the upcoming session. As I hope is the case with all of us, I did not run for the title, the license plate, a convenient parking space or seat in Representatives Hall, or any of the other prerogatives that come with the position or that can be bestowed by leadership.
I am running for Speaker to be more effective in promoting those principles being achieved by Republicans in the House, and because I know we need a break from the past – a new direction – to achieve and maintain a unified and effective Republican legislative party. That new direction can only begin at the top. Without complete commitment of the Speaker, and not just a campaign commitment, we will be no more effective this upcoming term than we have been in the past.
I know that some are saying that there should be a compromise among the candidates and that they would like to see me as Majority Leader. This suggestion is the subject of some remarks and emails to me. I honor the sincerity of these communications, but for me to even consider such an option would run counter to every reason I am running for Speaker. It would violate those principles that lead me to run for re-election as a state representative and have led me to work so hard for this position. It would also violate the principles of the many members who are supporting me.
I have no votes to trade in this race, including my own. I only have the principles on which I am running. Those principles compel me to make it clear that I am not seeking and will not accept the Majority Leader position. If I am selected as the Speaker nominee, I will insist that it be the Caucus that selects our Majority Leader. That will be the first step I take away from the insular leadership of the past, and towards a leadership that obtains and maintains its legitimacy and effectiveness by ensuring all caucus members have an equal voice.