Eiland’s committee seats could be up in air

State Rep. Craig Eiland’s membership on influential committees in the Legislature might be in jeopardy because of the midterm Republican sweep earlier this month.

Eiland, a Galveston Democrat, is in his fifth term as a house representative. This term he is representing District 23, which includes Chambers County, Texas City and Galveston Island.

But how long Eiland will continue to serve as a go-to person on the insurance and appropriations committees in the state House is uncertain. The senior island lawmaker said he would be meeting with Tom Craddick, a Republican from Midland. Eiland is vice-chairman of the insurance committee and a three-term member on the appropriations committee.

“I have three areas of expertise and knowledge: budget, insurance and civil practice,” Eiland said.

Though Craddick has not officially been voted in as the new speaker of the House, he has said that he has the support to win the position.

Seniority and preference are usually the hard-and-fast rules for lawmakers deciding what committees that want to serve, but appointment will be key this election season.

Eiland said that his experience and expertise on the issues the committees will debate about and legislate on is needed.

“We’ve lost a lot of leadership and experience throughout the legislature, but specifically in those areas,” he said.

He said he has prepared himself for the possibility that he could be removed from those seats, however.

“I could get assigned to something such as playgrounds or historical affairs,” he said.

But in the event that does happen, Eiland said that he would still be a force to be reckoned with in house.

“Even if I am on some obscure committee, they will still have to deal with me on the floor,” he said.