Potential Speaker Candidate Hired by Bank with Ties to Bonnen and Phelan
State Rep. Cody Harris is employed by Third Coast Bank, which has ties to current Speaker Dade Phelan and former Speaker Dennis Bonnen.

Brandon Waltens | March 6, 2024

https://texasscorecard.com/state/potential-speaker-candidate-hired-by-bank-with-ties-to-bonnen-and-phelan/

A lawmaker rumored to be eyeing the speakership in the Texas House is employed by a bank that has connections to current House Speaker Dade Phelan and disgraced former Speaker Dennis Bonnen.

State Rep. Cody Harris, a Republican from Palestine, was first elected to the House in 2018. At the time, he was a real estate broker for Liberty Land & Ranch LLC.

In August of 2021, however, Harris added a new item to his resumé—Vice President of Business Development for Third Coast Bank.

The career change is notable given the bank’s ties to the current and former speaker.

In late 2019, Third Coast Bank acquired Heritage Bank, where Bonnen had served as President, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer. He currently sits on Third Coast’s Board of Directors.

Phelan’s brother Lan Phelan was a director of Third Coast from 2013 until at least 2016, according to filings with the secretary of state. A 2021 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission showed that the bank’s Beaumont location was leased from Phelan’s family investment firm.

Additionally, the most recent personal financial statement from Dade Phelan shows that he owns shares in Third Coast.

The connection between Harris and the current and former House leaders is especially notable in light of Phelan’s electoral performance on Tuesday. With Phelan being forced into a runoff election, talk of who the next speaker will be—regardless if Phelan survives his runoff in May—has already begun. Harris is among the short list of names currently said to be gunning for the position.


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I wonder what the actual chances are for this house to elect a Speaker that will be guided by the Republican Party of Texas principles? Slim? None?

Quote: Tinker wrote in post #4

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Quote: EdJames wrote in post #3

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I wonder what the actual chances are for this house to elect a Speaker that will be guided by the Republican Party of Texas principles? Slim? None?

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By the time we get to the next legislative session they will be FAR better than they were a week ago I think.

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