State Rep. James Frank becomes fourth Republican to challenge Dade Phelan for House speaker

REPRESENTS MOTLEY, COTTLE, KING COUNTIES
SPEAKERCANDIDATE Rep. James Frank of House District 69 which includes Motley, Cottle and King counties, announced that he would be a candidate for the Texas Speaker of the House leadership position. | TEXAS TRIBUNE PHOTO
SPEAKERCANDIDATE Rep. James Frank of House District 69 which includes Motley, Cottle and King counties, announced that he would be a candidate for the Texas Speaker of the House leadership position. | TEXAS TRIBUNE PHOTO

State Rep. James Frank, a Wichita Falls Republican who is one of the Texas House’s leading voices on health and foster care, announced Tuesday he is running for speaker, making him the fourth member to challenge the lower chamber’s current leader, Beaumont Republican Dade Phelan.

In a statement announcing his bid for the speakership, Frank said he would work to bring better communication, member em…