CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The likely next Speaker of the West Virginia House of Delegates is finalizing his selections for leadership positions ahead of the start of the 2015 Regular Legislative Session on Jan. 14.
“I am working on that and believe we’ll have that done this week through the weekend,” current House Minority Leader Tim Armstead (R-Kanawha, 40) confirmed on Friday’s MetroNews “Talkline.”
He said he met with many of the 40 returning Republican House members during interim meetings this week at the State Capitol to talk about where they would possibly like to serve.
In the New Year, Republicans will hold the advantage in the House, 64-36, for the first time in more than 80 years.
Armstead said the transfer of control in the House has been a “smooth transition up to this point.”
Republicans, he said, are preparing to lead work on tax reforms, energy initiatives and economic development policy measures.
“Our priority is getting people back to work. That is what we’re going to put on the front burner,” he said. “Are we still committed to conservative social positions? Absolutely and I think those things will be part of the mix as we move forward.”
Republicans and Democrats will meet in caucus during December interim meetings, which begin on Dec. 15, to choose their respective leaders in the state Senate and state House of Delegates.
On the Senate side, tentative leadership decisions have been made under likely Senate President Bill Cole (R-Mercer, 06) and likely Senate Majority Leader Mitch Carmichael (R-Jackson, 04).