(Updated at 12:20p with one correction and an addition.)
Incoming House of Delegates Speaker Tim Armstead (R-Kanawha) has firmed up his leadership team for the coming session. Here’s the breakdown. (Editor’s note: I detailed some of these positions in an earlier commentary, but here is the complete list).
Majority Leader: Daryl Cowles (R-Morgan)
Assistant Majority Leader: Carol Miller (R-Cabell)
Speaker Pro Tem: Bill Anderson (R-Wood)
Majority Whip: John O’Neal (R-Raleigh)
Finance Chair: Eric Nelson (R-Kanawha). Vice Chair: Bob Ashley (R-Roane)
Judiciary Chair: John Shott (R-Mercer). Vice Chair: Patrick Lane (R-Kanawha)
Education Chair: Amanda Pasdon (R-Monongalia). Vice Chair: Walter Duke (R-Berkeley)
Government Organization Chair: Gary Howell (R-Mineral). Vice Chair: Lynne Arvon (R-Raleigh)
Health Chair: Joe Ellington (R-Mercer). Vice Chair: Eric Householder (R-Berkeley)
Energy Chair: Woody Ireland (R-Ritchie). Vice Chair: Randy Smith (R-Preston)
Agriculture and Natural Resources— Agriculture Chair: Allen Evans (R-Grant). Vice Chair: Roger Romine (R-Tyler). Natural Resources Chair: Bill Hamilton (R-Upshur). Vice Chair: George “Boogie” Ambler (R-Greenbrier)
Banking and Insurance— Banking Chair: Ron Walters (R-Kanawha). Vice Chair: Cindy Frich (R-Monongalia). Insurance Chair: J.B. McCuskey (R-Kanawha). Vice Chair: Steve Westfall (R-Jackson)
Industry and Labor Chair: John Overington (R-Berkeley). Vice Chair: Kelli Sobonya (R-Cabell)
Pensions and Retirement Chair: Ray Canterbury (R-Greenbrier). Vice Chair: Mike Folk (R-Berkeley)
Political Subdivisions Chair: Erikka Storch (R-Ohio). Vice Chair: Jim Butler (R-Mason)
Roads and Transportation Chair: Marty Gearhart (R-Mercer). Vice Chair: Danny Hamrick (R-Harrison)
Senior Issues Chair: Ruth Rowan (R-Hampshire). Vide Chair: Anna Border-Sheppard (R-Wood).
Small Business and Economic Development Chair: Carol Miller (R-Cabell). Vice Chair: Paul Espinosa (R-Jefferson)
Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security— Veterans Chair: Josh Nelson (R-Boone). Vice Chair: Roy Cooper (R-Summers). Homeland Security Chair: Dave Evans (R-Marshall).Vice Chair: Pat McGeehan (R-Hancock).
Rule Making Review Chair: Kelli Sobonya (R-Cabell). Vice Chair: Cindy Frich (R-Monongalia).*
Interstate Cooperation Chair: Erikka Storch (R-Ohio). Vice Chair Larry Faircloth (R-Berkeley)*
It wasn’t easy for the new Speaker to fill the positions. Unlike the Senate, which has only 18 Republicans (out of 34 members), Armstead had to cull from a list of 64 names, but he did find leadership positions for 41.
*Editor’s note: An earlier version of the commentary incorrectly listed Larry Faircloth as Vice Chair of Rule Making Review and it also left out the positions on the Interstate Cooperation Committee.