State house chooses new speaker

By Hanna LoPatin

Daily Staff Reporter

The new slate of the Michigan House of Representatives - which kept the 58-52 Republican majority after last week's elections - chose its leaders for the next term this week.

Rep. Rick Johnson (R-LeRoy) was elected speaker of the House, replacing Rep. Chuck Perricone (R-Kalamazoo Twp.) who leaves in January due to term limits.

"I'm grateful for the confidence my colleagues have in my leadership and work ethic," Johnson, who will be serving his second term, said in a written statement.

Johnson chaired the House Transportation Committee and the Republican Campaign Committee in his first term.

"This is good news for northern Michigan, as well. It's been nearly 50 years since a speaker hailed from up north," he said.

As speaker, Johnson will serve as the House's chief spokesman, develop the GOP agenda and appoint members and heads of all committees.

Rep. Patricia Birkholz (R-Saugatuck) was elected speaker pro tempore for the second year in a row.

"I'm very honored to be selected by my colleagues for another year," Birkholz said.

Of Johnson, Birkholz said, "I think Rick will do a fine job. I'm looking forward to working with him."

Johnson beat out current floor leader Rep. Andrew Raczkowski (R-Farmington Hills), as well as Reps. Charlie LaSata (R-St. Joseph) Mark Jansen (R-Kentwood) and John Pappageorge (R-Troy) by earning the 30 votes needed to win the post.

Republicans also chose Bruce Patterson (R-Canton) to serve as majority floor leader, replacing Raczkowski.

The Democratic party selected second-term Rep. Kwame Kilpatrick (D-Detroit) as their leader. He will be the first black representative to achieve such high positioning in the Michigan State House.

Rep. John Hansen (D-Dexter) said he feels Kilpatrick will be an excellent leader for the party.

"I don't know anyone who doesn't get along with Kwame," he said.

Hansen said he is also pleased with the election of Johnson and feels that the two men will be able to lead a more harmonious State House than has existed in the past.

The Republican majority has shut the Democrats out of the process, but Johnson is likely to be more inclusive, Hansen said.

"I think we'll all feel a little bit better about coming into work," Hansen said. "It will be less humiliating."

Elections for Republican leaders was temporarily interrupted Tuesday when Rep. Doug Hart (R-Rockford) was sent to the hospital after complaining of numbness and dizziness.

While Hart remained in Sparrow Hospital in Lansing yesterday for the completion of tests, Amy Richey, a spokeswoman from his office, said that the representative is doing well.

Republicans finished the elections Tuesday night without Hart.

Besides Kilpatrick, the Democrats elected Gilda Jacobs (D-Huntington Woods) as floor leader. They will finish their elections on Nov. 27.