The 77 members of the Alabama House Republican Caucus on Tuesday unanimously nominated Speaker Mac McCutcheon (R-Monrovia) for another term leading the chamber in Montgomery.
When lawmakers convene for the State Legislature’s organizational session in January, the next speaker will be officially elected by the entire body, Democratic members included. However, because Republicans currently hold a huge supermajority in the 105-member Alabama House, being selected as the GOP Caucus nominee is tantamount to election for McCutcheon.
“Serving as Speaker of the Alabama House has been the greatest professional honor of my life, and I’m humbled that my fellow Republicans have chosen me to continue serving in that role,” McCutcheon said in a press release. “If elected during the organizational session in January, I will continue presiding in a manner that gives all members of both parties a voice in the legislative process. Our state faces many challenges, and finding needed solutions will require all of us to work together.”
McCutcheon was first elected as House speaker during the August 2016 special session of the legislature.
Prior to retiring after an exemplary 25-year career, McCutcheon was a law enforcement officer in the Huntsville Police Department and worked in specialty areas like hostage negotiation, major crimes investigation and probation oversight. He has also been a farmer and as associate pastor at the College Park Church of God.
McCutcheon received a Power of Service award from Yellowhammer Multimedia last month for his lifetime of selfless service to the people of Alabama.
State Rep. Victor Gaston (R-Mobile) was also nominated to continue serving as speaker pro tem.
“My thanks go out to both the new and returning members of the House Republican Caucus for re-nominating me as the body’s second-in-command,” Gaston remarked. “I am excited for the opportunities that Alabama’s future holds and will continue working to make our state an even better place for all of its citizens.”
Gaston was elected to the House in 1982 as one of only eight Republicans in the entire Alabama Legislature at the time. He served as acting speaker of the House for a period of months in 2016, prior to McCutcheon’s election.
Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
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