Speaker-designate Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) announced Tuesday his appointments to key staff positions for the speaker’s office.
Ledbetter, the House GOP Caucus pick for the highest-ranking position in the Alabama House of Representatives, is expected to officially be handed the speaker’s gavel when the chamber meets for an organizational session in January.
“Running the day-to-day operations of the speaker’s office effectively is key to ensuring that the House remains on track and the members remain informed,” said Ledbetter in a release. “Each of these men and women have proven themselves to be able administrators in the past, and I know that they will work hard to serve the members of the House on both sides of the aisle as well as the taxpayers across Alabama.”
Jade Wagner, a DeKalb County native who has served Ledbetter in the House majority leader’s office as policy director since 2017, will hold the position of deputy chief of staff.
Andrew Westcott of Pike Road will continue to serve as general counsel and policy director in the speaker’s office. He has held the post since 2015. Prior to joining the speaker’s staff, Westcott was employed by the Alabama Law Institute.
Rob Green, a Jasper native who previously served as policy analyst under Speaker Mac McCutcheon (R-Monrovia), has been tapped as Ledbetter’s director of communications and external affairs. Green recently returned from a leave of absence after working with the House GOP Caucus campaign team, which maintained the body’s 77-member Republican supermajority.
Daisy Goza of Millbrook will serve as Ledbetter’s executive assistant and scheduler, which is the same role she occupied during his service as House majority leader.
Holley Knowles, a resident of Montgomery, will remain on staff as the speaker’s constituent services specialist.
Ledbetter’s staff announcement comes on the heels of his appointment of former State Rep. Mark Tuggle (R-Alexander City) as chief of staff.
Dylan Smith is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
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