The Alabama House of Representatives will have a new speaker when the chamber gavels in to start the 2023 legislative session. Current Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon (R-Monrovia) announced on Monday that he is not seeking reelection to his North Alabama seat in 2022.

McCutcheon, who was first elected as speaker in 2016, will continue leading the body through the end of his term.

In a public statement, McCutcheon explained that it was a decision into which he and his family had put much thought.

“This decision to not seek reelection is a result of my age, my wife and family,” he said. “At the end of my current term, Deb and I will be entering our 70’s. We are both in good health and we would like to make the most of our golden years.”

McCutcheon was regarded as a stabilizing presence in the Alabama Legislature following the removal of former Speaker Mike Hubbard upon Hubbard’s conviction for violations of the state’s ethics laws.

Among his most notable accomplishments was passage of the Rebuild Alabama Act in 2019. Long a proponent of improving the state’s infrastructure, McCutcheon had previously sponsored a state gas tax increase in prior sessions.

He was a 2018 recipient of Yellowhammer’s Power of Service Award recognizing his service to the state.

McCutcheon took a moment then to share his own view of public service.

“I tell the members of the House that foremost, we should have servant hearts and we should remember that we are all in this position to serve the people,” he remarked.

Occupying one of the state’s top leadership positions also gave McCutcheon a perpetual spot on Yellowhammer’s Power and Influence 40, allowing Yellowhammer to say this about the Madison County Republican earlier this year:

McCutcheon has dedicated his life to the people of Alabama. From protecting and serving as a career law enforcement officer in Huntsville to leading the rambunctious lower chamber of the Alabama legislature, McCutcheon has led with integrity and compassion every step of the way…His legacy is beginning to take shape as that of a public servant with a sincere desire to utilize his power and influence for the betterment of his entire state.

In today’s statement, McCutcheon acknowledged the weight of the responsibilities afforded Alabama’s speaker of the House.

“When I was elected as your Speaker, it became one of the greatest honors of my life and it has been a privilege to serve our great State in my Legislative positions,” he concluded.

Tim Howe is an owner of Yellowhammer Multimedia