The race to be the next speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives continues to take its twists and turns.

Rep. Steve Clouse (R-Ozark) is the next member of the Alabama Legislature’s lower chamber to pursue the speaker’s chair. Clouse shared his intentions with Yellowhammer News on Friday.

“I am running for speaker,” Clouse stated.

The Wiregrass Republican began his service in the Alabama Legislature in 1994. He has for several years served as chairman of the House Ways and Means General Fund Committee. His committee has appropriation responsibilities for the state’s $2.4 billion general fund budget.

Clouse is also a perennial of Yellowhammer Multimedia’s annual Power and Influence 40.

As part of its 2021 version, Yellowhammer had this to say about Clouse:

This veteran cat wrangler oversees one of state government’s biggest annual headaches – the general fund – for the House.

Serving as chairman of the General Fund Committee brings with it the requisite power and influence to receive the label of top-shelf power player. The general fund is a $2.4 billion state budget, and Clouse shepherded through his chamber the largest-ever version of it this session.

Current Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon (R-Monrovia) announced last week that he would not seek another term in office. Rep. Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville), who currently serves as House majority leader, announced his own bid for speaker on Tuesday.

The new speaker’s term will formally begin in January 2023.

Tim Howe is an owner of Yellowhammer Multimedia