Ala. House Republicans unanimously nominate Rep. Mac McCutcheon as Speaker

Members of the Alabama House Republican Caucus have unanimously named Republican state Rep. Mac McCutcheon of Huntsville as the group’s official nominee for Speaker of the House.

The decision essentially assures McCutcheon will be selected speaker when the House convenes Aug. 15  — Republicans hold 70 seats in the House compared to the Democrats’ 33 — for a special session Gov. Robert Bentley called to consider his lottery proposal.

McCutcheon says he will treat both Republicans and Democrats with fairness and honor.

“I’m humbled by the faith and confidence that my fellow Republicans have placed in me, and, if elected as speaker, I pledge to preside in a manner that treats all members of both parties in a fair and honorable manner,” McCutcheon said in a news release after his nomination. “Our state faces many challenges ranging from education to ethics to ensuring adequate funding for even the most basic government services, and finding needed solutions will require all of us to work together.”

A veteran of the U.S. Army, McCutcheon was first elected to the House in 2006 where he serves as chairman of the powerful House Rules Committee. Prior to his time in House, he worked with Huntsville Police Department for 25 years. His work there included serving as a hostage negotiator and an investigator with the Major Crimes Unit.

McCutcheon was not the only representative seeking the position. He defeated five of his colleagues, Steve Clouse of Ozark, Lynn Greer of Rogersville, Mike Jones of Andalusia, Barry Moore of Enterprise and Phil Williams of Huntsville, who were also interested in the position.

Pending the formal House vote, McCutcheon will succeed former House speaker Mike Hubbard, who was automatically removed from office after he was convicted in June on multiple counts of using his office for personal gain. He was later sentenced to four years in prison.