ATLANTA – House Republicans on Monday selected state Rep. Larry O’Neal, chairman of the powerful tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, as their new majority leader.
O’Neal, the courtly former lawyer to Gov. Sonny Perdue, defeated state Rep. James Mills, a favorite of social conservatives, to takethe No. 3 leadership spot left vacant by the departure of Jerry Keen.
Monday’s vote was conducted by secret ballot in the House chamber.
O’Neal hails from Bonaire. Mills is from Gainesville.
Flush with a Republican romp at the polls last week that boosted their majority in the House, Republicans renominated David Ralston to another term as House speaker and Jan Jones again as speaker pro tempore. They will be voted on when the full House reconvenes in January.