Tennessee House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick laughs Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016, at the Chattanooga Times Free Press.NASHVILLE - State Rep. Mike Carter, R-Ooltewah, is telling supporters he considering whether to seek the powerful Tennessee House majority leader position being vacated by Rep. Gerald McCormick, R-Chattanooga.
In a posting on his Facebook page today, Carter, an attorney and former county General Sessions Court judge, said McCormick's decision to not seek re-election to the House's No. 2 post "came as a surprise to many people, myself included. Gerald has been a strong, capable leaders for 6 years and honestly, I'm sorry to see him go."
Carter, first elected to the House in 2012, said he has "been humbled and frankly a little surprised by the amount of encouragement I've received to run for Majority Leader from people in my own district and across Tennessee.
"While my priority between now and Nov. 8 will be helping fellow members win re-election," Carter wrote in his post, "I've decided to listen to supporters and prayerfully consider running for Majority Leader."
McCormick announced earlier this week he would not seek a fourth term as Republican majority leader in the GOP-run House, saying he wanted to devote more time to his business.
Rep. Sheila Butt, R-Columbia, has already announced she is running. House Assistant Majority Leader Kevin Brooks, R-Cleveland, is looking at the post as are House Republican Caucus Chairan Glenn Casada, R-Franklin, and House Health Committee Chairman Cameron Sexton, R-Crossvile.
Republicans control 73 of the chamber's 99 seats.
The majority leader typically promotes his or her party's positions on the House floor and is responsible for the legislative package of a governor of the same party.