Staff Report
Published Dec. 5, 2012

Members of the South Carolina House of Representatives unanimously re-elected Bobby Harrell, a Charleston Republican, to another term as House speaker.

Bobby Harrell

The election of officers was one of the first actions taken by the newly elected House during its two-day organization session.

All of the previous session's officers sought re-election, and were returned to office.

First elected House speaker in 2005, Harrell has been a member of the House representing District 114 in Charleston and Dorchester counties since 1992.

"I tell folks all the time, I have two of the best jobs on the planet — and it just so happens that they are both jobs that require a pretty rigorous re-application process every two years,” Harrell said in a statement released by his office.

"Giving a voice to our friends and neighbors as their representative while also being allowed to serve my fellow House members as their speaker are two positions I am extremely honored and humbled to hold,” he said.

The House also elected the following officers:

• Speaker Pro Tempore James H. “Jay” Lucas, representing District 65 in Chesterfield, Darlington, Kershaw and Lancaster counties
• Clerk Charles F. Reid
• Sergeant-at-Arms Mitchell G. Dorman
• Reading Clerk James L. M. Cromer Jr.
• Chaplin Charles E. Seastrunk Jr.