Congratulations to Steve Harrison -- a very good former Legislator: Eight years after leaving the Legislature, a former Kanawha County delegate and senator said Monday he’s looking forward to a new role in the House of Delegates next session. “It’s an exciting opportunity,” Steve Harrison said of his nomination to become the 22nd clerk of the House. “It’s not something I even imagined when I was in the House. We were so far in the minority, it was unthinkable that could happen.” Harrison, a Poca Valley Bank executive who served in the House from 1993-2002 and served one term in the Senate from 2003-06, will replace the third-longest serving House clerk in state history, Greg Gray. Gray, who began his House career as a $19-a-day per diem employee in 1973, has been House parliamentarian since 1978, and House clerk since 1996. After 42 years working in the House, Gray said Monday he would have liked to have stayed on a couple of more years before retirement. “After all these years I’ve been here, it’s been my life. It’s something I’ve always done,” he said. “It’s not the way I envisioned my career coming to a close.” Harrison said he had not spoken with Gray as of Monday afternoon, but said he’s hopeful they can work together on a smooth transition in the clerk’s office. “If he’s willing, I’ll probably talk to him ongoing,” Harrison said of Gray’s knowledge of the legislative process. “He is kind of an encyclopedia of the recent history of the House.” When elected Jan. 14, Harrison will become the first Republican House clerk since L.V. Reed held the position in 1929. “It’s a historic time right now,” Harrison said of Republicans assuming control of the House and Senate for the first time in 83 years. However, he stressed that House clerk is not a partisan position. “I think the most important role of the clerk is to make sure the House runs in a professional manner, and to serve all delegates equally,” Harrison said. “The clerk is here to serve all delegates, regardless of their party.” That opinion was shared by Gray, who noted, “I’ve never been political, and I’ve never allowed the staff to be political.” Harrison said he does not envision making major personnel changes in the clerk’s office. “I anticipate if the existing staff is interested in staying, I would say most of them probably would,” he said, adding, “I don’t see the need to make numerous changes to the existing staff.” Harrison said he will be leaving the Poca Valley Bank at the end of the year, ending an 18-year career there. “It was not an easy decision,” he said. Gray said Monday he wishes Harrison well. “It’s been a great place to be,” Gray said of the House. “I’ve enjoyed it and I’ve learned a lot.” Reach Phil Kabler at philk@wvgazette, - See more at: wvgazette/article/20141208/GZ01/141209260/1419#sthash.XBbcrYzE.dpuf
Posted on: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 12:21:47 +0000
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