Three veteran lawmakers want to be next House speaker

Republican Reps. Melvin Neufeld, Mike O'Neal and Kenny Wilk all have something in common they want to be the next House speaker.

However, only one will wield the gavel when the Legislature convenes Jan. 8.

The 79 Republican members will decide which one gets his wish on Dec. 4, when they meet to pick their choice for the top job. It doesn't become official until the session's opening day when, if tradition is followed, the entire chamber ratifies the choice.

The leader of 125-member chamber holds the most powerful position in the Legislature and second in political clout only to the governor. He will oversee the handling of such key issues as education, health care, the economy and the state budget.

The speaker can be overruled only if 70 legislators disagree with him. He decides who's on which committees and who heads them; chooses which committees will consider what bills and when the chamber votes on them. He parcels out office and staff assignments and even decides where legislators sit in the chamber.

Each candidate offers years of experience, proven leadership skills and the ability to work within the system and across party lines. It's a hard race to handicap with 18 new Republicans and veterans divided among the three candidates.

Outgoing Speaker Doug Mays is staying neutral in what he sees as an open contest. Traditionally, the speaker holds the post four years two terms and then retires from the Legislature. But as with all politics, nothing is certain.

Rep. Kent Glasscock, of Manhattan, was elected speaker in 2000, after a record four ballots to defeat Mays. But he left after one term to make a primary run for lieutenant governor, which was unsuccessful. Mays then won in 2002 on the first ballot, defeating O'Neal and Wilk, and was re-elected two years later.

"I think they all are qualified to be speaker. We will let the members figure it out," said Mays, R-Topeka. "I'll be leaving it in good hands whoever is speaker. Hopefully the cordial atmosphere will continue."

Mays' advice to his successor: "Get ready to do a lot of listening. You won't be spending a lot of time alone."

Neufeld, of Ingalls, is chairman of the budget-writing Appropriations Committee and regarded as a wizard with numbers and a crafty negotiator.

"I will always work to do what is best for the people of the state," Neufeld said. "I have this compulsive behavior that I think things ought to work."

O'Neal, of Hutchinson, heads the Judiciary Committee and is widely respected for his negotiating skills and knowledge of the law.

"It's not about winning or losing. It's about getting the best policy," O'Neal said. "We've got a lot of young talent and I would like to be in the position to develop and nurture young leadership."

Wilk, of Lansing, heads the Taxation Committee, has a strong pro-business record, a keen interest in economic development and good personal rapport with colleagues.

"I view state government as being a massive facilitator. We need to turn the Legislature into an incubator of ideas," Wilk said.

Neufeld and O'Neal are viewed as conservatives who can work with moderates and Wilk as a moderate who can work with conservatives. How much the labels matter is problematic.

"I think moderate-conservative isn't the sole deciding factor in a speaker's race. There's a tendency to vote for people who think more like you," said GOP State Chairman Tim Shallenburger, a former speaker. "I don't think you can say if 16 people are conservative, 16 people are going to vote conservative."

He said geography also is a factor, with rural supporting rural and urban backing urban. While political philosophy is a factor, so is personal involvement.

That's why the speaker hopefuls were busy helping Republicans in House contests, especially those making their first race.

"Fifty percent of it is to keep the majority so you can be speaker and the other half of the reason is they're more apt to vote for you if you have been in their district a time or two," Shallenburger said.

The speaker will work with Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. Sebelius was re-elected by 58 percent of the vote, a clear indication that voters Democrats and Republicans alike think she's done a good job.

It's a victory that hasn't gone unnoticed by Republicans and puts her in a good bargaining position when dealing with legislators.

"If Republicans in the House don't work with her, they will lose seats. She will take names and keep score and will be raising money like a gold miner, and she will get involved," Shallenburger said. "Those who try to give her grief are going to do it at their own peril."

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