Merrick to stay Kansas House speaker; Democrats pick Burroughs over Ward as minority leader

House Speaker Ray Merrick easily fended off a challenge to his speakership when lawmakers met Monday to select leaders.

Merrick, R-Stilwell, beat Rep. Virgil Peck, R-Tyro, to win his party’s nomination as speaker of the Kansas House. The vote was 80-16 with one House Republican absent.

The House will hold an official vote with all members on the first day of the session in January. Republicans hold 97 seats to the Democrats’ 28.

Merrick began serving as speaker in 2013. Speakers traditionally serve two two-year terms.

Rep. John Barker, R-Abilene, who nominated Merrick, said last year’s session under Merrick’s leadership was “one of the most productive and successful in history.”

Last session also included some controversy. A bill passed by the House to enable public and private workers to refuse service to same-sex couples gained international notoriety before dying in the Senate. Both chambers passed a school finance bill that eliminated a job protection for public school teachers amid protests from teachers who occupied the Capitol for one weekend in April.

Last month, Merrick faced criticism for telling The Eagle “Government employees produce nothing” in response to a question about the state’s tax policies. A petition from the Kansas Democratic Party to “Fire Ray Merrick” set up last month had received 1,954 signatures.

Supporters voiced confidence in Merrick before Monday’s speaker vote.

Barker said that as speaker Merrick had instituted an open-door policy for members to meet with him and discuss their concerns about legislation over coffee.

Rep. Jerry Lunn, R-Overland Park, who seconded the nomination, credited Merrick for the party’s gain of five House seats in last month’s election. He also said that Merrick is “constantly focused on doing the right thing for Kansas.”

Rep. Randy Garber, R-Sabetha, who had nominated Peck, said that his experience as chair of the Transportation and Public Safety Budget Committee would be valuable as the state grapples with a $715 million budget shortfall.

House Majority Leader Jene Vickrey, R-Louisburg, retained his position by a unanimous vote and Rep. Peggy Mast, R-Emporia, was elected to a second term as speaker pro tempore by a vote of 59-36.

Rep. Mario Goico, R-Wichita, was elected assistant majority leader after beating Garber and Rep. Kyle Hoffman, R-Coldwater, in a three-way race and then winning a runoff against Hoffman by a vote of 60-37. The assistant majority leader helps mentor new House members.

The Democrats selected a leader to replace Paul Davis, who will not return to the Legislature after losing the gubernatorial election. They decided to go with Rep. Tom Burroughs, D-Kansas City, who served as assistant minority leader under Davis, over Wichita Rep. Jim Ward.

The race for minority leader between Burroughs and Ward, D-Wichita, represented a crossroads for the party following its bitter defeats in the recent election.

Burroughs acknowledged that the party was hit hard on Nov. 4, but said that was no reflection on Democratic campaigns. He noted that he led the fundraising efforts for the House caucus and had relationships with major donors, promising that he would begin laying the groundwork for the 2016 election.

Rep. John Wilson, D-Lawrence, who supported Burroughs’ candidacy, said he had the “right temperament for the job” and knew how to balance when to fight and when to collaborate.

Ward offered a more combative approach. He said he did not want to live in a state where one in five children live in poverty and the governor touts reductions to assistance programs.

“I will work daily to speak truth to their power,” Ward said of the GOP majority. “We must be bold. We cannot cower in fear.”

In the end, Democrats selected Burroughs by a vote of 17-11.

This story was originally published December 1, 2014 at 10:12 AM with the headline "Merrick to stay Kansas House speaker; Democrats pick Burroughs over Ward as minority leader."