Peach Tree Times

State Rep. Jon Burns is slated to become to be the next Georgia House Speaker, replacing David Ralston after being nominated in a clandestine vote, according to a recent report by FOX 5 Atlanta.

This comes as Republicans won 101 seats in the 180-member House, dropping from their 103-seat majority. House Speaker Pro-Tem Jan Jones was chosen by Republicans to remain in her role with no opposition. 

"I don’t pretend to be any more entitled to this office than anyone else in this room," Burns told House Republicans before the vote. "If I am nominated as your speaker, it will be because you trust me to keep building off of our success, keep our caucus united and keep our state moving forward."

In securing the nomination for the House Speaker’s gavel, Burns, a farmer and lawyer from the area of Newington, knocked off Harlem lawyer Barry Fleming, although the official vote tally isn’t expected until the new House convenes on Jan. 9, the report said.

According to the article, Burns made his way through the ranks by securing the endorsements of the likes of House Speaker Pro-Tem Jan Jones, of Milton; House Majority Whip Matt Hatchett, of Dublin; and Rep. Alan Powell, of Hartwell, all of whom declined to seek the post for themselves, FOX 5 reports.

Burns has also served as majority leader for the last seven years and recently won his 10th two-year term in the House without opposition, representing a district that includes Screven County, most of Effingham County and part of Bulloch County, the article said.