• By MARSHA SHULER
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Feb 9, 2010 - Page: 4A

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Three members of the Louisiana House of Representatives are jockeying for the No. 2 leadership position.

The current House Speaker Pro Tempore, Karen Peterson, was elected to the state Senate in Saturday’s election in New Orleans.

House Speaker Jim Tucker said Monday he hopes the issue of who will be the next speaker pro-tem will be settled “in the next week or so.”

Tucker said three “very good candidates” have approached him about the post — Reps. Rick Gallot, D-Ruston, Joel Robideaux, No Party-Lafayette; and Noble Ellington, D-Winnsboro.

“They all bring strengths to the table. I have to try to find out which is the best fit for the House,” said Tucker, R-Terrytown.

The pro-tem is elected by House members.

The lawmaker who holds the position often presides over daily House debates when the speaker is absent, and is included in House leadership discussions.

Tucker said he has not decided whether he’ll wait until the Legislature convenes March 29 or call a special one-day meeting before then to elect the new pro-tem.

Peterson, D-New Orleans, won a special election for the state Senate seat vacated by Cheryl Gray Evans, D-New Orleans. Peterson has served in the pro-tem job since the beginning of the current term.

Gov. Bobby Jindal’s chief of staff Timmy Teepell said Monday the governor would probably stay out of the pro-tem replacement decision-making.

“If we see a person who is difficult for us to work with, then we may be more inclined to get involved,” said Teepell.

Gallot has said he wants the House speaker pro-tem’s job but he also wants to keep leadership over the redrawing of legislative, congressional and other district lines in 2011 based on the 2010 census population shifts.

Gallot — a term-limited House member — noted that former speaker pro-tem Emile “Peppi” Bruneau, R-New Orleans, did the double duty in the past.