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North Carolina Update - Senate GOP Votes on Leadership

This morning the NC Senate Republican Caucus voted to select their leadership for the 2011-12 session of the NC General Assembly. While the actual election of Senate leadership will not occur until the first day of session in January, Republicans hold a 31 seat majority and their selections will translate into positions of power in the NC Senate.

Sen. Phil Berger of Rockingham County, previously Senate Minority Leader, was selected by the caucus to become President Pro Tempore. The President Pro Tem is the highest ranking member of the Senate and although the Lieutenant Governor technically presides, the Pro Tem manages the Senate. Sen. Berger will replace Sen. Marc Basnight (D-Dare) who served a record nine terms in the post.

Sen. Harry Brown of Onslow County was selected as Majority Leader while Sen. Jim Forrester will become deputy president pro tempore. Filling out the rest of Senate leadership, Sen. Fletcher Hartsell of Cabarrus County will become caucus secretary, Sen. Jean Preston of Carteret County will be caucus liaison to the House and Sen. Jerry Tillman of Randolph County will become Senate majority whip.