House selects new speaker

Staff and wire reports

The state House elected Rep. Chris Benge, R-Tulsa, as speaker designate Monday.

The 101-member state House of Representatives selected Benge on Monday. Other candidates were Reps. Susan Winchester of Chickasha, Dale DeWitt of Braman and John Wright of Broken Arrow.

Benge, of Tulsa, has been chairman of the powerful House Appropriations and Budget committee for the past three years. He said he'll step down from that job, but hasn't decided who will replace him.

Benge replaces former Speaker Lance Cargill of Harrah, who stepped down a week ago following a series of alligations included submitting late property tax payments and not filing state personal income tax returns.