Kingston gets leadership post; Burns elected freshman president

WASHINGTON - Congressional Republicans tapped two Georgians for leadership posts, picking Representative-elect Max Burns as president of the freshman class and Representative Jack Kingston for the party&#39;s Number five position, Georgia&#39;s highest since Newt Gingrich was speaker. <br> <br> The promotions represent a leadership resurgence for the state, one of the largest that had lacked a member of the congressional leadership, but which previously had Gingrich and former Senators Sam Nunn and Richard Russell in prominent roles. Republican Senator Paul Coverdell was the GOP Conference Secretary, the Senate&#39;s fourth-highest post, before he died in July 2000. <br> <br> Kingston, a Savannah Republican first elected in 1992, will take over the position of vice chairman of the House Republican Conference, largely responsible for shaping the GOP communications message. He defeated Pennsylvania&#39;s Melissa Hart for the job after Wyoming&#39;s Barbara Cubin dropped out. <br> <br> The vacancy was created by the retirement of Conference Chairman J.C. Watts of Oklahoma. The previous vice chair, Ohio&#39;s Deborah Pryce, will take Watts&#39; job. <br> <br> It&#39;s a natural transition for Kingston, who since 1997 has chaired the Republican ``Theme Team&#39;&#39; -- the communications group charged with planning the often witty one-minute speeches that open House business most days.