Coleman elected speaker of the Georgia House

ATLANTA - Democratic Representative Terry Coleman has been elected speaker of the Georgia House Monday morning after Republicans backed away from an effort to elect a coalition choice.

Republican Governor-elect Sonny Perdue hoped to build a bipartisan coalition to elect Representative Larry Walker of Perry as speaker. Walker is a Democrat, but was viewed as friendlier to the incoming administration.

Walker bowed out of the race because he did not have the votes to win. But he said he will not change parties and intends to remain in the Legislature, which convened Monday.

House Republican Leader Lynn Westmoreland of Sharpsburg says Perdue's decision to pull the plug turned on Representative Lynmore James, a Democrat from Montezuma. James at one time promised his vote to Walker but told Perdue on Monday morning he would support Coleman.

Republicans still planned to challenge Coleman for the speakership on the Legislature's Monday day, but this time by nominating Westmoreland as a token opponent.