Hilliard chosen speaker pro tem designate

<br>OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ State Rep. Danny Hilliard was chosen Friday as the next speaker pro tem of the Oklahoma House. <br><br>During a Democratic caucus at the state Capitol, Hilliard, D-Sulphur, was

Friday, August 9th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ State Rep. Danny Hilliard was chosen Friday as the next speaker pro tem of the Oklahoma House.

During a Democratic caucus at the state Capitol, Hilliard, D-Sulphur, was the unanimous choice to succeed Terry Matlock, D-Garvin, who is retiring from the Legislature after six terms.

Hilliard, the House majority floor leader, is unopposed for a seventh term, which will be his last because of term limits that go into effect in 2004.

The speaker pro tem presides over House floor sessions while the speaker is tending to other duties and is an ex-officio voting member of all permanent, standing committees in the House as well as special legislative committees.

Hilliard's appointment is contingent on Democrats maintaining their majority status in the 101-member House after this fall's elections. Currently, Democrats outnumber Republicans 52-49.