Adair elected House speaker in narrow vote

<p align="justify"> (Oklahoma City-AP) -- Getting exactly the number of votes needed, state Representative Larry Adair was elected today as speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.<br><p align="justify">The

Wednesday, January 3rd 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Getting exactly the number of votes needed, state Representative Larry Adair was elected today as speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

The Democrat from Stilwell received 51 votes, all from Democratic members of the 101-member House.

Democratic Representatives Loyd Benson and Ron Langmacher were absent from the vote.

Benson is the outgoing House Speaker who has said he's upset that he was given no "meaningful" responsibility for the upcoming legislative session. Langmacher is a considered his close ally.

Adair says he's heard the people loud and clear and vows to work with the G-O-P and Republican Governor Keating.

At the other end of the Capitol today, Senator Stratton Taylor was elected to a fourth term as Senate president pro tempore.