House Speaker Rick Thompson plans to resign his seat next month and accept a position in the Tomblin administration as Cabinet Secretary of the state Department of Veterans Assistance.
Democrats unanimously chose the Wayne County lawmaker to serve as speaker for a fourth straight term last winter. Thompson has been Speaker since 2006 and a member of the state House of Delegates since 2000.
Thompson, who is a military veteran, is expected to leave his House seat on June 15 to accept the new position. The current Secretary of Veterans Assistance, Keith Gwinn, is planning to retire.
Governor Tomblin will have 10 days following Thompson’s resignation to call a special session so the House can elect a new Speaker.
