By Associated Press
Montgomery, AL – Three times may be enough for House Speaker Seth Hammett, who was sworn-in last week to a record-tying third four-year term as speaker. The 60-year-old Andalusia Democrat said he might be ready to let someone else take over the speaker's chair when his term runs out in four years. Hammett's name is sometimes mentioned as a possible candidate for governor in 2010. But he said it was way too early for him to think about running for governor.
University of Alabama political scientist William Stewart said Hammett's success in winning three elections to speaker without opposition in the often contentious House has been remarkable, but said the speaker might find the going much tougher in a statewide political race. Hammett said presiding over the House has gotten more difficult as the body has gotten more partisan. The Democrats hold a 61-to-43 margin in the House. Hammett ties the late Jimmy Clark of Eufaula as the only Alabama speakers to serve three consecutive three-year terms.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)