Members of the Alabama House Republican Caucus on Wednesday elected State Rep. Wes Kitchens (R-Arab) to serve as the majority party’s vice chair.
Kitchens’ election as vice chair places him in the company of only a few freshman legislators in state history to hold the prominent leadership position. The House GOP Caucus leadership position was formerly occupied by State Rep. Connie Rowe (R-Jasper), who has been tapped to serve as senior advisor to Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth.
In his new role, Kitchens would lead the lower chamber’s majority party in the event that House Majority Leader Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) is absent.
Kitchens expressed gratitude to his colleagues for entrusting him to fulfill the duties as the caucus’ vice chair and stated his intentions to build upon House Republicans’ supermajority.
“I am deeply grateful for the trust and confidence that my Republican colleagues have placed in me, and I look forward to serving as their vice chair,” stated Kitchens. “I’ll work hard every day to support the Caucus leadership, promote the conservative agenda that House Republicans share, and ensure that our party retains its legislative supermajority for many years to come.”
I am deeply grateful for the trust and confidence that my Republican colleagues have placed in me, and I look forward to serving as their vice chair. https://t.co/aO6KKhKwNt
— Wes Kitchens (@wes_kitchens) January 12, 2022
Kitchens serves on the House Commerce and Small Business, Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure, Ways and Means General Fund, and Health Committees.
Additionally, Kitchens serves as co-chair of the Joint Legislative Commission on Expanding Access to Quality Pre-Kindergarten Early Education Programs.
The legislator is an agent at Holloway and Hunt Insurance. He formerly served as president of the Arab Chamber of Commerce, where he placed an emphasis on workforce and community development and partnering with industry to expand the area’s economic growth potential.
Kitchens has served in numerous leadership positions in his community. These include the boards of the Marshall County Leadership Challenge, Marshall County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Junior Achievement, and Marshall County Christmas Coalition.
He has also served in various capacities on the Arab Industrial Board, Arab Commercial Development Authority and the Arab Education Foundation.
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
