Speaker-designate Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) announced Wednesday his intention to appoint former State Rep. Mark Tuggle (R-Alexander City) as his chief of staff.

For the past four years, Tuggle served as Speaker Mac McCutcheon’s (R-Monrovia) chief of staff.

In announcing the planned appointment, Ledbetter described Tuggle as “an outstanding legislator” and expressed his excitement in partnering with him over the next four years.

“Mark was an outstanding legislator during his time in the Alabama House, and he has proven himself to be an equally talented chief of staff under Speaker McCutcheon,” said Ledbetter. “I know that Mark will be a source of wise counsel and sage advice as we work to tackle the challenges that Alabama faces in the coming quadrennium, and I look forward to working alongside him if elected speaker.”

Ledbetter, who was recently elected as the House GOP Caucus nominee for speaker, will officially become the chamber’s highest-ranking official when members meet during a January organizational session.

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Tuggle was twice elected to House District 81 before retiring from the body in 2018. He served as chairman of the House State Government Committee and also held a seat on the House Internal Affairs Committee.

The former lawmaker served on the powerful House Ways and Means Education Committee for eight years. In his role, Tuggle was tasked with helping allocate more than $6 billion annually in education funding to Alabama’s K-12 public schools, community colleges, and public colleges and universities.

Tuggle, a professional forester for more than three decades, retired from the Alabama Power Company prior to his service in the Legislature. He later worked as a freelance consultant on forestry and timber matters.

Dylan Smith is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL