Philip DeVillier (R-Eunice) to be Next Louisiana House Speaker

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State Rep. Phillip DeVillier is poised to be the next speaker of the Louisiana House after consolidating support for the position from his leading rivals.

DeVillier, a Republican who buys and sells houses in Eunice, has the support of the other candidates, he and the others announced Monday.

DeVillier will lead the House effort to push the conservative issues favored by Gov.-elect Jeff Landry and move the state to the right politically after eight years of Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat.

“It’s clear that Phillip is leading the vote count right now, and we all enjoy working with him,” said state Rep. Jack McFarland, R-Jonesboro. “This race has been friendly since the beginning, and I applaud all of the candidates on running such a clean race on merits. I look forward to working with Rep. DeVillier in making his leadership successful.”

Republicans in the House had been scheduled to choose the speaker on Dec. 4, but with the leading contenders supporting DeVillier, that vote appears to be a formality.

DeVillier, 47, who will begin his third and final term when the new legislative term begins on Jan. 8, has been a major supporter of the oil and gas industry. He would be formally elected on Jan. 8.

Republicans in the Senate had already signaled their support for Sen. Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, to be the next Senate president.

Both are strong allies of Landry, who played a key role in elevating Henry and DeVillier to their new positions.

Landry made his preference known for Henry over his main rival, Sen. Mike Reese, R-Leesville, and he indicated which representatives he preferred to be speaker.

They were McFarland; Rep. Daryl Deshotel, R-Hessmer; Rep. Julie Emerson, R-Carencro; Rep. Tony Bacala, R-Prairieville; and Rep. Brett Geymann, R-Moss Bluff.

People close to Landry said the governor-elect let the House Republicans decide among themselves who would be their next speaker, forgoing a tradition under previous governors of fingering who should be the person.

“Phillip has worked very hard for months to share his vision with members, and it’s obvious to us that his message and leadership style is something to which members are drawn,” Emerson said. “Phillip has been my close friend and seat mate for 8 years, and he is as genuine as they come.”

DeVillier frequently voted against Edwards' proposals.

"He was not my biggest supporter or my most reliable vote," Edwards said in an interview. "But he has at times shown some willingness to be a little bit flexible."

Edwards cited his revisions to the Industrial Tax Exemption Program that limited the tax breaks that manufacturing companies could claim for new investments.

"He came to see the changes we had made actually worked and improved the situation," Edwards said.

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