Turnover at the Top.

Leadership changes are nothing new for legislatures, but some states are losing whole teams in both houses.

Change is in the wind for legislative leadership across the country. While many of the leaders in the 18 term-limited states will be forced to retire, significant leadership changes will take place in other states as well.

And although leaders are often believed to be legislators with the most longevity, that is not the case. In fact, most leaders do not stay in their positions longer than five years. Between 1990 and 1997, 86 percent of senate presidents, house speakers and majority and minority leaders changed.

Right now, there are at least 16 speakers of the house and 12 senate presidents who will retire, be ousted by term limits or who have decided to seek other offices. In 10 states (Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Kansas, Maine, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota and Wyoming) both the senate president or president pro tem and speaker will change. Five House chambers--Arizona, Arkansas, Montana, Oregon and South Dakota--will lose three of their top leaders. Arkansas, Colorado and Maine will have new leaders in the top three spots in the Senate.

Although Florida's term limits go into effect this year for everyone in the House elected in or before 1992, Speaker John Thrasher and Democratic Leader Les Miller will be leaving their posts before the limits hit them, as will Senate President Toni Jennings. That's because Florida uses a rotation system for its speaker and president so, with or without term limits, every two years there is a new speaker and usually a new Senate president. This year, however, speaker designee Tom Feeney will not only be new to his position, but will also contend with at least 55 new House members.

Senator John McKay, the majority party designee, will contend with a similar situation--at least 11 members of the Senate will be new.

Big changes also are in store in Kansas. The majority leadership in the Senate and a number of veteran members will retire. Senate President Dick Bond, Vice President Alicia Salisbury, Majority Leader Tim Emert and assistant leaders Senator Ben Vidricksen and Senator Pat Ranson are leaving. On the House side, Speaker Robin Jennison is retiring. Capitol observers say all of this will make for an interesting reorganization session in December.

Colorado will again lose five of its six top leaders. Going into the 1998 election all of the leaders fell under the restrictions of term limits, except the Senate minority leader. Going into the 2000 election, all but the House majority leader are termed out.

Likewise in Michigan. Term limits hit the speaker, the House Democratic leader and at least 21 members. Leadership races in both caucuses will be wide open.

Ohio will have a new speaker and majority leader. Speaker Jo Ann Davidson loses her position because of term limits. Representative Pat Tiberi is running for Congress. In an unusual move last spring when the caucus was unable to reach consensus on a new leader, House Republicans elected two members to replace Davidson--Representatives Larry Householder and Bill Harris. There has been much speculation about whether the agreement will hold and whether it is really possible to effectively share a leadership position.

The Oklahoma House has identified a new speaker designate prior to the general election. Representative Larry Adair will replace Speaker Lloyd Benson who is leaving.

Montana will lose five of its six top leaders to term limits. Longtime Speaker John Mercer will be gone because of term limits, as will House Majority Leader Larry Hal Grinde, House Minority Leader Emily Swanson, Senate President Bruce Crippen and Senate Majority Leader John Harp.

Oregon will lose top leaders, as well. Speaker Lynn Snodgrass, House Democratic Leader Kitty Piercy and Senate President Brady Adams are all term limited.

Term limits also will hit South Dakota. President Pro Tem Harold Halverson, Senate Majority Leader Mike Rounds, Speaker Roger Hunt, House Majority Leader Steve Cutler and Minority Leader Pat Haley will be ousted by term limits, along with 13 senators and 20 House members.

The election in general could bring significant changes to the state of Washington. The House is currently tied with 49 Democrats and 49 Republicans. Political observers give the Democrats a slight edge in November. In the Senate, President Pro Tem Lorraine Wojahn and Vice President Pro Tem Al Bauer are retiring.

For whatever reasons--term limits or retirement--changes at the top can often have a domino effect. When one leader moves on, others have the opportunity to move up or change. Hawaii Senate President Norman Mizuguchi is retiring. That leaves the top job open and lots of possibilities for changes in leadership and key committee chairmanships. And there will be a change in the leadership lineup in New Hampshire House with Speaker Donna Sytek retiring.

Resignations have affected Utah. Senate President Lane Beattie has resigned to accept a position as the 2002 Olympic coordinator. Majority Leader Lyle Hillyard has been elected to replace him. Senator Scott Howell and Representative David Jones, minority leaders, are also leaving.

All in all, with all these changes in store, the new legislative sessions will be interesting.

Nancy Rhyme directs NCSL's Leaders' Center.