A Family Thing: Not many dads and daughters share a love of parliamentary procedure like these two.

AuthorSouth, Holly
PositionLEGISLATIVE STAFF WEEK

Although it's not uncommon for a daughter to follow a parent into a law career, it's more than a little unusual to follow one into legislative administration. But that's what Morgan Speer did. She's the calendar clerk for the Colorado Senate. Her dad? He's Alfred W. "Butch" Speer, longtime clerk of the Louisiana House of Representatives.

Morgan grew up accompanying her parents each summer to NCSL's Legislative Summit and now gets to see them at meetings of the American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries. Neither Speer would have predicted this outcome--nor the paths their careers have taken.

His Path--Seek Cool Air

Butch Speer was working long hours outdoors in the heat for the agriculture department at Louisiana State University during his sophomore year when he heard about a job at the House of Representatives. It was, he jokes, "inside, with air conditioning, so it sounded like a great opportunity." It was indeed. He worked himself up from assistant head page to endorsement clerk and stayed for the remainder of his college and law school days.

He balanced his role as assistant clerk with his private law practice outside of session for several years, until the House clerk was forced to leave office for health reasons. Taking over was one of the most difficult times of Speer's career, he says, even after 11 years working beside the former clerk. "It's a different set of circumstances when it's all you."

His next session--his first as an elected clerk--wasn't much easier. Governor Edwin Edwards, a Democrat, decided to remove Republicans from all leadership positions, thrusting the Legislature into "political turmoil."

Louisiana politics up to that time (and for years after) was defined less by party and more by those in favor of or opposed to the governor. But that changed during Edwards' tenure. "Learning to be clerk at a time when the body was going through serious partisan strife was very difficult," Speer says, noting that things aren't much different in the chamber today. Rancor on the floor between members, and between the governor's office and the membership, means no one's job is easy, he says.

Further complicating matters, he suspects his longtime status as clerk may prevent some members from seeking his advice. "I've operated as a truly, completely 100 percent nonpartisan clerical officer," he says, "but there's a lot of distrust these days and it rubs off." He believes it's made some members fear seeking the advice...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT