New chairmen named in Georgia House

Two key transportation posts are among the biggest appointments the state House Committee on Assignments has made for the upcoming legislative session in January.

The committee late Tuesday issued its new list of committee memberships, including several chairmanships created by multiple resignations over the past several weeks.

State Rep. Christian Coomer, R-Cartersville, will fill one of those vacancies, taking over the House Transportation Committee. He replaces Jay Roberts, a Republican from Ocilla whom the governor recently appointed as planning director for the state Department of Transportation.

Coomer was the floor leader for Gov. Nathan Deal who navigated a close House vote on a constitutional amendment to give the governor the power to take over failing schools. In another move, state Rep. Tom Taylor, R-Dunwoody, was named chairman of the Legislature’s MARTA oversight committee, replacing Mike Jacobs, a Republican from Brookhaven who was recently tapped by the governor to fill a DeKalb County state judgeship.

Taylor will have a great deal to do with any decision by the state to create a broader, regional approach to transit, whether bus or commuter rail.

Other new chairmanship appointments:

• Industry & Labor: state Rep. Jason Shaw, R-Lakeland;