For the first time ever, the speaker of the West Virginia House of Delegates has chosen a delegate from the Northern Panhandle as its new speaker pro tempore.

Delegate Randy Swartzmiller of Hancock County was named to the leadership position on Friday.

"I'm very humbled by it but I'm also excited for the people of the Northern Panhandle," Swartzmiller said.

The position puts him in a very important political position.

"In the event that the speaker can't be on the podium, he would call on me and run the House at that particular time," he said.

The position also comes with a coveted spot on the House's Rules Committee.

"Quite frankly, the final decision on the bills that come out onto the floor and stuff come out of the Rules Committee, which is one of the powerful committees being down there," Swartzmiller said.

He also said he hopes to see good things come from this for citizens from the Northern Panhandle.

In a statement, he said, "I am very excited for the citizens and businesses of the Northern Panhandle. I believe this position not only provides me an opportunity to ensure a strong voice for them on the powerful rules committee, but also provides greater latitude to successfully help by colleagues on the issues that are important to all our constituency and businesses."

The announcement comes just a few months after Swartzmiller announced he would not seek appointment to Orphy Klempa's Senate seat, which was left vacant after the last election. Swartzmiller said neither announcement had anything to do with the other.

"As I've always said, things just have a way of working out. This is just a prime example," he said.

Swartzmiller said he will have to step away from his chairman position with the Homeland Security Committee, and it's unclear as of Friday who will be appointed to fill that position.