Is the New Speaker of the House John Bel’s Guy? [VIDEO]

Mark Cooper, Chief of Staff for Governor John Bel Edwards, talks with 101.7 / 710 KEEL's Robert J Wright and Erin McCarty about the surprise election of Clay Schexnayder as Speaker of the House.

Cooper tells KEEL listeners that the Governor was hoping "for a speaker that he could work with" and that Edwards "was not actively engaged" in the selection process.

Cooper then describes Schexnayder as "a very conservative Republican," despite the fact that he (Schexnayder) received 100% of the votes of Democrats in the House and defeated conservative GOP pick Sherman Mack. Cooper adds that "if they're being honest," Republican member of the House would describe Schexnayder as conservative.