With House Republican leadership under fire for installing 19 white men as committee chairmen, Speaker John A. Boehner said on Friday that he had named Representative Candice S. Miller of Michigan to head the Committee on House Administration in the 113th Congress.
The current chairman of the committee, Representative Daniel E. Lungren of California, was defeated in his campaign for re-election this month.
Ms. Miller said in a statement that she was “both humbled and honored by the confidence Speaker Boehner has shown in me†to take on the chairmanship of the committee, which oversees federal elections as well as the day-to-day operations of the House, including its cafeterias, personnel services and technology. Ms. Miller currently does not even sit on the committee.
“Most importantly,†she said, “this committee has jurisdiction over the federal election process, and I am absolutely committed to making certain that we enact rules to ensure thi s nation continues to have open, free and fair elections.â€
While most committee chairmen are chosen by the House Republican Steering Committee, Mr. Boehner has personal discretion over four committees: House Administration, Intelligence, Rules and ethics. Only the last of these is still unfilled, and it is possible the speaker will seek a woman for that slot, as well.
“In her new post,†Mr. Boehner said in a statement, “Candice will provide the leadership needed to keep operating costs down, save taxpayer dollars and help lawmakers use new technology to better engage with their constituents. And her experience as Michigan secretary of state will be invaluable given the committee's oversight of campaign finance and election laws.â€
In 2004, Ms. Miller received a rare admonishment from the House ethics committee, along with former Representative Tom DeLay, Republican of Texas, then the majority leader, relating to political favors in exchange for a m ember's vote on a difficult Medicare prescription drug bill.
