By Laura Weber, Michigan Public Radio Network
LANSING, MI –
New and returning lawmakers at the state Capitol are choosing their legislative leaders for next year. Republican state Senator Randy Richardville has been elected by his peers to be Senate Majority Leader, replacing Senator Mike Bishop who is term limited.
Richardville is considered a moderate Republican. He thinks his voting record is pretty conservative, but he knows some people do not view it that way.
"When you're willing to listen to the other side, to reach across the aisle to come up with solutions, then sometimes you get criticized for that," he says. "I welcome that criticism and won't change the way I work with the other side."
Senate Democrats have already chosen Senator Gretchen Whitmer to lead the minority caucus. Lawmakers in the state House are meeting Tuesday evening to choose the Republican and Democratic leaders.