Three south county lawmakers will hold leadership positions on state House committees next legislative session.

District 95 state Rep. Mike Leara, R-Concord, was named chairman of the House Retirement Committee. Newly elected 85th District Rep. Cloria Brown, R-Lemay, will serve as vice chair of that committee.

In addition, newly elected 97th District Rep. Gary Fuhr, R-Oakville, was named vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee for Public Safety & Corrections.

House Speaker-Elect Steve Tilley, R-Perryville, on Dec. 2 announced his House committee selections for the 96th General Assembly, which will begin Jan. 5.

Leara, whom voters re-elected last month to the 95th District House seat, will chair the committee that handles issues relating to the retirement and pensions of state and local officials and employees. As chair of the committee, Leara will preside over committee hearings and be responsible for all legislation referred to the committee.

He previously served as a member of the committee.

“I am honored to be chosen to head this committee,” Leara said in a news release. “It is important that someone looks after our hard-working state employee’s especially in these tough times when Missouri’s budget is under strain.

“We have to provide for our state’s workers, while ensuring we spend taxpayer dollars in the most fiscally responsible way possible.”

Brown last month won the 85th District House seat over incumbent Rep. Vicki Englund, D-Concord.

As vice chair of the Retirement Committee, Brown will preside over committee hearings in Leara’s absence.

Voters last month elected Fuhr to the House seat being vacated by Republican Rep. Walt Bivins because of term limits.

The House Appropriations Committee for Public Safety & Corrections considers matters pertaining to the budgets of the Departments of Public Safety and Corrections.

Rep. Chris Kelly, D-Columbia, will chair the committee next session.

“It’s not only an honor but also a great responsibility to be selected for a position of leadership in my first term. I am thankful to our incoming speaker for having faith in my abilities,” Fuhr said in a news release. “I hope to use the real-world knowledge I have gained through a lifetime of service in law enforcement to help craft a fiscally responsible budget that will allow the men and women of our law enforcement community to continue to keep Missourians safe from harm.”