COLUMBIA, S.C. - Legislators spent the last two days in Columbia in an organizational session that changed little in the House leadership structure.

On Tuesday, Democrats elected Rep. Harry Ott, D-St. Matthews, as chairman of the House Minority Caucus. Ott, a Calhoun County farmer, replaces Rep. James Smith, D-Columbia, as the Democrats' leader.

While there's been a lot of talk after the Nov. 2 election about Democrats moving more to the center, Ott says he's long been there. "That's certainly where I am. I'm a pretty conservative person. I'm very conservative when it comes to my finances. I bring my Christian values to my job every day," Ott said.

Too often, Ott said, Democrats have "allowed the Republicans to put out who we are as Democrats. ... My job is to identify who we are as Democrats."

Republicans, who control the House by a 74-50 margin, started the two-day session with Rep. James Merrill, R-Daniel Island, as chairman of the House GOP caucus. Republicans elected Merrill in October to replace Rep. Rick Quinn of Columbia, who resigned from the position in September after losing a primary election for the seat he held since 1989.

Legislators received committee assignments Wednesday and then elected committee chairmen with Republicans holding nine of those 10 spots.

There was no change in command of the committees.

_ Rep. Joe Brown, D-Columbia, won another term as chairman of the Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee. He's held that job since 1994.

_ Rep. Harry Cato, R-Travelers Rest, won re-election as chairman of the Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee. It's his sixth term running the committee that oversees most of the business-related legislation that moves through the House.

_ Rep. Converse Chellis, R-Summerville, won a third term as Rules Committee chairman. The committee sets the rules that the House uses to manage debate, legislation and members.

_ Rep. Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, gets a third term as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. The House budget writing committee also handles most legislation dealing with spending and borrowing.

_ Rep. Jim Harrison, R-Columbia, will serve his sixth term as House Judiciary Committee chairmen. The committee handles most of the legislation affecting criminal and civil law in the state.

_ Rep. Bob Leach, R-Taylors, will serve his second term as chairman of the Invitations and Memorial Resolutions Committee.

_ Rep. Roland Smith, R-Warrenville, won his first full term as Ethics Committee chairman. The committee monitors campaign and other financial disclosures and enforces ethics laws for House members.

_ Rep. Ronnie Townsend, R-Anderson, will serve a sixth term as Education and Public Works Committee chairman.

_ Rep. Lewis Vaughn, R-Greer, has a sixth term running Operations and Management Committee. The committee oversees financial operations and personnel in the House office building.

_ Rep. Billy Witherspoon, R-Conway, will serve his second term as chairman of the Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee.