Rep. Bobby Harrell has shown himself to be a hard-working, even-handed leader as chairman of the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee. The state can expect him to show those same solid qualities as the new Speaker of the House.

House members gave the Charleston Republican a near unanimous endorsement for his nomination after other candidates withdrew from the race. His election to succeed Rep. David Wilkins is recognition of Mr. Harrell's solid legislative record and leadership abilities.

Rep. Harrell has been chairman of the House budget committee for six years, including three particularly difficult years in which the state's tax revenues faltered. He insisted on holding the line on taxes, and sought stopgap measures to meet the revenue shortfall. He supported quick repayment of a deficit incurred during those years and the incremental return of money borrowed from trust funds.

His unwillingness to move as quickly on trust fund repayment as Gov. Mark Sanford would like has contributed to friction between the two. It is to be hoped they can reach an accommodation before the next legislative session, stressing their common goals, including improved government accountability. Completing the task of government restructuring should be at the top of both agendas next session.

While most of Rep. Harrell's recent energies have been focused on gaining consensus on the state budget, he took the legislative lead as House majority leader in the late '90s to achieve an important reform of public education. It took more than a single session to overcome institutional opposition to the Education Accountability Act, but its ultimate success in 1998 was largely due to Mr. Harrell's advocacy and persistence.

This year, he offered a solid plan for funding overdue Department of Transportation maintenance projects without an increase in the gas tax. That bill unfortunately stalled in the Senate following an ill-considered amendment, but the House version serves as an example of his practical approach to problems and his careful preparation of solutions.

During his years in the House, his strong support of economic development hasn't precluded work on behalf of the environment. Last year, for example, he played a key role in gaining full funding to the state Conservation Bank.

Rep. Harrell, personable and slow to criticize, has built a legislative career on building consensus and close attention to legislative detail that will serve him well as Speaker of the House.