Brookhaven’s Dr. Jim Barnett said Wednesday he plans to be acandidate for Speaker of the House when state lawmakers reconvenein January.

The District 92 Republican said he will be testing the watersbetween now and January to gauge support in his speaker run.

“It’s a matter of getting out and seeing if you’ve got thevotes,” Barnett said. “I’ve decided to see if I have.”

Barnett said he is “feeling better every day” and is optimisticabout his chances.

“I wouldn’t run if I didn’t think I could be elected,” saidBarnett, a member of the legislature since 1992.

Barnett, a former Democrat who switched to the Republican partyearlier this year, has another race to win before he can run forSpeaker of the House. Barnett faces Democratic challenger F.C.”Buddy” Turpin in the Nov. 4 general election.

“I’ve got to get elected first,” Barnett said.

The Speaker of the House is considered one of the most powerfulpositions in state government in that the speaker decides committeechairmanships and how legislation is assigned to committees.Long-time Speaker Tim Ford is not seeking re-election this year,thus leaving the post open next year.

The Speaker of the House is elected by representatives on thefirst day of the legislative session. Barnett did not wish to saywho would nominate him for the post.

Others who are considering seeking the speaker’s seat includeHouse Ways and Means Chairman Billy McCoy, D-Rienzi; House PublicHealth and Welfare Chairman Rep. Bobby Moody, D-Louisville; HouseAgriculture Chairman Steve Holland, D-Plantersville; HouseEducation Chairman Joe Warren, D-Mount Olive; Rep. John Moore,R-Brandon; and Rep. Warner McBride, D-Courtland.

One potential benefit for Barnett is that he says he would onlywant the post for one-term.

When Ford was elected, lawmakers enacted a two-term limit on thespeaker’s office. However, Barnett said, after Ford’s first twoterms, lawmakers rescinded the term limit.

Barnett said Ford was a popular and excellent speaker. However,he believes lawmakers are ready reinstate the term limit rule.

“I think that’s something that might really work in my favor,”Barnett said.