Former Speaker Thom Tillis Tells Robert Reives to Be Magnanimous

Raleigh. Former North Carolina House Speaker Thom Tillis advised Democratic Rep. Robert Reives, the presumptive next House speaker, to treat members of the losing party with respect. Tillis made the comments on Wednesday after deciding to leave the U.S. Senate rather than seek re-election. He cited a dispute with President Donald Trump as the reason for his departure.

Tillis served two terms as speaker beginning in 2011. He took the role after Republicans gained full control of the General Assembly for the first time since Reconstruction. Before becoming speaker, Tillis was a Mecklenburg County lawmaker who had never moved off the back row during his first two terms.

Tillis said he tried to streamline committees and give members more voice in the legislative process. He did so to address complaints from Republicans who felt sidelined under Democratic control. He recalled telling the caucus that he had heard their complaints about the rules since he arrived.

He also stated that he tried to respect Democrats who were unaccustomed to being in the minority. As an example, he gave outgoing Democratic Speaker Joe Hackney a new office carved out of a former meeting room. Former Wake County Representative Nelson Dollar, a Republican, recalled that Tillis maintained an open-door policy during his tenure.

Dollar said Tillis did a good job accommodating committee assignments for minority members. Tillis also kept the Republican caucus united by pushing for rule revisions. He appointed state Rep. Paul Stam, a former rival for the speakership, as the GOP majority leader. Dollar noted that the majority received the rules they wanted while still receiving input from the minority.

Tillis warned Reives that if he does not treat members with respect, he will set Republicans up for gains in the next election. He said that treating members well allows the legislature to serve the people of North Carolina. Tillis added that he wants every speaker to succeed because that outcome makes the state succeed.

Republican Charles Jeter, who was elected to the House in 2012, suggested the challenge lies in how the attitude filters through the Democratic caucus. Jeter noted that after being sidelined for 16 years, members may want to use the megaphone of the majority. He said this dynamic can sometimes create hurt feelings within the chamber.