In a historic moment in the history of Carbon County, its state Representative Keith R. McCall (D-Carbon) of Summit Hill was elected by the majority of his peers yesterday to the prestigious position of speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

McCall is the first and only Carbon County resident to be elected speaker in the 327-year history of the General Assembly.

Attending the election and swearing-in ceremony for McCall in Harrisburg were scores of Carbon County residents. Because there was an overflow crowd in the Hall of the House where the event occurred, many people had to watch the ceremonies on television monitors set up in the Rotunda.

The new speaker was sworn-in by president Judge John P. Lavelle of the Carbon County Court of Common Pleas.