Rep. Kirk Adams has been chosen as speaker of the House, defeating Rep. Jim Weiers, who held the top House seat last session.

The Democrats were unable to defeat Jim Weiers at the polls Nov. 4, but Kirk Adams did today when House Republicans met to choose new leaders. Adams, a Mesa Republican, was chosen as the next speaker of the House over Weiers, who has held that post six of the last eight years.

The vote signaled that House Republicans were seeking a change in leadership, after Weiers' tenure at the helm of the House majority. He led two failed attempts to pass a fiscally conservative budget in 2007 and 2008, and the result in both cases was a financial plan that included more government spending.

The vote was conducted in secret, and the margin of victory was not announced, but lawmakers said it was a very close contest.

"I'm sure it was close, because both thought they were going to win," said John McComish, who was elected majority leader.

Adams said the first order of business as speaker-elect will be to organize the chamber and assigning committee chairmanships, as well as determining a party platform. At the top of the list, he said, is getting a handle on the $1.1 billion deficit facing the state in the current budget year.

"The only issue of the day right now is the incredible budget crisis that we face," he said. "That single issue will engulf, I believe, the entire session."

Weiers was not immediately available for comment.

McComish, who has served as caucus whip the past two years, said he looks forward to working with Adams.

"I think Kirk will do a great job," he said.

Prescott Republican Andy Tobin was also elected majority whip.