Louisiana Senate President Page Cortez announced new committee assignments Friday due to the resignation of Sen. Rick Ward, R-Port Allen, pictured (left) in this June 18, 2022, photo answering a question from Sen. Bodi White, R-Central, about his congressional redistricting bill. (Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator)

Louisiana Senate President Page Cortez announced new committee assignments Friday due to the resignation of Sen. Rick Ward, R-Port Allen.

Cortez appointed the following:

Sen. Mike Reese, R-Leesville, as chairman of the Commerce, Consumer Protection and International Affairs Committee.

Sen. Patrick Connick, R-Marrero, as vice-chairman of the Committee on Revenue and Fiscal Affairs.

Sen. Fred Mills, R-Breaux Bridge, as a member of the Committee on Revenue and Fiscal Affairs.

“Each of these Senators have shown great leadership skills and will be great assets to the Senate in each of their assignments,” Cortez said in a news release Friday.

Ward resigned at the end of the legislature’s second special session in June to take a job in public relations and lobbying firm. The 39-year-old centrist Republican served in the Senate for 11 years and would have been term-limited next year.