ATLANTA - The Georgia House on Monday elected David Ralston its new speaker, closing the book on a turbulent scandal that brought down one of the state's most powerful politicians.

The state Legislature also kicked off its 2010 session with a vote for the record books, electing Jan Jones (R-Alpharetta) as speaker pro tem. The vote made her the highest ranking woman in Georgia legislative history.

Ralston's supporters said the Blue Ridge Republican would offer a steady hand in the wake of the drama surrounding Glenn Richardson, who stepped down as speaker following a suicide attempt and allegations of an affair with a lobbyist.

Ralston immediately sought to strike a tone of firm reassurance as the chamber recovers from scandal and moves forward into a session of brutal budget cuts.

"Sometimes renewal is born by adversity," Ralston said after his election as the 72nd speaker of the House.

Neither election came as a surprise. Ralston and Jones had been elected by the Republican caucus in December, and the GOP holds a 105-74 advantage in the House.

But both candidates peeled off Democratic votes. Ralston was elected 116-58 and Jones 113-61.

Last year, House Minority Leader DuBose Porter said he decided to support Richardson for speaker to "put aside partisan rancor." But this year, with the elections of 2010 on the horizon and Republican ethics a sore spot, there was no such deference.

Democrats nominated Calvin Smyre, of Columbus, as speaker and Kathy Ashe, of Atlanta, as speaker pro tem.

The Senate had a lighter agenda as business began Monday. Republican leaders - led by Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle - announced the creation of a budget task force that will look at ways to slash the state's already battered budget without boosting taxes or making drastic cuts to essential services. Composed of business leaders, the panel will make its recommendations by mid-February.

Georgia is in the midst of a staggering budget shortfall.

Tax collections in Georgia have plunged for 13 consecutive months and are lagging 14 percent - or more than $1 billion - behind what they were for the previous fiscal year. That's going to mean more deep cuts to state spending.

Thousands of teachers and state workers already have been furloughed. State parks have scaled back their hours. Prisons have grown more crowded. There's a growing backlog in civil court cases and delays in thousands of criminal cases.

Ralston acknowledged the challenge he faces as he takes the reins in the House. And he made a not-so-subtle reference to the scandal responsible for his rise to power, urging legislators not to forget that they serve their Georgia constituents, not special interests.

"I still believe that public service is noble and honorable," he said.

And Ralston offered an olive branch to minority Democrats who have complained for years about Richardson's sometimes bullying style.

"I am reaching out my hand to you today," Ralston said to Democrats who lost control of the House in 2005 after generations of rule.

State Rep. Mark Burkhalter briefly ran the House on Monday, capping off an 11-day tenure as speaker. Burkhalter, who had been speaker pro tem, automatically took over when Richardson stepped down Jan. 1.

Richardson resigned as House speaker at the beginning of the year, and surrendered his House seat representing Paulding County in a letter to the governor on Monday.

After Ralston's election, Burkhalter handed over the gavel and embraced his party's new leader.

"He is steady. He's competent," the John's Creek Republican said of Ralston. "He's strong and he is respected."