Welcome to “Statehouse Briefing.” This new blog will round up coverage of news made by elected state officials in Topeka.And now is the perfect time to get started.Kansas House members will select their leaders today for the 2007 legislative session that starts Jan. 8.The voting starts at 10 a.m., and the Journal-World will provide breaking reports online of the results. Running for state House speaker are Republicans Melvin Neufeld of Ingalls, Mike O’Neal of Hutchinson and Kenny Wilk of Lansing. Current speaker, Doug Mays of Topeka, is retiring from the Legislature.Republicans hold a 78-47 advantage over Democrats in the House. Democrats also will be electing their leadership team, but there are no contested races. Dennis McKinney of Greensburg is expected to be re-elected House Democratic leader.Other headlines today:Kansas Legislature(Harris News Service) Deferred maintenance on front burner: Legislators probably didn’t need a firsthand look to know that a $727 million deferred maintenance backlog on the state’s college and university campuses could be troublesome. Yet a series of visits this fall showcasing maintenance problems facing the state’s four-year, Board of Regents institutions has driven home the importance of doing something to address the issue in the coming months, several lawmakers said.(LJW) Use of interlock devices increasing: It’s about the size of a cell phone. It makes beeping sounds, has buttons on the front and plugs into a vehicle’s dashboard. But instead of an antenna on top, this device has a tube that a driver must blow into before turning the ignition key. If the driver’s blood-alcohol level is above a certain limit, the car won’t start. These so-called “ignition interlock” devices have been around since the 1980s, but changes to Kansas law mean that in coming years more offenders convicted of driving under the influence will be required to have them.Kansas Board of Education(AP) Wanted: New commissioner with conventional qualifications: The search for an anti-Corkins has begun. Education Commissioner Bob Corkins resigned last month after 13 tumultuous months on the job, cleaning out his office the day before Thanksgiving. His departure saved the Kansas State Board of Education the effort of firing him when two new, less conservative members take office Jan. 8.