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Monday, May 14, 2007
Robert Brown to leave Legislature to run for mayor of Macon
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We’ve just been told that Senate Minority Leader Robert Brown (D-Macon) will leave his seat in the Legislature to run for mayor of Macon. Qualifying is next month, and the primary for the partisan race is July 17.
Brown, whose taciturn nature makes him an unusually quiet politician, is nonetheless one of the most influential figures in middle Georgia, and a tight ally of U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall, who himself is a former mayor of Macon.
As leader of the Senate caucus, Brown has been responsible for quickly helping Democrats in the chamber come to grips with their status — and responsibilities — as a minority party.
The race to replace him could be intriguing. Tim Golden of Valdosta, Doug Stoner of Smyrna, David Adelman of Decatur and Kasim Reed of Atlanta immediately come to mind as potential replacements.
Says Reed: I’m on the sidelines now, but wait til next year
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Since last July, one of the more constant questions in Republican circles has been about Ralph Reed. What’s the former candidate for lieutenant governor doing? And what’s he going to do?
David Brody, the correspondent for Christian Broadcasting Network who’s been getting terrific reviews for his political blog, popped the question last week during a 12-minute segment with Reed that can be seen here.
“You’re a top Republican strategist,” Brody said. “I’m sure your phone is ringing off the hook, is it not?”
“You know, not really,” Reed replied. “I have friends who are running for president, and I talk to my friends. And I have a lot of friends who are involved in those campaigns, and I stay in touch with them.
“But for the moment I haven’t formally signed on with any campaign, but I may do so in the future. I do want to help the ultimate nominee win in November 2008. I feel very strongly that this is a really critical election,” Reed said. “I expect to be involved at some point, and I’m not going to sit on the sidelines.”
Whitehead’s up on radio: His topics are taxes, jobs and the border — but not Iraq
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Former state senator Jim Whitehead, one of 10 candidates for the 10th District congressional race, has become the first to go up with a 30-second radio spot.
Listen to it here.
Whitehead, a Republican, tries to press all the buttons likely to motivate the GOP base in east Georgia: lower taxes, a stronger economy, and illegal immigration. Not a word about Iraq, though the ad mentions his chairmanship of a Senate committee on homeland security.
Whitehead also seeks to portray himself as the natural successor to the late U.S. Rep. Charlie Norwood. “Georgia’s lost a great congressman, and I’ve lost a great friend,” Whitehead says.
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the ad is the fact that it’s narrated by a woman. Which perhaps indicates the crucial role that the Whitehead campaign thinks female voters could play in the June 19, formally non-partisan race.
About that override vote: Another message from the governor
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Shortly before noon today, Gov. Sonny Perdue released a list of another six bills he’s signed into law.
Four of the six were sponsored by House members who voted against overriding the governor’s veto of the mid-year budget last month. On Friday, Perdue released a list of 21 bills he’d signed, all sponsored by senators.
H.B. 211 and H.B. 212, which ease the way for Tifton to raise money for redevelopment, were sponsored by state Rep. Austin Scott (R-Tifton), one of five House members who voted with the governor.
H.B. 666, which establishes a board of elections for Lamar County, was sponsored by state Rep. Mack Crawford (R-Concord), who also voted against the override.
H.B. 762, which helps Upson County raise money for redevelopment, was also sponsored by Crawford.
H.B.132 was the only measure signed by the governor that was backed by House members who voted for the override. The top two sponsors were Ron Stephens (R-Savannah) and Majority Leader Jerry Keen (R-St. Simons Island).
The bill sets the number of pilots for the ports of Savannah, Brunswick, St. Mary’s and other coastal inlets. More importantly, the bill served as a vehicle for another measure sponsored by Senate President pro tem Eric Johnson (R-Savannah) requiring the removal of abandoned boats from the Georgia shoreline.
Blogwatch: Redstate, Peachpundit go after House Republicans in D.C.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Conservative blogger Erick Erickson of Macon draws attention today on The Politico for protesting a decision by U.S. House Republican leaders to tap Ken Calvert (R-Calif.) for the seat on the appropriations committee vacated by John Doolittle (R-Calif.) after the FBI raided his Virginia home.
Erickson, on his national blog, redstate.com, has “declared war” against the Republican steering committee of the House, which named Calvert to the position on the all-powerful committee.
Erickson argues that, in terms of corruption, Calvert is little better than Doolittle.
“The House Republican leadership just does not get it, and they will not take us seriously until we flex our muscles against them,” wrote Erickson. “We must fight the House GOP, and we must fight today.”
Erickson lists the office numbers of every member of the Republicans’ 27-member Steering Committee, and urges readers to call in their protests. On peachpundit.com, he’s posted a local version, called “Let’s screw with John Linder.”
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Cagle wants to be the transportation guy, but not the rail guy
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
While the House debates tax reform next year, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle says he plans to deliver a comprehensive plan for transportation in Georgia and metro Atlanta by next year’s session of the Legislature.
You’ll recall that this year, Gov. Sonny Perdue was subject to criticism for not addressing the topic of moving people around in his State of the State address.
In today’s Marietta Daily Journal, Cagle says he wants to change lane designations to improve traffic flow. “Statistics have shown you can manage free lanes with toll lanes,” he said.
Unlike Sam Olens, chairman of the Cobb County Commission, Cagle says there isn’t room in his portfolio for light rail. “The jury is still out on light rail,” he said. “We don’t have the density that can substantiate light rail.”
