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DEL.ICIO.USVance Smith says he, too, wants to be the state’s top road-builder
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We’ve got another entry in the sweepstakes to become the next head of the state Department of Transportation — and House Speaker Glenn Richardson is backing him.
The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer reports this morning that state Rep. Vance Smith (R-Pine Mountain), who owns a construction and grading company, has put in his application for the job.
After four years, DOT Commissioner Harold Linnenkohl announced recently that he would retire.
Gov. Sonny Perdue and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle are pushing Gena Abraham, head of the Georgia Building Authority and several other state entities.
Said Richardson: “Gena is obviously very capable, but Vance is a proven expert in the field of transportation. I fully support him and assume the rest of the House leadership does as well.
So we’ve got a contest.
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By No Way Vance
September 14, 2007 9:48 AM | Link to this
We need someone from outside of Georgia who will shakeup GDOT, and go back and shake it up again. GDOT needs fresh blood and new ideas.
And the last thing the state needs is a road builder in charge. GDOT already kisses the butts of GA road builders, and it can’t even spell the words “commuter rail” or “mass transit”. It’s the Department of Transportation, all forms of transportation, not just building highways.
By flatpickpaul
September 14, 2007 10:22 AM | Link to this
Amen, No Way! Georgia cannot afford a DOT commissioner with heavy interests in road building and a disdain for, if not outright opposition to, transportation alternatives to the automobile the state desperately needs.
By Fed Up
September 14, 2007 10:29 AM | Link to this
The last thing we need is another anti-Atlanta idiot running DOT.
No Way Vance is exactly right. Bring in someone from the outside that doesn’t carry all of the baggage.
By Jeff
September 14, 2007 10:43 AM | Link to this
Fed Up:
No, the last thing we need is another Pro-Atlanta idiot that thinks the rest of GA doesn’t exist.
There are FAR more pressing issues for the STATE DOT than just Atlanta.
And mass transit is a waste of time and money. Again, Atlanta is NOT the only thing in this state!! Mass transit wouldn’t even help the majority of ATLANTANS, much less the majority of the STATE.
By Fed Up
September 14, 2007 12:22 PM | Link to this
Hey Jeff, how about we in the metro-Atlanta area just keep all the tax revenue we generate, then “other” Georgia can do as they please.
And guess what the majority of the population of Georgia is now here in the metro area.
Where are those 90 min commutes in “other” Georgia?
By ya'll are dumb
September 14, 2007 2:19 PM | Link to this
Yeah, why have a DOT chairman who is an expert on transportation? Vance Smith is the most qualified person to lead the DOT — why do ya’ll think that disqualifies him? That’s just plain dumb.
Vance Smith would be a great Commissioner of the DOT.
By Dept of Slogans
September 14, 2007 4:17 PM | Link to this
Look at the mess all the other “experts” did for us. Almost total gridlock. Ya, that will do it Jeff. Another good ol boy road building contractor.
Guess they will be repaving I-85 again. Oh and repaving the perimeter. Love those 4 lane highways in rural Georgia, they will need repaving soon too.
Yep, road $$contractors$$$ thats what we need more of.
And of course lets keep electing the DOT board members in secret. That also helps accountability!!!
Then they can all get together and throw a big bash at the Fox theater for the politicians again!
Yep, thats what we need, business as usual……….and more gridlock.
By Victor Jones
September 14, 2007 7:32 PM | Link to this
Jim/Bob,
You troublemakers you! Since Doug Monreo moved to N.Y., GDOT Info Central has moved to Bibb County Georgia, courtesy Dr Lindsay Holliday. For a decade of history on how they have previously operated down hea, start hea:
(www.macon-bibb.com/FHR/FHR_Meeting20070910.htm)
Bonus Prize for logging on: Erin Brockovich sent us a poem in support of saving Forest Hill Road.
Try to get down to the Native American Homecoming Celebration this weekend in Macon. Just do a search for Ocmulgee National Monument and look at the calendar for details.
Vic p.s. Bob, for the yanks among us, “hea” means here…
By Expert???
September 15, 2007 12:55 PM | Link to this
What makes Vance Smith an expert on transportation??? Seriously, transportation is an incredibly complex matter. Vance is a road builder, and that’s it. This guy is in no way qualified. Bring in the head of another state’s DOT, find a state that’s doing things the right way. And it’s gotta be all forms of transportation, BRT, HOV, commuter rail, etc.
By SouthPaw
September 15, 2007 3:34 PM | Link to this
Doesn’t matter what an expert Vance Smith is or isn’t…the part I am concerned with would be the political portion of the process. I think an expert from outside the state may be the way to go on this one…with no political connections to Georgia.
By Glenn Sux
September 15, 2007 4:03 PM | Link to this
Of course Glenn Richardson supports a fell representative. The last thing we need as head of GDOT is an ally of Glenn the Stache.
By We can do better
September 16, 2007 10:58 AM | Link to this
That’s great. Vance Smith wants to run GDOT. I want to be the Braves GM. Doesn’t mean it’s going to happen, or should happen.
Find somebody quailifed, without political connections, who can bring this underperforming massive dept. into the 21st century. GDOT is decades behind the better state DOT’s.
By Evelyn Davis
September 22, 2007 5:55 PM | Link to this
We think Vance Smith is the man for the DOT job. He is without a doubt more qualified. A woman head of DOT let’s be real, can’t you just see her now all dressed in a business suit in her hard top hat trying to tell a bulldozer operator how to do his job. Speaking as a lady for us ladies we think a woman would be more qualified to be Governor than Dot Commissioner.