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DEL.ICIO.USSpeaker rebuffed: Mike Evans keeps his DOT seat
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
At 11:30 a.m., at least seven House members thumbed their nose at Speaker Glenn Richardson, by re-electing Mike Evans to his spot as chairman of the state transportation board.
The vote was 13 to 10, with one lawmaker absent. Three armed guards were in the Senate chamber as the vote was taken, just one indication of how hot the discussion has been. Former House member Stacey Reece was finally brought out as the opposition candidate backed by Richardson.
Seventeen House members are part of the 9th Congressional District, and seven senators. Presuming that senators voted as a bloc for Evans, who was also backed by Gov. Sonny Perdue, that means 10 House members stuck by their leader.
We’re told that Richardson conducted a nose count of his members yesterday, and came up with a 12-11 vote in Evans’ favor. Which means one House member was playing fast and loose.
But the vote was secret, so we may never know which one.
Said Evans to the lawmakers afterwards: “It’s been a tough two months, a tough two days for all of you.”
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Comments
By CGB
February 1, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this
Good for Mike Evans and those principled GOP Rep’s that refused to bow in to King Glenn! This article doesn’t mention the Rayborn Anderson vote - but he won too, despite having several Republican Rep’s vote for the Democrat which the Speaker ran against him. Some GOP Speaker we have…he’d rather elect Democrats to the board than have his ego damaged by not getting his way. Seriously, Glenn Richardson must be stopped - his ego and need for power is big enough that it could fill up Lake Lanier all on its own. This is a great day to be a Georgia citizen who believes in principled leadership and rejecting mere payback!
By Nancy
February 1, 2008 1:30 PM | Link to this
King Glenn nothing it was King SONNY sitking his nose where it does not belong. Saving a dishonest man. It also goes to show me that that there is not a member of the senate that has any **%%%. They are to scared to buck King Sonny. Glenn is the only that has enough guts to taken on the Democrate Sonny.
By RD
February 1, 2008 2:09 PM | Link to this
Any information on the District 2 seat held by Billy Langdale?
By Antineocon
February 1, 2008 5:09 PM | Link to this
Hey, Nancy, are you a mental case or what? I don’t much like Sonny Perdue, but he had every right to decide he wanted Gina Abraham as his DOT Commissioner, but King Glenn stuck HIS nose in Perdue’s business. Notice that King Glenn’s been beaten twice now over the DOT issue. And his response is to go beat up Rep. Tom Graves for voting his conscience. Glenn’s days as Speaker are limited.
By CGB
February 1, 2008 6:39 PM | Link to this
Nancy,
While I’m not a big fan of Governor Perdue at times, notice that he is GOVERNOR, not merely the little Dictator in charge of the House, thus he has the ability to act a little more “king” like. Plus, is there any question that Glenn Richardson doesn’t know how to play fair? He’s a baby in a man’s suit…he pitches temper tantrums when he doesn’t get his way and we all KNOW he’s got some serious moral/ethical questions that hover over him. Antineocon is right…Glenn’s days as Speaker are limited (After this election, all it will take is 15+/- GOP members to join with the DEMS and elect a different Speaker).
With Glenn gone, Sonny on his way out of office and some principled leadership (read: Isakson or Westmoreland) taking over the Gov’s office in 2010, hopefully a new Speaker in charge, and with Cagle (the best elected official we have right now, well, maybe Karen Handel too) still leading the Senate, Georgia’s going to be a much better state.
By CGB
February 1, 2008 6:48 PM | Link to this
PS: For Nancy and the other Richardson cronies, have you all forgotten what Mike Evans has done for the GOP? This was the man leading the fight for the GOP, when very few others were willing to do so. Mike Evans is a TRUE conservative…something that Glenn Richardson, Jerry Keen and Earl Erhart have proved themselves not to be (I mean, supporting a DEMOCRAT to try to get back at Republican Rayborn Anderson - that is pathetic and disgusting to any loyal member of the GOP!)
By Dan
February 2, 2008 12:23 PM | Link to this
Love this Jerry Keen quote — I don’t recall the speaker stripping power from people who voted against tort or immigration reform. It’s clear what they consider important!
House Majority Leader Jerry Keen replied: “Lieutenant Governor Cagle is new to his position. Speaker Richardson has led the House through the Republican revolution, and because of that leadership, we accomplished tort reform, protected our children from sex offenders and tackled illegal immigration in Georgia. Speaker Richardson has been leading on trauma care, tax reform, and fixing Grady Hospital, and he has done so before anybody else took a stand. That’s leadership. That’s what’s important. The House is more concerned with policy than internal politics, and Georgia wins on those issues.”