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Thursday, April 17, 2008
Buckle up: Another DOT board race is on the way
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Yes, the state Capitol will have to go through the process of another election to replace Mike Evans, chairman of the state transportation board, who resigned in the name of love on Thursday.
The object of his affection is Gena Abraham, the Department of Transportation commissioner.
The contest to replace Evans must be jointly called by House Speaker Glenn Richardson and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle — which means the two top leaders of the Legislature have an immediate reason to move past the harsh words thrown during the just-ended session. House and Senate members in the 9th Congressional District wouldl cast the deciding vote.
The last fight over board membership — two seats were involved in the February votes — resulted in the punishment of several House members for their failure to support Richardson’s candidates.
Why not leave the seat open until January? Because there’s a distinct possibility that Abraham won’t be sticking around in her DOT job— meaning another huge battle over who would control the massive, and massively dysfunctional, agency.
Here’s what InsiderAdvantage has, raising questions of Abraham’s future:
The board quickly scheduled a special meeting for April 21st without saying what it was about. Vice Chairman Garland Pinholster, who moves up to the chairmanship position until board officer elections are held in June, said the meeting would be about what Abraham would do.
“The ball is in her court,” he said.
Abraham’s candidacy as commissioner last year was sponsored by Sonny Perdue, whose office has just put out word that the governor, out of town today, won’t make any statement on the situation until Friday. Presumably, he’ll use the time to consult with his DOT commissioner.
But back to the coming DOT board race to replace Evans. The Gainesville Times is reporting, and we’ve confirmed, that two names are already being floated.
Says the Times:
Those being mentioned as possible successors to Evans include Chris Riley, chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal, R-Gainesville, and state Sen. Eugene “Chip” Pearson of Dawsonville. Pearson has reportedly told legislative leaders that he would not seek re-election to his Senate seat this year.
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Evans and Abraham: ‘The possibility of something more than friendship’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Below is the statement just released by Mike Evans, chairman of the state transportation board, on his resignation Thursday, forced by a romantic relationship with state DOT Commissioner Gena Abraham:
In the past five months, I have worked closely with Commissioner Abraham to work towards change within the Department. Over the course of those five months, I have grown to admire her and respect her more and more every day.
Her sense of integrity and work ethic is well known throughout state government and I can see why.
Over the last month or so we have grown to care for each other more than on a professional level, she became my friend. As our friendship developed, we realized that there was the possibility of something more than friendship.
At this point we met with the Vice-Chairman, Garland Pinholster, to discuss and determine the best direction and concluded that it was best to also inform the Board, which was done in Executive Session yesterday.
DOT Policy does not permit relationships other than professional or friendship within the direct chain of command. As Chairman of this Board, I strongly believe that I should be the model for respect and adherence to policy that I wish to see in all GDOT employees, especially with the challenges that we face.
In doing so, I must therefore tender my resignation today as Chairman and a member of the Georgia Department of Transportation Board.
I have served as a member of this Board for five years and it has been my honor and privilege to do so as a representative for District 9. My heart is heavy today because I know that in tendering my resignation, I am also disappointing a great number of people who have supported me throughout the years, in particular, during my re-election to the Board this year.
There are those who suffered great losses in support of me. I will be eternally grateful for their support. I will spend the rest of my days trying to restore their trust and in gaining their forgiveness for having stepped down at this point in my term.
I want to thank my colleagues on the Board who have been a support to me as well. As I leave my seat and return to my daily routine, I will still remain an advocate for systemic reform for Transportation in Georgia. It is still a worthwhile and noble cause that I will always believe in.
To the employees of the department, I have said how great they are and what dedicated public servants they are. I hope the board and senior staff will honor their service by doing everything they can to give them the department they deserve.
To the board, I hope you will continue the momentum and change that I have been pushing for the last five years, and that has accelerated over the last five months. To the cities, counties and individuals whose dedicated support helped me win re-election I apologize for my untimely departure and will never forget their loyal support.
As always, I am honored to serve the people of the 9th District and the state of Georgia.
Again, I thank everyone for the opportunity to serve.
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Scott on the romantic exit for DOT chairman: ‘Disappointment, bordering on anger’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Just got off the phone with state Rep. Martin Scott (R-Rossville), who put his legislative career on the line this winter when he bucked House Speaker Glenn Richardson and voted to keep Mike Evans on the state transportation board.
Scott was stripped of his leadership positions on the House Ways and Means Committee — he was chairman of the income tax subcommittee.
And now Evans, the candidate of choice for Gov. Sonny Perdue, has resigned — citing a romance with DOT commissioner Gena Abraham, which he said has blossomed in the last month.
Richardson’s candidate, former House member Stacey Reece, was flawed — he left the Legislature after he encouraged lobbyists to throw him a wedding shower.
But now it turns out that Evans had his own problems. Scott said Evans called him today to offer an apology for his behavior.
Scott described his current state of mind as one of “extreme disappointment, bordering on anger — to say the least.”
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Georgia’s Republican delegation lines up behind Broun
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
You may be witnessing the first repercussion of the folly that was the 2008 session of the General Assembly.
This morning, the campaign for U.S. Rep. Paul Broun (R-Athens) put out a note announcing that Georgia’s six other Republican congressmen have endorsed Broun over his primary challenger, state Rep. Barry Fleming of Harlem.
Those U.S. House members would be Nathan Deal, Phil Gingrey, Jack Kingston, John Linder, Tom Price, and Lynn Westmoreland.
The Georgia half-dozen named themselves as hosts of a Tuesday fund-raising event for Broun in Washington. Some of them even showed up.
This is a second piece of good news for Broun, whose political career hangs on the thread of his surprise victory last summer in the special election to replace the late Charlie Norwood of Augusta.
Last week, state Sen. Nancy Schaefer (R-Turnerville) withdrew from the 10th District primary, citing her husband’s health.
But the endorsement of Broun by Georgia’s congressional delegation is far more significant.
Tim Echols, a spokesman for Broun, attempted to characterize the support as a case of the GOP establishment lining up against Glenn Richardson, who is quickly becoming known as the Wild Man From Paulding County. Fleming is the House majority whip, and a part of Richardson’s leadership team.
“In the run-up this campaign, Mr. Fleming has relied on his mentor, the very controversial speaker of the Georgia House, who is known for stinging attacks on fellow Republicans - particularly Governor [Sonny] Perdue and Lt. Gov. [Casey] Cagle,” Echols said. “So it is a contrast to see how Congressman Broun works so closely with his fellow Georgia Republicans and enjoys their trust.”
The Fleming campaign noted that, last year, Broun was running against Georgia’s Republican hierarchy, which had endorsed Jim Whitehead of Augusta.
“Paul Broun has worked very hard to become part of the establishment of Washington D.C., and Tuesday he was enshrined at the Capitol Hill Club,” said campaign manager Cam Kirbo. He accused Broun of “seeking cover behind the backs of his colleagues.”
To say that the congressional endorsement of Broun is a slap at Richardson probably goes too far. For one thing, the six can lean on Washington comraderie as an excuse. To support someone you work with is no crime.
A spokesman for Kingston noted that his boss is originally from Athens, and knows Broun well. “There’s definitely a relationship there,” said Chris Crawford.
But the fact that the congressmen are lending their support without apparent regard for Richardson’s clout remains significant. The House speaker — if he survives until 2011 — will have a large say in redrawing new congressional district lines after the next census.
Nor is it unimportant that Broun’s supporters now include Westmoreland. The Coweta County congressman is the former state House minority leader. He and Richardson — not to mention Fleming — share the same political base.
The other thought to keep in mind is the precarious position that Republicans in the U.S. House could find themselves in this November.
One Democrat, Bobby Saxon, has already announced for the east Georgia seat.
The backing of Broun by his Georgia colleagues could be a byproduct of GOP strategery in Washington — the belief that the (i) next to Broun’s name may be a safer bet than sweeping the deck clean and starting fresh.
Broun’s chief problem remains financial. According to just-released campaign finance disclosures, the Republican incumbent has $116,396 in cash on hand, but a debt of $198,579 left from his 2007 race. He’s loaned himself a total of $209,000.
Tuesday’s fund-raiser was aimed at tamping down Broun’s debt.
Fleming, despite his status as a challenger, is in a far better position, reporting $595,513 in cash on hand, and no debt.
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