Home > Political Insider > Archives > 2008 > May > 25
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Sam Olens and business’ disenchantment with the state Capitol
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In the six weeks since the Legislature imploded and departed Atlanta, Georgia’s business community has moved from denial to anger to outright depression.
A cynic, or a Democrat, might say members of the state’s economic elite have contracted a virulent case of buyer’s remorse.
This fresh Republican administration, a governorship and two legislative chambers, had advertised itself as a best friend to commerce, but has been unable to deliver what commerce needs most — a strategy for breaking through metro Atlanta’s traffic congestion so that goods and people can move from one side of Georgia to the other.
Other issues scream for attention, too, but transportation remains the chafing point.
One reaction by business types had been to place calls to U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, to beg him and his air of competency to join the 2010 race for governor. Isakson declined early this month.
Ever since, Georgia’s corporate phone trees have scoured the landscape for another, next governor — perhaps an outsider who might be able to raise the state Capitol up from the frat house basement it’s fallen into.
Jimmy Blanchard of Columbus, the retiring CEO of Synovus? Kessel Stelling, head of the Bank of North Georgia? Their names, and those of a handful of other business executives, have surfaced.
So has this one: Sam Olens, the seven-year chairman of the Cobb County Commission. Olens, who has a reputation as a concensus-builder, confirmed last week that he is indeed thinking about a Republican run for governor.
You might call Olens an angry optimist. His current chairmanship of the Atlanta Regional Commission has given him an appreciation of the state’s strong points — including a thriving airport in Atlanta and an expanding port in Savannah.
But Olens also has the stats that show him what’s missing. Big-salaried jobs are no longer coming to the region. State tax credits for new jobs are a “worthless” tangle of bureaucratic tape.
Road money is spent poorly, and not enough cash goes into education. “Asphalt doesn’t bring jobs. Diplomas bring jobs,” he said.
Then there’s the “absolute lunacy” of the attitude owned by many in the state Capitol, who think that — if metro Atlanta is allowed to choke on its own congestion — then jobs will flow to rural areas.
“There’s an economic development strategy for everyone. It doesn’t pit one section of the state against another,” Olens said. Bring corporate jobs to Atlanta, he said, and many of those same companies will move their plants to rural Georgia.
Olens wants more vision and fewer bad ideas coming out of the Capitol. “I spend more time killing bills than trying to get anything passed. Not even close,” Olens said. “There comes a point where the steam’s coming out. And I’m there.”
How real is this? Olens, who is unopposed for re-election this year, will give it more thought after November. No county commission chairman has ever made the leap to governor.
And there’s the question of whether business discontent is real, or a feint aimed at bringing ambitious Republicans in the Capitol — Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle foremost among them — back into line.
January should tell.
An online bonus: Earlier this month, Olens gave a speech to the Council for Quality Growth, outlining the above points and more. He’s handed over his talking points. See them on the jump.
The Future of our Region
Following another disappointing session of the Legislature, a concise analysis of Metro Atlanta’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats is in order. We have much to be proud of, but we cannot rest on past laurels.
Strengths
Metro Atlanta is blessed with many outstanding attributes. Strengths include:
1) A highly educated work force, with great schools, technical colleges and universities;
2) A growing City of Atlanta, with exciting new venues such as the Georgia Aquarium and World of Coke;
3) Fantastic suburbs, with quality of life enhancements such as open heart surgery and other state of the art medical services, the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Gwinnett Arena, and the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park;
4) Outstanding non-profits and corporate leaders;
5) The world’s busiest airport and a fantastic port that help bring leading businesses to our region;
6) Regional leadership that is more mature and unified, emphasizing our interdependence and creative energy;
7) The embracement of diversity;
8) Significant leadership from the Natural Resources and Transportation Chairs (Jeff Mullis, Vance Smith, Ross Tolleson and Lynn Smith); and,
9) Quite simply, a great place to live, work and play.
Weaknesses
Our weaknesses include:
1) Excessive reliance on the car with insufficient transit choices;
2) Insufficient infrastructure funding, to expressly include water and transportation;
3) A myriad of transportation plans with inadequate construction to relieve traffic congestion and excessive reliance on local SPLOSTs to fund capital projects;
4) 19 years of water litigation, action/inaction of the Corps of Engineers and sprawl, have poorly served us; and,
5) The State’s incentives to encourage the expansion of existing businesses and the pursuit of new businesses are not linked to specific sectors or adequate metrics.
Threats
Instead of aggressively seeking to improve the State post-Olympics:
1) We are losing high salary jobs while our overall population grows;
2) Local government in general is under attack at the Capitol while the State insufficiently funds the criminal justice system, education, trauma care & mental health;
3) An anti-Atlanta mentality foolishly believes that a weak Atlanta serves the rest of the State well; and,
4) The funding of pork projects by the legislature before Public Safety and Education.
Opportunities
Thankfully, we have immense opportunities to include:
1) An emphasis on environmental sustainability, “green” initiatives and the acquisition of park land;
2) An aging region with priceless volunteers and mentors;
3) A new direction at GDOT with greater collaboration between GDOT, GRTA, ARC & MARTA;
4) Exciting new tourism destinations, to include the Center for Civil & Human Rights, Aquarium expansion, and Gwinnett Braves;
5) The ability to incentivize regional transportation and water solutions, to include financial encouragement for the consolidation of governments and school systems;
6) A redevelopment emphasis;
7) A renewed push on lower class size and proven school technology; and,
8) Reasonable tax reform, such as the elimination of the corporate income tax and property tax indexed to government inflation.
Having just returned from the Atlanta Regional Commission’s exploratory to Denver, our strengths and opportunities far surpass our threats and challenges. With a little help from the State and an appreciation of regional solutions, metro Atlanta will encounter boundless success. Yes, Denver has beautiful snow-capped mountains. But they like many other regions of our country can’t compete with us in regard to civic and corporate leadership, a can-do mentality and outstanding quality of life.
Permalink | Comments (17) | Post your comment |
Barr: Celebrate tonight, work tomorrow
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Denver - Newly crowned Libertarian presidential nominee Bob Barr told his fellow Libertarians to celebrate now, “because I’m sure we’ll all leave here with the strongest ticket in the history of the Libertarian Party.”
Barr spoke to the convention as its new nominee, after knocking off Mary Ruwart after six rounds of voting.
“Then I want everybody to remember we have only 163 days to win this election,” he said. “Do not wait one single day.”
-Aaron Gould Sheinin
Permalink | Comments (54) | Post your comment | Categories: Aaron Gould Sheinin, Libertarian Convention
Barr claims Libertarian nomination
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Denver - Georgia’s Bob Barr has captured the 2008 Libertarian nomination as president after six rounds of voting at a heated national convention.
Barr, the former four-term Republican congressman from Cobb County, finally bested Mary Ruwart of Texas after third-place finisher Wayne Allyn Root endorsed Barr.
Root was eliminated after the fifth ballot.
Details to come.
*-Aaron Gould Sheinin
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Libertarian Convention
Root backs Barr
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Denver - Wayne Allyn Root just endorsed Bob Barr for the Libertarian presidential nomination, a move that could assure Root the vice presidential slot and Barr the top spot.
“It’s not over,” Root told the convention moments after meeting with Barr. “It’s just beginning. I’d like to be part of a Barr-Root ticket.”
The sixth ballot is straight ahead. It will be the last. If Root’s supporters honor his wishes, it’ll be a Barr victory.
-Aaron Gould Sheinin
Permalink | Comments (23) | Post your comment | Categories: Libertarian Convention
Barr drops to second; one ballot left
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Denver - Bob Barr has dropped into second place after five rounds of voting at the 2008 Libertarian National Convention.
The sixth and presumably final ballot for the party’s presidential nomination is coming next, a head-to-head match up between Barr and Mary Ruwart, who now leads 229 votes to 223 for Barr.
Wayne Allyn Root was third with 165 votes and was eliminated.
Members of the Georgia delegation hinted that Root and Barr were behind closed doors, possibly discussing a deal. That could not be immediately confirmed.
-Aaron Gould Sheinin
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Aaron Gould Sheinin, Libertarian Convention
The end is near
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Denver - As we wait for the results of the fifth round of voting, it’s become clear that this will go no more than six rounds.
The party rules require that the candidate who receives the fewest votes be eliminated from the next ballot. There are three candidates left on the fifth ballot. One will be gone after, meaning there will only be two candidates on the sixth ballot.
It’s shaping up to be a fight between Bob Barr and Mary Ruwart.
After Mike Gravel was eliminated after the fourth ballot, he spoke briefly with reporters. He declined to endorse one of his former opponents.
“That’s not the way I play,” Gravel said. “We’ll let this thing play itself out.”
Gravel also said he would not seek the vice presidential nomination.
“I’ll be a Libertarian for the rest of my life,” he said.
-Aaron Gould Sheinin
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Libertarian Convention
After four, still tied
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Denver - We’ve been through four rounds of balloting and the results haven’t changed much. Bob Barr and Mary Ruwart remain tied, each getting 32 percent of the votes cast at the 2008 Libertarian National Convention.
The convention will proceed to a fifth ballot, but this time there will be only three candidates. Former U.S. Sen. Mike Gravel has been eliminated as he finished last in the fourth round.
Gravel received 76 votes for 12 percent of the total, but is still out. Where his support goes could determine the outcome of the nomination.
-Aaron Gould Sheinin
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment | Categories: Libertarian Convention
Barr falls into tie
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Denver - Bob Barr and Mary Ruwart are tied for first in the Libertarian presidential sweepstakes after the third round of balloting.
Barr and Ruwart each received 186 votes. That’s a drop of two for Barr and a gain of 24 for Ruwart from the second round.
Wayne Allyn Root is third with 146.
George Phillies did not receive the necessary 5 percent to stay in the race and will be eliminated for the fourth ballot. Phillies received 31 votes.
-Aaron Gould Sheinin
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Aaron Gould Sheinin, Libertarian Convention
Kubby endorses Ruwart
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Denver - Bob Barr’s candidacy just suffered a blow, minor though it might be, when Steve Kubby dropped out of the presidential race and endorsed Mary Ruwart.
Kubby, whose platform was largely based on easing marijuana laws, did not receive the necessary 5 percent on the second ballot to remain in the race.
He urged the 32 Libertarians who voted for him to back Ruwart. If they did so, it would drop Barr from first place to second, trailing Ruwart 194 to 188.
State delegations are meeting now in advance of the third ballot.
-Aaron Gould Sheinin
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Aaron Gould Sheinin, Libertarian Convention
Barr opens lead on second ballot
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Denver - Former Georgia congressman Bob Barr has extended his lead for the Libertarian presidential nomination on the second ballot, but remains far from a majority.
Barr now leads Mary Ruwart 188 votes to 162 votes, with Wayne Allyn Root still third with 138. The results mean Barr gained 35 votes from the first ballot. It takes 327 votes to win the Libertarian nomination. Mike Gravel is fourth with 73 votes.
Georgia’s delegation again went overwhelmingly for Barr, giving 33 of its 35 votes to the local boy.
-Aaron Gould Sheinin
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment |
Multiple ballots likely
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Denver - Russ Verney, Bob Barr’s campaign manager, just breathed a cautious sigh of relief.
Verney had said before voting began at the Libertarian National Convention that the best Barr could hope for on the first ballot was an even split among the top three candidates. He got that, plus a little more.
Barr finished the first ballot one vote ahead of Mary Ruwart and 30 ahead of Wayne Allyn Root. But Barr’s 153 votes is far below the 327 needed to win the nomination.
Verney predicted the second ballot would not change much, but movement would begin in earnest on the third.
One scenario floating around he exhibition hall is that after the second or third ballot Mike Gravel will drop out and endorse Barr. Gravel received 71 votes on the first ballot but then was endorsed by Michael Jingozian, who was eliminated after the first ballot, but did receive 23 votes.
The theory goes that Gravel would add his 94 votes to Barr’s tally, which would force Root to drop out and also back Barr in hopes of becoming the vice presidential nominee.
Of course, this theory was floated by Barr supporters. I’m sure Ruwart’s people have their own.
-Aaron Gould Sheinin
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Libertarian Convention
Barr leads after first ballot
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Denver - Bob Barr was the leader after the first round of voting at the 2008 Libertarian National Convention, but did not come close to receiving the necessary majority to win the nomination.
Barr lead all candidates with 153 votes, followed closely by Mary Ruwart with 152. Wayne Allyn Root was third with 123.
State delegations are now gathering again to consider the second ballot, which will feature two fewer candidates. Party rules say any candidate who doesn’t receive 5 percent is dropped.
The key now for Barr, and the concern, is whether candidates still in the race see that they can’t win and begin offering delegates to another.
-Aaron Gould Sheinin
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment | Categories: Aaron Gould Sheinin, Libertarian Convention
Georgia boys
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Denver - As we wait for the state-by-state vote to be announced (for the first ballot anyway), here’s quick photo of two of Georgia’s Libertarian delegates with their chosen candidate, Bob Barr.
On the left is attorney Richard Schrade Jr. of McDonough, Barr is in the center, and blogger and journalist Jason Pye is on the right. Check out Pye’s blog.
OK, they’re getting ready to call the vote.
-Aaron Gould Sheinin
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Aaron Gould Sheinin, Libertarian Convention
More on the competition
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Denver - The waiting game has begun as each state’s delegation is voting internally before casting their total lot with one candidate or another here at the Libertarian National Convention.
Ruwart
Word in the convention hall is that Georgia’s Bob Barr has two main opponents: Texas activist Mary Ruwart and Vegas oddsmaker Wayne Allyn Root.
Root
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Aaron Gould Sheinin, Libertarian Convention
Time to vote
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Denver - The speeches are — finally — over and it’s time for the delegates to the Libertarian National Convention to vote.
It takes 327 delegates to win the nomination. Georgia gets 35, second only to Texas’ 37 and California’s 106.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Aaron Gould Sheinin, Libertarian Convention
Barr brings the noise
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Denver - Bob Barr promised Libertarians to shock the world if he’s elected to be their presidential nominee.
In a rousing nominating speech to the 500-plus delegates in the convention hall, Barr praised the Libertarian delegates and urged them to let him carry their standard.
“We will send shock waves, not just across this country, not a seismic shift on Capitol Hill, but around the world,” Barr said, “because again, men, women, children and government leaders will once again look to America, not with fear in their eyes, but love in their heart.”
Barr, the former Republican congressman from Cobb County, said he’s learned a lot about Libertarians in just two years of being in the party.
“There has been more discussion of substantive, constitutional issues in the three days I’ve been here with you than in 30 years of working with that other party,” he said. “This the party of substance.”
But he also reiterated his regret for some of the policy decisions he made while serving as a Republican in Congress, especially his support of the Patriot Act and the Defense of Marriage Act.
But he left the podium on a high note, emphasizing the things he said he and the entire party have in common.
“We’ve never been afraid of leading,” he said. “The Libertarian Party knows no fear. Fear is not a part of our platform. It’s not part of our hard wiring. And it’s not part of mine either. Make me your nominee and I will make you proud.”
Permalink | Comments (22) | Post your comment | Categories: Aaron Gould Sheinin, Libertarian Convention
Barr’s turn
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Denver It’s Bob Barr’s turn to be nominated at the Libertarian Convention.
So far, he’s had nominating speeches by Steve Dasbach, a former national party chairman, and Rob Kampia, of the Marijuana Policy Project.
“Bob Barr has done more to roll back the federal war on drugs than almost anyone I know in the country,” Kampia said. “I urge you to vote for Bob Barr for president.”
-Aaron Gould Sheinin
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Aaron Gould Sheinin, Libertarian Convention
Working the room
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Denver - As the moment of truth approaches at the Libertarian convention, Bob Barr and his Georgia backers are working for votes.
Here, Barr lobbies a California delegate after speaking to the entire California delegation.
Meanwhile, Georgia delegates, decked out in the omnipresent black Barr cowboy hats, prepare to rally.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Aaron Gould Sheinin, Libertarian Convention
Settle in for a long day
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Denver - The nominating speeches have begun at the 2008 Libertarian National Convention, the first step in what promises to be a long day.
Eight candidates made the cut to get 16 minutes at the podium to make their case to the 500-plus delegates at the convention.
Vegas odds maker Wayne Allyn Root is up first and has set the tone by splitting his 16 minutes into increments. He first showed an endorsement video from a Chicago talk radio host and now his daughter his speaking. We can only assume each of the eight candidates is going to split their time, too.
Georgia’s Bob Barr has three people who will speak on his behalf before he takes the podium, his campaign said.
Once the speeches are finished, the balloting begins. Nobody expects this to be a one-ballot deal. We could be here a while, as each ballot will require a roll call of the states to declare their delegates’ support.
It takes 50 percent plus 1 vote to win the nomination.
-Aaron Gould Sheinin
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Aaron Gould Sheinin, Libertarian Convention
