Home > Political Insider > Archives > 2008 > June > 09 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USHouse appropriations says he’s sorry — for remaining mum on DUI arrest
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Over the weekend, House Appropriations Chairman Ben Harbin (R-Augusta) apologized to his constituents about remaining silent during a year-long dealings over a DUI arrest.
According to the Augusta Chronicle, Harbin “stopped short of offering any details as to what happened.”
But Harbin admitted that he had been wrong not to publicly address the May 2007 incident. Wrote the newspaper:
In the days after his arrest in a single-car wreck in Atlanta, Mr. Harbin said, he was urged by friends and supporters to “aggressively engage the media” to protect himself from political fallout.
He chose instead to stay silent to “allow the legal process to run its course” and avoid any appearance of trying to manipulate the case.
“Well, they say hindsight is 20/20, and unfortunately, I made the wrong choice,” he wrote. “Here we are a year later, and the legal process has yet to be finished.”
Mr. Harbin wrote that he has never used his position as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee to postpone activity in the case.
“It is crazy to think that I would put myself, moreover, my family, under this dark cloud for an entire year by choice,” he wrote. “I have always accepted responsibility for my actions, and this issue is no different.”
He said he remains eager to settle the matter in court.
This is the second time in the last few days that a House Republican leader has addressed a long-standing set of circumstances that, in another political climate, might otherwise have been ignored.
Over the weekend, House Rules Chairman Earl Ehrhart (R-Powder Springs) let it be known that he’s no longer with the Facilities Group, a company whose top executives — Ehrhart not among them — are under federal indictment for allegedly corrupting a Mississippi official.
Ehrhart is opposed in the July 15 primary by Tammy Bailey Rohner, a 40-year-old real estate broker. Harbin is opposed by Lee Benedict, a 40-year-old educator. Normally, both opponents might be described as “token.” But apparently, these two powerful Republican incumbents are taking no chances.
Photo of Ben Harbin (right) by Ben Gray/AJC
Comments
By catlady
June 9, 2008 10:15 AM | Link to this
The party of “family values” (including, presumably, honest and sobriety) strikes again. Glen Richardson, move over.
By Hank
June 9, 2008 10:51 AM | Link to this
Ben, like Earl and Glenn, is an embarrassment to our state. show some class and resign.
By ron
June 9, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this
“Eager to have this matter settled in court”.Not eager enough to plead guilty and pay his dues,I’ll bet.
By gataxpayer
June 9, 2008 5:08 PM | Link to this
Hank, Ron and Catlady, yall could have not spoken more intelligently!
I’m so happy to see Erhart has some opposition, has been in that seat too long!
Also, the boys in Paulding County really need help with someone coming out against Richardson!
By RJ
June 9, 2008 8:58 PM | Link to this
These latest moves are clearly political. Ray Charles, a great human being, was blind and now is dead, and even he can see it.
Don’t you just love politicians who do the right thing whe its most convenient to and necessary for them?
By We just don't believe you Ben
June 9, 2008 11:26 PM | Link to this
Who was Ben drinking with that night?
www.tondeestavern.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=216
www.tondeestavern.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=230
By dotell
June 10, 2008 9:43 AM | Link to this
Because of the recent dui killing the young boy and injuring his sister, we need to ensure that the courts send a message to individuals that drink and drive. the elected official needs to resign. he should have been an example, not a statistic.
By Nice to be the House Appropriations Chairman
June 10, 2008 6:15 PM | Link to this
Any regular person would have had his court date long, long ago, and would have received appropriate sentencing. But because Harbin is the House Appropriations Chairman, he gets to play the system and delay, delay, delay until the public forgets all about it.
Ben’s getting away with this, and laughing at all of us behind closed doors.