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DEL.ICIO.USNot just Richardson, but Keen, too, challenged in GOP caucus fight
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
By now, you know that state Rep. Glenn Richardson of Hiram was all but guaranteed another two years as House speaker this morning.
About three-quarters of the House Republican caucus voted by secret ballot to stick with with the chamber’s first GOP leader. Unless rebellious Republican lawmakers choose to make an alliance with Democrats in January — an unlikely situation — the election should settle the matter.
But before it was over, House Majority Leader Jerry Keen of St. Simons Island also got an unexpected challenge during the caucus meeting, according to my AJC colleague James Salzer.
Keen didn’t find out until shortly before the morning meeting that state Rep. Tom Graves of Ranger would also run for the position.
Graves, who has been a thorn in the leadership’s side, accused Keen of not putting the Republican caucus first. At one point, he said Keen was soliciting support for his likely campaign for governor in 2010, rather than for Republican House candidates fighting for election this year. “I believe our caucus and our state deserves the best of the best,” Graves told caucus members.
Keen denied he sought campaign contributions for his race for governor. In fact, Keen said he won’t decide whether to make the race until after the 2009 legislative session. If he decides to run for governor, he said, he would resign his leadership post.
“We are entering one of the most difficult sessions you can imagine,” he said. “I don’t think it’s time to take a risk for change.”
The vote for majority leader was also secret, but it would be a fair guess that Keen won by the same margin as Richardson.
Comments
By Maniac is accurate
November 10, 2008 1:40 PM | Link to this
The GOP is going to turn Georgia blue again with the horrible leaders the rank-and-file select. Richardson is a corrupt, petulant joke.
By Frank R.
November 10, 2008 11:12 PM | Link to this
I’ve had about enough of this “Georgia is turning blue” nonsense! All I read in the paper is how “Georgia is going Democrat” because two Republican house members in the metro area lost last week. How many of you know that two incumbent Democrats in North Georgia also lost? That’s right…..you won’t read about it in any newspaper….but GOP lost three seats and the Democrats lost two! In a year where Democrats made huge gains across the nation two incumbent Democrats LOST in Georgia!! Hardly what I would call “Georgia turning blue.” The house leadership team did a great job and deserved to be re-elected.