Republicans to pick speaker today

By Aaron Gould Sheinin
 and Cameron McWhirter


The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The man Republican lawmakers nominate today to be the next speaker of the House is going to have an ugly job from the start.

The majority party’s choice, the presumptive speaker, will take office after one of the most sensational scandals in recent memory and will have to lead during a budget crisis that is the worst in generations. Gnarly ethics issues and brutal budget cuts will dominate his first months.

Three are running: Ways and Means chairman Larry O’Neal of Bonaire, former Judiciary chairman David Ralston of Blue Ridge, and Higher Education chairman Bill Hembree of Winston.

The contest comes after the spectacular implosion of Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram), the once-powerful leader who shocked the state with an admission last month that he attempted suicide. His ex-wife then went on television and said he had an affair with a lobbyist promoting a bill he sponsored. Within days, Richardson said he would resign Jan. 1.

And, just like that, ethics has become a major issue for the people vying for Richardson’s job. But it’s not just ethics. Rank-and-file Republicans say they want someone who will not be just “more of the same.”

In the past, candidates would spend the weeks before an election glad-handing and behind-the-scenes cajoling for votes. This time, they have spent energy explaining away past issues and professing their fidelity.

Three seek the job

O’Neal is considered a front runner because of his close ties to fellow Houston County politician Gov. Sonny Perdue, his calm demeanor and steady hand. But his relationship with Perdue — he was the governor’s private lawyer for a time — and other members of the Republican leadership have also raised questions.

O’Neal told a Macon Telegraph reporter that Richardson’s affair with the Atlanta Gas Light lobbyist was “common knowledge” yet did nothing that could have prevented the current scandal.

He also continues to take heat for pushing through a last-minute tax cut bill in 2005 that personally benefited the governor. O’Neal sent a letter to his Republican colleagues late Tuesday saying an IRS audit in 2007 cleared him of any wrongdoing in the Perdue tax matter and that should clear his name.

Ralston, who was stripped of his committee chairmanship after he challenged Richardson for the speakership in 2008, has paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to state and federal collectors for delinquent personal income taxes from 1996 to 2005. Ralston said the tax problem stemmed from a dishonest bookkeeper who pleaded guilty to embezzling from him.

Hembree is not as well known as O’Neal and Ralston and his district is trending Democratic, meaning he might be vulnerable when he runs for re-election. He ran unopposed in 2008. Hembree, who has became a favorite of social conservatives, could also scare off moderate Republicans.

As the caucus seeks a speaker who can rise above the scandal, many have pointed to the influence of lobbyists as a primary concern.

The three candidates running to replace Richardson have received numerous gifts from lobbyists, just as current House leaders have, although O’Neal has far outpaced the other two.

Lobbyists have spent almost $36,000 on O’Neal since 2005, disclosure reports filed with the State Ethics Commission show. That’s more than the top leaders in the Senate received, but considerably less than the current House leadership.

So far in 2009, lobbyists have reported spending $6,599 entertaining O’Neal. In March, two lobbyists — representing Stateside Capital and the Georgia Affordable Housing Coalition — split the $799 bill to give O’Neal tickets to a concert by Elton John and Billy Joel.

Ralston accepted $13,158 in lobbyist gifts since 2005, including $1,396 so far in 2009. In 2007, AT&T spent $831 to take Ralston to the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. Microsoft spent more than $1,500 on airfare, lodging, food and drink, and ground transportation for Ralston. Disclosure reports do not say where Ralston went.

Bill Hembree, received $9,589 in the past five years, including $1,602 in 2009. More than half came from state agencies, mostly football tickets provided by the University System of Georgia and tickets to events at the Georgia World Congress Center, including a monster-truck show and a motocross event. In 2006, Georgia-Pacific gave Hembree $358 tickets to a Bon Jovi concert.

Promises of reform

In the days since Richardson’s announced resignation, all three have campaigned via meetings, telephone conversations and the Internet. All have promised rules changes and ethics reforms.

Ralston, in a letter to the caucus Tuesday, reminded his colleagues that he stood nearly alone a year ago in challenging Richardson and that he promised then to end the hawks system that allowed a handful of powerful lawmakers to cast votes in any committee. He also vowed to limit lobbyists’ access to him and his office.

In an interview — Ralston was the only candidate to grant one — Ralston said his GOP colleagues realize what’s at stake today.

“It took a lot of hard work to win a majority, and I don’t think we want to go back and not be able to work on issues that voters sent us down there to work on,” he said. “They recognize the only way we do that is to let the people of Georgia know that we’re serious about change.”

Ralston said he’s the candidate with a record of fighting to change the current system, back in the days when the other candidates obliged Richardson’s heavy hand.

O’Neal, a lawyer in Warner Robins, would not return calls from the AJC, but he issued a lengthy multi-point plan for reform .

Like Ralston, he pledged to end to the hawk system. He stressed he would disagree with the governor but “without making a spectacle,” a reference to Richardson once referring to Perdue’s backside in remarks on the House floor.

“I will never intentionally embarrass you,” he wrote.

He stressed he would work for “meaningful ethics reform legislation” this upcoming session.

Hembree said he was too busy to speak with the AJC but sent a brief statement that “ethics reform will be essential for us to move forward and I look forward to working with my colleagues to craft the right legislation.”

In recent e-mail sent out to colleagues, Hembree said, “We cannot afford to continue down the path of talking about family values and ethics reform on the campaign trail but turn a blind eye at the state Capitol. It must end now and it must start in the Speaker’s office.”

Staff writer Alan Judd contributed to this report.

About the candidates

Bill Hembree

● Born: March 8, 1966

● Hometown: Winston

● Political affiliation: Republican
● Career: Insurance Agent

● Committee: Chair, Higher Education

David Ralston

● Born: March 14, 1954


● Hometown: Blue Ridge


● Political affiliation: Republican


● Career: Lawyer

● Committee: Vice chair, Judiciary

Larry O’Neal

● Born: May 5, 1949.


● Hometown: Bonaire


● Political affiliation: Republican


● Career: Lawyer


● Committee: Chair, Ways & Means