Georgia Republicans gather today in Columbus for a state convention where delegates could send a powerful message to GOP leaders in the General Assembly: Strengthen Georgia's ethics laws.
But the move toward ethics reform might not be the only ruckus at the two-day conclave as party regulars, eager for a party united behind likely presidential nominee Mitt Romney, fear an attempt by Ron Paul supporters to crash the convention.
The state convention is typically the ultimate insiders' ball. Delegates from around the state vote on a variety of policy resolutions, hear speeches from elected officials and elect party leaders. Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich will make one of his first public appearances Saturday since ending his presidential bid. And, in presidential election years, conventioneers also elect a select group to be delegates to the Republican National Convention, to be held this year in Augus.
This year's convention might have a little added tension. Some grassroots activists, including Tea Party supporters, will push for a resolution calling on state lawmakers to strengthen ethics laws, which could include a cap on lobbyist gifts to legislators, something top Republicans in the House and Senate have not supported.
An ethics resolution would be received warmly, said Justin Tomczak, a Cobb County delegate who chairs Romney's 11th district campaign in Georgia.
"Republicans in Georgia are sick and tired of a few bad apples giving the rest of us bad name," he said. "Unfortunately, many of our party leaders have remained silent, leaving it up to the Tea Party, the media and conservative blogs to continue to put the spotlight on an isolated few who have lost their way. It is time for us to again show that Republicans are the party of strong ethics and clean government."
Jason Thompson of Suwanee, chairman of the 7th District GOP, said he doesn't know any delegate who doesn't support an ethics resolution.
"Everybody is (supporting the ethics resolution), except some of the people under the Gold Dome," Thompson said. "I can’t remember talking to anybody that’s against that. The only people I can think of are state representatives or state senators.”
Republican leaders in the General Assembly object to that characterization. Marshall Guest, spokesman for Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, reiterated Thursday that his boss continues to think that transparency works better than caps.
Ralston helped push through ethics reform in 2010 that increased reporting by lobbyists and stiffened fines for late filers. The Legislature continues to make tweaks to ethics laws, too, and this year restored some funding to the state ethics commission.
The question this weekend is whether the issue reaches the convention floor for a full vote. Resolutions amount to statements of party beliefs; that is, delegates vote to affirm official party positions. But before resolutions reach the floor, they must first be approved by a committee chaired this year by former state Sen. Chip Pearson, D-Dawsonville. Pearson said Thursday he was not ready to discuss the resolutions.
What comes out of the committee concerns Alton Russell of Columbus, chairman of the 3rd District GOP. He believes the committee will consolidate several ethics resolutions and send one to the floor.
"To some extent, I agree with that, but I’m afraid they’re going to water it down," he said.
Meanwhile, 64 Georgians will be elected delegates or alternates to the Republican National Convention, to be held in August in Tampa. The slots are typically rewards to long-time party activists, donors and rising stars in the party.
In Tampa, those delegates' role will be to vote for a party nominee. There's little question that Romney will be the Republican nominee but Paul, the libertarian-leaning Texas congressman, has continued to try and amass delegates through state conventions after having largely failed to earn delegates through state primary elections.
But Bruno Rivera, 23, said the concern is misguided. Rivera is a Paul supporter and a delegate to the state convention.
"We're not trying to take over the party," Rivera said. "We're trying to cooperate with the party and with Republicans and see if we can find a better solution," Rivera said. "Obama is not qualified to run the nation another term, but we don't need another George W. Bush," he said referring to Romney.
Staff Writer Jim Galloway contributed to this report.
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