BEST FROM THE BLOG: POLITICAL INSIDER
These are some of the many items readers could find this past week in the Political Insider blog on AJC.com. Look there for breaking news and to gain insight about Georgia’s political scene.
DeKalb County State Court Judge Dax Lopez, a Republican nominated by President Barack Obama to fill a Northern District federal judgeship, has resigned his membership in the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials.
Jerry Gonzalez, executive director of GALEO, confirmed Lopez’ decision Thursday.
Lopez faces a grueling U.S. Senate confirmation process. And as we explained in a Sunday post, sheriffs in Gwinnett and Cobb counties declared Lopez’ membership in the group, which opposed 2011 legislation to push illegal immigrants out of the state, is grounds for disqualification:
“Judge Lopez’ 11 years of service on behalf of [GALEO] would suggest prejudice towards law-abiding citizens and law enforcement across this county,” Cobb County Sheriff Neil Warren wrote in letters addressed to U.S. Sens. Johnny Isakson and David Perdue.
“GALEO has called for law enforcement to turn a blind eye towards criminals that have illegally penetrated our borders and then perpetrated crimes against the very citizens I am sworn to protect.”
However, Gonzalez said Lopez’ resignation wasn’t a reaction to those objections.Your daily jolt on politics from the AJC’s Political insider blog
“Our organization has been through nomination processes before,” he said. “The standard practice in these matters is that there is a roll-off period. We knew that that was being considered. This was something that [Lopez] thought would be prudent.
Gonzalez pointed to the case of Luis Aguilar, an Atlanta attorney nominated to the Securities Exchange Commission by President George W. Bush in 2008. Aguilar resigned his membership in GALEO, too, Gonzalez said.
The GALEO executive director said there’s one more reason that Lopez might have thought his resignation prudent: The organization is currently considering litigation against local governments in the South, challenging at-large representation that may be depriving Hispanics of a voice.
—-JIM GALLOWAY
The season hasn’t yet begun, and already Bulldog Nation has been split asunder. And not by any argument over quarterbacks.
On second thought, that’s not quite true.
This week, Heisman great Herschel Walker declared that he likes the idea of President Donald Trump. From USA Today:
Walker said he supports Trump’s idea of building a wall between the U.S.-Mexico border, but does not agree with Trump’s most controversial position: deporting the 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S.
Walker said he would like to see a plan that enables immigrants to earn citizenship, but he still likes Trump as a presidential candidate in part from what Walker learned about Trump during the 1984 and ’85 seasons with the New Jersey Generals.
But now word comes to us that Walker’s old coach and mentor, Vince Dooley (and wife Barbara) will headline GOP presidential candidate Jeb Bush’s Sept. 19 tailgate party in Athens, coinciding with an all-important Georgia-South Carolina game.
—-JIM GALLOWAY
As of its last report, the Georgia Republican party was in the black – but only barely.
A $105,130 surplus, drawn down from $867,901 in contributions, was somewhat boosted by a $55,000 loan that shows up on its June 30 report from chairman John Padgett, to secure an Athens conference center for the party’s state convention.
Now we’re being told that the state’s ruling party has recently missed payrolls – though only briefly, cut out reimbursements for travel and such, and has shifted some full-time employees to contract status.
GOP spokesman Ryan Mahoney said he couldn’t confirm the above specifics, but said party headquarter was in a period of belt-tightening. “Fund-raising over the summer was pretty tight,” he said.
The financial difficulties follow a hot race for party chairman that only ended in May with Padget’s re-election . Then there’s the Super PAC effect – draining both money and talent away from party infrastructure.
You also have to wonder whether, with party conventions becoming a venue for the airing of grievances against GOP elected officials, successful candidates are sending their cash elsewhere.
Regardless, the party’s financial straits explain much of the hoopla surrounding last month’s announcement that former Savannah congressman Jack Kingston would lead the party’s fundraising efforts.
—-JIM GALLOWAY
About the Author
