Melvin Everson Announces Campaign for Labor Commissioner

Friday, May 8, 2009

Brock Clay Weekly Report

Rep. Melvin Everson to run for Labor Commissioner

Last week, we reported that State Representative Melvin Everson, a Republican from Snellville, would run for labor commissioner on the 2010 Republican ticket. Everson, besides being a 23 year retiree of the United States Army Reserves, became only the second African American Republican elected to the Georgia House of Representatives since the Reconstruction. Everson serves on the House Education, Transportation, Judiciary Non Civil, and Human Relations and Aging committees. Everson previously served on the Snellville City Council and also as Snellville’s Mayor Pro Tem. Everson works in human resources and serves as an Associate Pastor at Salem Missionary Baptist Church.

Georgia’s current labor commissioner, Michael Thurmond, is said to be considering a possible run for higher office.

Senator David Shafer (R - Duluth) Withdraws from Lt. Governor’s Race

On Monday, Senator David Shafer (R – Duluth) announced his intention to fully suspend his 2010 bit for the Lt. Governor’s office and instead run for re – election to the Georgia State Senate. The former executive director of the Georgia Republican Party and three term state Senator is close friends with Lt. Governor Casey Cagle (who two weeks ago announced that he was dropping out of the 2010 governor’s race and running for re-election).

Shafer currently serves as the chairman of the Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities committee, and also serves on the Banking and Financial Institutions, Finance, Health and Human Services, Insurance and Labor, MARTOC, Reapportionment, Rules, and Sciences and Technology committees. Shafer announced that his re – election campaign will be chaired by Matt Reeves and the Rev. William Sheals. However, Rev. Sheals, the pastor of Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church in Norcross, announced on Thursday that he would remain in the race and run against Senator Shafer in the primary.

Mike Evans Announces Run for Congress

On Friday of last week, Mike Evans filed the paperwork necessary to begin raising funds for his 9th district congressional campaign. Evans served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1993 – 2001. More recently, he was elected to the Board of the Georgia Department of Transportation and served as the chairman of that Board. Evans stepped down from his post as a board member, however, after developing a relationship with then DOT Commissioner Gena Abrams, whom he later married. In his brief announcement, Evans vowed to focus on championing the values of homeowners and small business owners.

Many other names have been the object of speculation as potential candidates for this race, including State Rep. Tom Graves (R – Ranger), State Rep. David Ralston (R – Blue Ridge), Senator Lee Hawkins (R – Gainesville), and former Senate Majority Leader Bill Stephens.

Governor Sonny Perdue Certifies Additional Stimulus Funds For Road Projects

On Tuesday, Governor Sonny Perdue certified another $187 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for 51 road projects in Georgia. The project list includes another significant leg of the Fall Line Freeway. To date, the governor has certified over 100 total projects with funds that are required to be spent by June 30, 2009. The list of projects can be found here.

Stan Wise To Chair Georgia Public Service Commission

This week, the Georgia Public Service Commission elected Stan Wise to succeed Doug Everett as the chairman of the five member body. Wise has served on the PSC since 1995, after a stint as a Cobb County commissioner. Wise has chaired the Commission three times previously. Bubba McDonald was elected Vice Chairman.

Governor Sonny Perdue Signs Legislation

House Bill 228 – Reorganization of the Department of Human Resources and Department of Community Health

House Bill 160 – Super - speeder legislation, designed to crack down on habitually careless drivers and those who drive more than 10 MPH over the speed limit. This legislation will also provide up to $23 million in funding for the Georgia Trauma Care Network Commission.

HB 57, HB 80, HB 116, HB 120, HB 123, HB 126, HB 127, HB 129, HB 147, HB 160, HB 170, HB 181 , HB 193, HB 195, HB 212, HB 221, HB 228, HB 233, HB 248, HB 251, HB 300, HB 304, HB 306, HB 310 , HB 324, HB 326, HB 334, HB 349, HB 358, HB 364, HB 379, HB 388, HB 395, HB 410, HB 438, HB 439 , HB 440, HB 441, HB 444, HB 457, HB 482, HB 484, HB 485, HB 482, HB 487, HB 488, HB 492, HB 495 , HB 550, HB 555, HB 607, HB 639, HB 667

SB 20, SB 38, SB 63, SB 64, SB 69, SB 82, SB 85, SB 86, SB 89, SB 94, SB 97, SB 98 , SB 109, SB 114, SB 117, SB 133, SB 141, SB 144, SB 155, SB 168, SB 199, SB 201, SB 213, SB 246

HR 161, HR 336

SR 96, SR 176, SR 333

Local Legislation

HB 98, HB 167, HB 176, HB 216, HB 265, HB 297, HB 314, HB 319, HB 322, HB 366, HB 384, HB 393 , HB 434, HB 449, HB 496, HB 502, HB 539, HB 577, HB 588, HB 589, HB 590, HB 591, HB 592, HB 629 , HB 630, HB 635, HB 652, HB 653, HB 654, HB 657, HB 658, HB 660, HB 690, HB 695, HB 709, HB 723 , HB 724, HB 737, HB 744, HB 747, HB 752, HB 754, HB 762, HB 763, HB 764, HB 769, HB 773, HB 786 , HB 795, HB 797, HB 799, HB 811, HB 812, HB 816

SB 154, SB 269, SB 270, SB 271, SB 280

Legislator of the Week

Rep. Tony Sellier (R – Ft. Valley), was born in Trinidad and lived in Venezuela until the age of 15, when he came to the United States to study at a Catholic boarding school in Florida. Tony received his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of West Florida, and became a United States citizen in 1973. He began his career in 1970 working as an internal auditor for Burlington Industries, and eventually came to middle Georgia to take a job as director of financial services at Blue Bird Industries. Tony has since retired, and now considers himself a full time farmer and legislator.

He was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 2005, and currently serves on the Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, Defense and Veterans Affairs, Education, and Health and Human Services Committees. Tony enjoys helping his constituents resolve problems they’re having with government in education, healthcare, and agriculture issues.

In his spare time, Rep. Sellier enjoys flying his Piper airplane, traveling with his wife, Judye, and working on antique cars. He currently has a 1930 Ford Model AA flatbed, a 1972 Ford Bronco, a 1934 V8 pickup, a 1965 Corvair Monza convertible, and a 1975 Chevrolet Caprice convertible.

Rep. Sellier’s most humorous experience as a legislator came during the traditional freshman roasting in the well of the House. When he was presenting his first bill, the entire House voted “nay,” then switched their votes to “aye” right before the Clerk of the House locked the voting machine. However, unbeknownst to Rep. Sellier, his seatmate, Rep. Ellis Black (D – Valdosta), voted “Nay” from Sellier’s desk. Rep. Sellier didn’t even realize he had voted against his own bill until the Speaker asked him why he did it.

Tony’s favorite quote is “It’s better to remain silent and be thought a fool than open your mouth and remove all doubt.” His political hero is Ronald Reagan, and he’s an avid Georgia Bulldogs fan.

In other news...

This week, our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of GOP stalwart Jack Kemp, who passed away over the weekend at 73. Formerly a quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, Kemp later served as a United States Congressman, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and GOP Vice Presidential nominee in 1996.

Today in History

May 8, 1541 – Hernando de Soto reaches the Mississippi River.

May 8, 1877 – The first Westminister Kennel Club Dog Show opens.

May 8, 1945 – All World War II combat in the European theater ends as Germany offers an unconditional surrender.

May 8, 1999 – Nancy Mace becomes the first woman to graduate from The Citadel.

Have a great weekend,

SM

There are no simple solutions to working with the public or government. At Brock Clay, we integrate our services across lobbying, grassroots and public relations in order to create comprehensive solutions to complex problems. Whether we need to set up a town hall meeting, start a letter-writing campaign, work the halls of the Capitol or create a press release, we will find the right way to meet the challenge. As Harry Truman said, “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.”