State Representative Joins Race for 9th Congressional District

Friday, August 7, 2009

Brock Clay Political Report

State Rep. Bobby Reese Joins Crowded Race for Georgia’s 9th Congressional District

Earlier this year, Congressman Nathan Deal (R – Georgia) created a flurry of activity in northeast Georgia when he announced that he would retire from Congress and run as a Republican for governor in 2010. Shortly thereafter, the race filled up with former GDOT Board member Mike Evans, State Rep. Tom Graves (R – Ranger), and former Senate Majority Leader Bill Stephens had joined the race. Today, five – term State Representative Bobby Reese (R – Sugar Hill) announced that he was joining the race. Reese currently serves as the vice-chair of both the House Industrial Relations and Budget & Fiscal Affairs Oversight Committees. Reese currently lives in Sugar Hill, which is outside the 9th Congressional District.

Atlanta Bounced from 2012 RNC Race

Last week, the Republican National Committee (RNC) announced that Atlanta had been eliminated as a possible site for the 2012 Republican National Convention. Several Republicans in Georgia had made a quasi-effort to bring the convention to Atlanta, but a new rule at the RNC will now prevent that from taking place. The rule states that no state can be selected when someone from that state sits on the site selection committee. Georgia's RNC members are Linda Herren, Alec Pointevint and Sue Everhart.

Ross Joins State Transportation Board

Last week, a caucus of state legislators who's districts are either partly or wholly in the 8th Congressional District elected Sidney Ross to the Georgia Transportation Board. Ross is a former highway contractor from Ocilla. He will fill the remaining three years of Larry Walker's six-year term. In the meantime, Governor Sonny Perdue announced that Larry Walker would be the newest member of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.

State Troopers Affected by Budget Cuts

Last Saturday, Georgians began seeing fewer state troopers on Georgia's highways due to state budget cuts. The cuts began as Georgia's troopers began taking two furlough days per month for at least the rest of the year. While the Governor has yet to approve the furlough budget cuts, Commissioner Bill Hitchens has already warned his department's employees to prepare for a pay cut of up to 10 percent for this year. Some patrol posts are already responsible for between 16 to 22 counties with only eight troopers. A trooper's base salary is roughly $35,000 per year.

Update on Gubernatorial Race: Oxendine, Johnson, Scott and Handel

Last week, an ethics complaint was filed against Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine with the state's Inspector General. Oxendine took an overnight trip to Savannah with his daughter, paid for with state funds. Oxendine stated that he was headed down for a hurricane expo and an educational talk to children about fire safety, and he felt that having his daughter there would cause a greater level of comfort among his audience. He called the complaint politics as usual.

State Senator Eric Johnson (R-Savannah) upped the ante last week when he launched a re-designed Web site with new multimedia and options for connecting with his campaign. Johnson catapulted back into the spotlight in the crowded governor's race a few weeks ago when he posted the second highest fundraising numbers among the Republicans running in 2010.

This week, State Representative Austin Scott (R-Tifton), a 2010 gubernatorial hopeful, announced the end of the first half of his 1,000-mile walk across Georgia, visiting many counties and communities that have never been visited by a statewide candidate before. Scott began walking across Georgia on June 27, and completed the first 500 miles at Brantley County High School by speaking to a group of business leaders.

On Saturday, Secretary of State Karen Handel spoke at the Redstate Gathering, a convention of conservative bloggers from across the country. Handel joined the wife of former Vice-President Dick Cheney, Lynn Cheney, and received Redstate's endorsement at the event.

Legislators Face Censure Over Unpaid Taxes

Ethics committees in both the Georgia State House and Georgia State Senate are considering the next move for several Senators and Representatives who failed to pay their 2007 taxes. Historically, the names of those who failed to pay state income taxes have been protected, but a new law passed during the 2009 session of the General Assembly granted those committees the power to discover the names of their colleagues who have not paid their taxes. By the time this law took effect, most of Georgia's legislators had cleared up their back taxes, with the exception of three House members and one member of the Senate. The AJC reported that those members, if their problems are not resolved, could be fined, censured or even lose their seats.

Max Wood Announces for Attorney General

Max Wood, of Macon, has announced his intention to run for Georgia's Attorney General in 2010. Wood will face Cobb County Commission Chairman Sam Olens in the Republican Primary. President George W. Bush appointed Wood as the United States Attorney for the middle district of Georgia. He has also volunteered with the United States Department of Justice in Iraq to help set up the new Iraqi justice system.

The race for attorney general also developed further this week as former United States Attorney Joe Whitley endorsed Sam Olens for the office. Whitley served as United States attorney under presidents Reagan and Bush.

Governor Perdue Issues Writs of Election for House Districts 58, 129 and 141

On Wednesday, Governor Sonny Perdue issued writs of special election to fill the seats recently vacated by State Representatives Robin Shipp, Bobby Parham and Vance Smith. The election to fill the vacancies will be held on November 3, in conjunction with municipal elections.

Weekly Events Calendar

August 10: 6:00 P.M. -- Athens-Clarke County Republican Party with Guest Speaker Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Candidate Gary Black, GOP Headquarters (445 N. Milledge Ave, Athens, Georgia)

August 10: 7:00 P.M. -- Healthcare Forum with Congressman Hank Johnson, Georgia Perimeter College, Clarkston Campus, Cole Auditorium/FineArtsCenter (555 North Indian Creek Drive Clarkston, GA 30021)

August 11: 9:00 A.M. -- House Transportation Committee Meeting on Confirmation of Planning Director (Room 606, Coverdell Legislative Office Building, 18 Capitol Square, Atlanta, Georgia 30334)

August 19 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. -- Healthcare Town Hall Meeting with Congressman Sanford Bishop: National Infantry Museum (3800 South Lumpkin Road, Columbus, GA 31903).

August 27: 12:00 Noon -- Bill Stephens for Congress Fundraiser with House Rules Chairman Earl Ehrhart, The Georgian Club (100 Galleria Parkway, Suite 1700, Marietta GA 30339)

In Other News

Chick-Fil-A is announcing the launch of a new spicy chicken sandwich that will debut in Georgia next year. The sandwich has been tested in other markets such as Baltimore and Jacksonville, Florida.

This week, Judge Sonia Sotomayor was confirmed by the United States Senate as the first Latin American Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Today, Senator Mel Martinez (R - Florida) announced that he would be resigning from the United States Senate. His resignation will be effective upon appointment of a successor by Governor Charlie Crist. Crist has stated that he would not appoint himself.

Today in History

August 7, 1606: The first documented performance of MacBeth performed at the Great Hall in Hampton Court.

August 7, 1782: George Washington orders the Badge of Military Merit to honor wounded soldiers. It later became known as the Purple Heart.

August 7, 1789: The United States War Department is established.

August 7, 1940: Alsace-Lorraine is annexed by the Third Reich during World War II.

August 7, 1945: President Harry Truman announces the bombing of Hiroshima while returning from the Potsdam Conference in the Atlantic Ocean.

August 7, 1959: The Lincoln Memorial design begins circulating on United States pennies, replacing the older "wheat penny" design.

August 7, 1966: The race riots begin in Lansing, Michigan.

August 7, 2007: Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants breaks Hank Aaron's home run record by hitting his 756th (*) home run.

Have a great weekend,

SM