Speaker Glenn Richardson Resigns as Speaker and Representative

This week, Glenn Richardson announced his resignation as both the Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives and the occupant of Georgia's 19th House District. He announced his resignation with the following statement:

“Effective January 1, 2010, I will resign my position as Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives and as state Representative for the 19th District in Paulding County.

It has been an honor to serve the citizens of Paulding County as their Representative for 14 years and as Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives for the past five years. During this time, I have appreciated working with the members of the House and the people of Georgia to keep state government efficient and ensure a low tax burden for our fellow Georgians.

As Speaker, I have been well served by the entire staff of the House of Representatives, especially the staff in the Speaker’s Office. To each of them I offer my profound thanks for their tireless efforts. And to my many friends and supporters throughout the state, thank you for standing by me even in the most difficult times. My service would not have been possible without you.

I am confident that House Leadership will continue to lead the House and its members as they serve all Georgians to the best of their abilities.

I recently made public that I have suffered from depression for many years. I continue to seek treatment and have made progress in dealing with this disease. In making this public disclosure, it was my hope to raise awareness and encourage others who suffer from this disease to come forward and seek treatment. I fear that the media attention of this week has deflected this message, and done harm to many people who suffer from this condition.

I am thankful for the opportunities my service afforded me to make Georgia’s future brighter. Though I will no longer be serving in elected office, my commitment to see a better tomorrow for our state remains. As always, I am confident that Georgia’s best days are still ahead.”

Richardson will be replaced by the current Speaker Pro-Tem, Representative Mark Burkhalter (R-Alpharetta). "I certainly understand the gravity of this situation and my responsibilities. I am committed to getting the Georgia House through this transition and beyond. Some things we just can’t predict or plan for, and this happens to be one of them. But I am certainly committed to and excited about the opportunities ahead, and continuing to work with a talented group of lawmakers. This is a chance for both sides of the aisle to come together to help Georgia continue to be a great state and the envy of much of the nation," said Burkhalter.

More Legislative Moving and Shaking

Two weeks ago, we reported that Senate Minority Whip David Adelman (D-Decatur) had been nominated by President Barack Obama as the United States Ambassador to Singapore. Former President Jimmy Carter's grandson, Jason Carter, announced this week that he will run to replace Senator Adelman. Several weeks ago, the United States Justice Department announced that former State Senator Ed Tarver (D-Augusta) would become the new U.S. Attorney for the southern district of Georgia, vacating Georgia's 22nd Senate District. Last week, State Representative Hardie Davis (D-Gracewood) resigned from the 122nd House seat to run for the seat formerly held by Tarver. Governor Sonny Perdue has set the special election for both House District 122 and Senate District 22 for January 5, 2010.

Davis is a Georgia native who graduated from Georgia Tech in 1992. He currently serves as the senior pastor of Abundant Life Worship Center in Augusta. He and his wife, Evett, have one son, Benjamin Joshua.

Legislative Leaders Warn of Tougher Times Ahead

In a presentation to the Georgia Public Policy Foundation this week, Senate Appropriations Chairman Jack Hill (R-Reidsville) and House Majority Leader Jerry Keen (R-St. Simons) warned of further budget cuts in Georgia. Hill compared Georgia's state government to a family that had lost an income, yet continues to spend at a two-income level. Hill went on to describe the state budget during the next couple of years as a combination of spending cuts, using current revenues, money in the "piggy bank, and under the mattress." He clarified his comments, however, with a prediction that Georgia's long-term economic viability is as strong as it has ever been. Hill's comments come on the heels of a year that has seen Governor Sonny Perdue and other legislative leaders cut the state budget by close to $3 billion.

Keen painted the picture as an opportunity for Georgia to redefine the "way we do government," citing the need to re-examine what core services are actually mission critical to Georgians. Keen elaborated by saying that transportation is one of those core services, and again stated his intention for the Georgia General Assembly to vote on a consensus transportation plan in 2010 that would allow local governments to band together to pass special local option sales taxes for transportation. Keen only gave details that the measure would not raise taxes in years when revenue growth exceeds a certain point. He drew measured applause from the crowd when he reiterated the Repubulican majority's intention to stand strong in fiscal conservatism and not raise taxes, even given the economic downturn.

Election Results from December 1 Special Election

At the time of this writing, former state lawmaker and Atlanta attorney Kasim Reed holds a quasi-razor thin margin of victory in the Atlanta mayor's race. To date, Reed has earned 41,901 votes to his opponent Mary Norwood's 41,143. While Reed declared victory as the 59th mayor of Atlanta, the margin was so thin that Norwood refused to concede defeat, and a recount is likely at this point. This race was one of the most hotly contested in decades, as evidenced by the fact that almost 11,000 more people emerged to vote in the runoff than voted in the general election a month ago. State law allows for any candidate losing by less than one percent to request a recount within two days of the election being certified, a step which is expected soon. Norwood has assured her supporters that she intends to pursue a recount.

In a race noted by some to be remarkably similar to the mayor's race, Atlanta City Councilman Ceasar Mitchell defeated fellow City Council Member Clair Muller to become Atlanta's next City Council President with 55 percent of the vote. The position had been previously occupied by Lisa Borders, who resigned for a failed bid to become mayor. Mitchell and Kasim Reed , who will most likely be Atlanta's next mayor, are both African-American males from the south side and west end of Atlanta, while their opponents were both white females from the north side of the city. Mitchell received 49 percent of the vote in the November 3 primary election, while Muller received 42 percent. Muller has served on the City Council for almost 20 years and Mitchell, an attorney, has served on the City Council since 2001.

In House District 129, Kip Smith, son of the previous office holder, GDOT Commissioner Vance Smith, won in a landslide with 65 percent of the vote. Smith was just 10 years old when his father was first elected to that State House seat, and he admitted that he viewed his job as filling a pretty big set of shoes. Out of roughly 3,070 votes cast, Smith won all three counties with a total of 2,005.

In House District 141, Rusty Kidd, son of the late lawmaker Culver Kidd, won in a landslide with 64 percent of the vote. Kidd will fulfill the remaining year on the term of former lawmaker Bobby Parham, a Republican from Milledgeville who resigned from his seat to serve on the Board of the Georgia Department of Transportation. Kidd has committed that, health permitting, he will then stand for re-election to an additional two-year term.

With all 51 precincts reporting, former state senator Donzella James will once again become a member of the Georgia State Senate with a margin of 52 percent. James previously represented that area in the state Senate in the 1990s, but resigned to challenge Congressman David Scott (D-Atlanta). James will replace Kasim Reed.

With all four precincts reporting, Simone Bell won House District 58 with 59 percent of the vote.

Georgia Christian Coalition Gets New President

Last week, Jim Beck stepped down from serving as president of the Georgia chapter of the Christian Coalition, and announced that Jerry Luquire would be taking over leadership of the organization. Luquire, a Columbus resident, founded Brentwood Publishers in 1982. He is also the former chief of staff to Congressman Jack Brinkley and formerly a candidate in the special election for House District 129.

Atlanta Regional Commission Elects First Ever Citizen Chairman

On Wednesday, the 39 member Board of the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) elected Tad Leithead as their incoming chairman. Leithead, formerly an executive with Cousins Properties, will replace outgoing Chairman Sam Olens, the chairman of the Cobb County Commission who is running for Attorney General. Leithead was elected after three rounds of voting. In its 37-year history, ARC has elected a non-county commission chairman only once and never a chairman who wasn't also an elected official.

Today in History

December 4, 1563: The final session of the Council of Trent takes place.

December 4, 1619: Thirty-eight (38) colonists from Berkeley Parrish disembark in Virginia and give thanks to God (considered by many to be the first Thanksgiving in the Americas).

December 4, 1791: The first edition of The Observer, the world's first Sunday newspaper, is published.

December 4, 1875: Boss Tweed, an infamous New York politician, escapes from prison and flees to Spain by way of Cuba.

December 4, 1881: The first edition of the Los Angeles Times is published.

December 4, 1918: President Woodrow Wilson becomes the first American president to travel to Europe while holding office when he sets sail for the peace talks in Versailles.

December 4, 1945: The United States Senate votes 65-7 to join the United Nations.

December 4, 1954: The world's first Burger King opens in Miami.

December 4, 1992: President George H.W. Bush orders 28,000 troops into Somalia in Northeast Africa.

Have a great weekend!

SM

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