Randy's Views

In a few short weeks, the Georgia Republican Party will meet to elect leaders, pass resolutions, and adopt rules. For the average Georgian, it is a matter of little consequence or moment. There will be some speeches, and then some more speeches, and finally, more speeches. Most of the party faithful could give the speeches now. Most Georgians could not care less.

But, the 2007 convention is of consequence. Former chairs of the Georgia Republican Party have gone on to do some pretty impressive things. In 1980, former GOP chair Mack Mattingly defeated Senator Herman Talmadge. In 1992, former GOP chair Paul Coverdell defeated Senator Wyche Fowler. More importantly, GOP chairs have signaled the strength and vulnerabilities of Georgia Republicans for decades. This year will be no different.

Certainly, the mood of the "risk averse" governing party of today is very different from that of the "bomb throwing" minority party from many, many years ago. Undoubtedly, delegates to GOP conventions in the future will look back on the 2007 convention (as well as the conventions of the last few years) and call them - the good old days.

With a Republican governor and control of both chambers of the Georgia General Assembly, things are pretty good for Georgia Republicans. While there have been occasional skirmishes between the Republican leaders, there have not been the kind of open and brutal divisions that have sunk party hopes in the past.

There are battles, intense political battles, that still get fought. The most recent fight over the Georgia budget is a good example. These political fights do inflict wounds and leave scars. The leaders who wage these battles, and legislators who fight them, believe intensely in their positions and causes. Each victory won, large or small, carries with it a political price tag that must be paid somewhere down the road. But, these fights do not compare to the self-inflicted wounds that once plagued Georgia Republicans.

For a decade, Georgia Republicans waged war on themselves with contentious party proceedings that even made their way into court. There were lockouts and filibusters and procedural maneuvers that would test even Mr. Roberts in the application of his own Rules of Order.

Party chairman's races were an open invitation for divisions that remained long after conventions closed. Some of the wounds and divisions from those conventions, over a decade old, remain even today.

The result of these divisive internal political contests was the complete inability to sustain any momentum toward control of state government. Long after the rest of the south had gone red, Georgia remained in firm control of Georgia Democrats until 2002. Republicans largely had no one to blame but themselves.

Now, all of that is ancient (in political time) history. Next month, Georgia Republicans will meet to coalesce around a new state Chair and celebrate once again their victories from recent elections. Former Speaker Newt Gingrich will come home to address the Victory Dinner.

And then, almost instantaneously, all eyes will turn toward the Republican Presidential Preference Primary. With no clear frontrunner, and the Republican leadership divvied up, Republican Presidential campaign committees will rev up their efforts to capture the energy and resources of every single Republican activist.

The 2007 convention will undoubtedly be a brief moment of unity followed by an intense period of intra-party competition as Georgia Republicans set out to do their part in helping determine the next GOP nominee for President. It is democracy in action.

By Randy Evans

Atlantans will soon have to elect their next mayor. For the City of Atlanta, it will be an important moment in time. Indeed, Mayor Franklin's election in 2001 was historic. She was the first female mayor of the City of Atlanta and first African American female to serve as the mayor of a major southern city. Following in the footsteps of some important historic figures (including two of her former bosses --former United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young and former Mayor Maynard Jackson), Shirley Franklin earned the respect of leaders and opinion
makers around the world.

Her list of accolades is notable: Top five mayors in the United States (Time magazine); America's best leaders (U. S. News and World Report); Municipal Leader of the Year (American City and County Magazine). She has become a household name throughout the greater Atlanta metropolitan area and is frequently mentioned as a potential candidate for statewide office. Undoubtedly, if the Democratic nominee is elected in 2008, she will be offered a position in the new Administration. Not bad for someone who had never run for elected public office before she ran for mayor in 2001.

There have been some notable names mentioned as the successor to Mayor Franklin. Probably the best known potential candidate is Clark Howard - the nationally syndicated radio talk show host. He has made a career of being an effective consumer advocate. His radio show and books aim at providing consumers important information so that they can protect themselves. There is little question that he has a significant following. The best evidence is his large and growing group of devoted listeners eager for his latest tidbit on how to save money, avoid scams and become economically self-sufficient. Many believe that these are the qualities that Atlanta voters will want in a Mayor to lead the next generation.

Another frequently mentioned candidate is Senator Kasim Reed. While being a native is not a prerequisite for mayor, (Shirley Franklin was from Pennsylvania), it is a big plus. Senator Reed is a life long resident of the metropolitan Atlanta area. He was first elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1998 and to the Georgia Senate in 2002. He has earned the respect of both sides of the aisle in the Georgia General Assembly. As an attorney, he has earned the respect of his peers.

Notably, he has strong ties with outgoing Mayor Shirley Franklin. In 2001, he served as her campaign manager. When she won, Mayor Franklin named Senator Reed as one of her two co-chairs for her transition team. His strong political ties extend even further. He serves on the Georgia Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Most political insiders consider him as one of the most promising future leaders in the Democratic party. This may be his time.

Then there is Lisa Borders - the President of the Atlanta City Council. She has a resume that looks tailor-made for serving as the Mayor of Atlanta. As the President of the Atlanta City Council, she has been directly involved in the planning, operation, and success of Atlanta over the past few years. She campaigns tirelessly. As a graduate of Duke with a Masters of Science in Health Administration from the University of Colorado, she has demonstrated her ability to excel in even the most competitive environments. Her political network extends deep into the Atlanta political community with a proven track record in winning elections.

Most Georgians do not yet know any of these folks, or any of the other candidates for Mayor of the City of Atlanta. But then, that was true when Shirley Franklin came along - and now, she is known throughout the world.