2 Republicans win DOT seats, but I am proud of the Democrats in the 1st Congressional District and my friend Harry Dixon.
A couple of days ago I learned that Harry Dixon's DOT seat was in jeopardy.
Baxter & Galloway reported in the 01-24-05 PI as follows:
Turns out there's a second race for the state transportation board in addition to the one we reported on last week. This one also shapes up as a party showdown.
Tommie Williams, chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, said he will nominate Roy Herrington, a seed-and-feed dealer from Baxley who has been a Republican county chairman, to replace incumbent DOT board member Harry Dixon of Waycross.
"I don't think party has much to do with it," Williams said.
Dixon, a former Democratic legislator, doesn't see it that way. He says Williams and Perdue have been waging a "scorched earth campaign" to get legislators from the 1st Congressional district, who will decide the matter in a caucus election this week, to swing to his Republican rival.
_______________
I sure hated to see this article, and especially the part where Mr. Dixon said Sen. Williams and Gov. Perdue were working hard to get this seat to a Republican.
Harry Dixon has a lot of friends in Atlanta and in the Legislature. Prior to joining the DOT, he served his state and my area of the state both honorably and well in Atlanta for many years.
And he has done our area of the state a good job since being elected to the DOT.
Mr. Dixon's son Donnie was the District Attorney in my judicial circuit prior to be appointed as U.S. Attorney by Pres. Clinton. Donnie is now practicing in Savannah, and has a knack for taking on the tough and difficult cases, including, as you would expect, those in federal court.
Bottom line, maybe I shouldn't have been, but I was very surprised to learn that Donnie's father would have opposition.
Harry Dixon, we appreciate everything you did for this area and the state.
And the Governor, he sure is making a lot of unnecessary enemies down this way.
_______________
In today's ajc Tom Baxter reports (excerpts):
2 Republicans win DOT seats
In a victory for Gov. Sonny Perdue, Republicans on Tuesday won two contested seats on the powerful state Department of Transportation board.
Legislators from Georgia's 1st Congressional District chose Roy Herrington, a Baxley seed-and-feed dealer and a former Republican county chairman, over incumbent board member Harry Dixon of Waycross.
Raybon Anderson, a Statesboro farmer and a Republican voter, won the contest for the open 12th District seat, defeating former Democratic Rep. Ben Allen of Augusta.
"DOT board elections are like a knife fight. There are no rules," said Senate President Pro Tem Eric Johnson (R-Savannah), who chaired both elections. Johnson's Senate district overlaps both the 1st and the 12th districts.
The DOT board seats are the only state board positions elected by legislators, which indicates the enormous power the board holds in allocating transportation projects to different parts of the state.
The board is officially nonpartisan, but the addition of two avowed Republicans enhances Perdue's and the GOP's influence.
In Tuesday's elections, legislators followed a 15-plus-year tradition and voted in secret. Lawmakers argue the secret ballot protects them from political retaliation if they vote the "wrong" way. Critics note that constituents have no idea for whom their legislator has voted.
After the 1st District vote, both Johnson and Rep. Terry Coleman (D-Eastman) said the vote had been 22-12. That's also the split between Republicans and Democrats in the caucus.
Rep. Tom Bordeaux (D-Savannah) failed in a motion to make the 12th District election an open, public vote. But the 12th District legislators did release their vote total: 18-10 for the Republican candidate, in a caucus where Democrats hold a 16-12 majority.
The governor's office has played down its involvement in the DOT board elections, but Dan McLagan, Perdue's spokesman, acknowledged afterward that it backed the Republican candidates.
"We were supportive of Mr. Herrington and Mr. Anderson. They're going to be great board members and we look forward to working with them," McLagan said.
Dixon, who has served on the DOT board for four years, blamed Perdue for his defeat. "He had everything to do with it," Dixon said.
Baxter & Galloway reported in the 01-24-05 PI as follows:
Turns out there's a second race for the state transportation board in addition to the one we reported on last week. This one also shapes up as a party showdown.
Tommie Williams, chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, said he will nominate Roy Herrington, a seed-and-feed dealer from Baxley who has been a Republican county chairman, to replace incumbent DOT board member Harry Dixon of Waycross.
"I don't think party has much to do with it," Williams said.
Dixon, a former Democratic legislator, doesn't see it that way. He says Williams and Perdue have been waging a "scorched earth campaign" to get legislators from the 1st Congressional district, who will decide the matter in a caucus election this week, to swing to his Republican rival.
_______________
I sure hated to see this article, and especially the part where Mr. Dixon said Sen. Williams and Gov. Perdue were working hard to get this seat to a Republican.
Harry Dixon has a lot of friends in Atlanta and in the Legislature. Prior to joining the DOT, he served his state and my area of the state both honorably and well in Atlanta for many years.
And he has done our area of the state a good job since being elected to the DOT.
Mr. Dixon's son Donnie was the District Attorney in my judicial circuit prior to be appointed as U.S. Attorney by Pres. Clinton. Donnie is now practicing in Savannah, and has a knack for taking on the tough and difficult cases, including, as you would expect, those in federal court.
Bottom line, maybe I shouldn't have been, but I was very surprised to learn that Donnie's father would have opposition.
Harry Dixon, we appreciate everything you did for this area and the state.
And the Governor, he sure is making a lot of unnecessary enemies down this way.
_______________
In today's ajc Tom Baxter reports (excerpts):
2 Republicans win DOT seats
In a victory for Gov. Sonny Perdue, Republicans on Tuesday won two contested seats on the powerful state Department of Transportation board.
Legislators from Georgia's 1st Congressional District chose Roy Herrington, a Baxley seed-and-feed dealer and a former Republican county chairman, over incumbent board member Harry Dixon of Waycross.
Raybon Anderson, a Statesboro farmer and a Republican voter, won the contest for the open 12th District seat, defeating former Democratic Rep. Ben Allen of Augusta.
"DOT board elections are like a knife fight. There are no rules," said Senate President Pro Tem Eric Johnson (R-Savannah), who chaired both elections. Johnson's Senate district overlaps both the 1st and the 12th districts.
The DOT board seats are the only state board positions elected by legislators, which indicates the enormous power the board holds in allocating transportation projects to different parts of the state.
The board is officially nonpartisan, but the addition of two avowed Republicans enhances Perdue's and the GOP's influence.
In Tuesday's elections, legislators followed a 15-plus-year tradition and voted in secret. Lawmakers argue the secret ballot protects them from political retaliation if they vote the "wrong" way. Critics note that constituents have no idea for whom their legislator has voted.
After the 1st District vote, both Johnson and Rep. Terry Coleman (D-Eastman) said the vote had been 22-12. That's also the split between Republicans and Democrats in the caucus.
Rep. Tom Bordeaux (D-Savannah) failed in a motion to make the 12th District election an open, public vote. But the 12th District legislators did release their vote total: 18-10 for the Republican candidate, in a caucus where Democrats hold a 16-12 majority.
The governor's office has played down its involvement in the DOT board elections, but Dan McLagan, Perdue's spokesman, acknowledged afterward that it backed the Republican candidates.
"We were supportive of Mr. Herrington and Mr. Anderson. They're going to be great board members and we look forward to working with them," McLagan said.
Dixon, who has served on the DOT board for four years, blamed Perdue for his defeat. "He had everything to do with it," Dixon said.
posted by Sid Cottingham | 7:28 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home