Charles Bullock, political science professor at the University of Georgia, on Cox and Taylor

On Cathy Cox from The Georgia Times-Union by Walter Jones:

Some observers have described her campaign style the same way, too laid-back to score major victories.

That would be an unfair characterization, says Charles Bullock, political science professor at the University of Georgia. While she may be more consensus builder than confrontational by nature, she has accomplished much as secretary of state.

She modernized the office, putting most public activities on the Web to enhance convenience. She decentralized the operation by moving most of the professional licensing boards to Macon, housing them in the middle of the state and saving rent at the same time -- well ahead of other state agencies.

And her most visible accomplishment was the wholesale replacement of the state's voting apparatus with touch-screen computers, making Georgia the first state to do so.

Decisive yet collegial

Like other top election officials in other states, she squirmed as she watched the agonizing recount in Florida after the 2000 presidential election and its litany of voting errors. Unlike her colleagues, she took a gamble and made Georgia the leader in electronic voting.

"I didn't think she would have any trouble making a decision," Bullock said. "I think she might even be the kind of leader to anticipate a coming problem."

Her leadership style could be particularly well suited, he said, to a governor faced with two legislative chambers controlled by the opposing party. Neither Perdue, the first Republican governor in 135 years, nor any of her Democratic predecessors were equally hobbled.

"A more collegial approach might be more successful," Bullock said.
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And on Mark Taylor from The Georgia Times-Union by Walter Jones:

His approach also has created some enemies. One is Perdue.

Perdue switched parties before the 1998 election when Taylor became lieutenant governor and got the ability to assign senators to committees. To punish Perdue for abandoning the Democrats, Taylor essentially left Perdue powerless.

When Perdue complained, Taylor famously replied to reporters, "cry me a river."

Other Republicans felt similar animosity.

"Mark carries some baggage from his first term as lieutenant governor where he clashed openly and repeatedly with the Republicans," said Charles Bullock, a political science professor at the University of Georgia.

Anticipating trouble

As governor, he's likely to be faced with two legislative chambers run by Republicans, the first time any modern Democrat has grappled with such a divided government.

"My guess is that [early clash] would probably have an influence from those senators who remember," Bullock said.

Bullock said Taylor tempered his confrontational approach somewhat in recent years. But with other key constitutional offices also held by Republicans, such as school superintendent, insurance commissioner and whatever the GOP might pick up this fall, Taylor won't have the kind of power his predecessors had.

"I would think because of his history, Mark Taylor could expect more contentiousness," Bullock said.