On not being Transportation Commissioner -- It's OK if it hurts just a little bit Senate Majority Leader Tommie Williams
Transportation Commissioner Harold Linnenkohl is retiring, and a race is going on for his position. Dick Pettys writes in InsiderAdvantage Georgia:
"One legislative leader said this bears all the markings of turning into a major power fight between the governor and the Legislature. 'This is one board that the governor doesn't control -- the Legislature does,' he said."
Dick of course is right, but that is the subject of another post. The topic of this post is about Senate Majority Leader Tommie Williams who had been quietly seeking the post, but now, according to Pettys, says that while he's interested in the job, he is not seeking it.
According to Pettys, Williams said he had discussed the job with the governor "in times past, and I'm sure he considered me for the job. But he's chosen someone else [State Properties Officer Gena L. Abraham], and I'm perfectly satisfied."
Sen. William may say he is satisfied, but I am sure it hurts just a little bit. Why? Since day one Sen. Williams has been tight, real tight, with Gov. Perdue, having been on his gubernatorial campaign team from day one.
Given Perdue's narrow margin of victory over Roy Barnes, I do not think Perdue would have been elected in Nov. 2002 without the active and energetic support he had from Williams. Although the doubters were many, the Senator was not among them. Wherever you saw Perdue, Williams was there by his side.
And as a legislator he took an active role in transportation, serving as Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee until becoming Senate Majority Leader.
Although I do not recall Williams ever publicly advocating an increase in the motor fuel tax, one of the lowest fuel levies in the country, in 2005 he floated the idea of a statewide sales tax for transportation that could raise $5 billion over five years to fund transportation projects.
Williams also supported legislation that would exempt interstate and developmental highways, the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority and MARTA from congressional balancing as well as changing the balance formula.
(You might also recall that Sen. Williams considered a run for lieutenant governor until Ralph Reed jumped into the fray.)
"One legislative leader said this bears all the markings of turning into a major power fight between the governor and the Legislature. 'This is one board that the governor doesn't control -- the Legislature does,' he said."
Dick of course is right, but that is the subject of another post. The topic of this post is about Senate Majority Leader Tommie Williams who had been quietly seeking the post, but now, according to Pettys, says that while he's interested in the job, he is not seeking it.
According to Pettys, Williams said he had discussed the job with the governor "in times past, and I'm sure he considered me for the job. But he's chosen someone else [State Properties Officer Gena L. Abraham], and I'm perfectly satisfied."
Sen. William may say he is satisfied, but I am sure it hurts just a little bit. Why? Since day one Sen. Williams has been tight, real tight, with Gov. Perdue, having been on his gubernatorial campaign team from day one.
Given Perdue's narrow margin of victory over Roy Barnes, I do not think Perdue would have been elected in Nov. 2002 without the active and energetic support he had from Williams. Although the doubters were many, the Senator was not among them. Wherever you saw Perdue, Williams was there by his side.
And as a legislator he took an active role in transportation, serving as Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee until becoming Senate Majority Leader.
Although I do not recall Williams ever publicly advocating an increase in the motor fuel tax, one of the lowest fuel levies in the country, in 2005 he floated the idea of a statewide sales tax for transportation that could raise $5 billion over five years to fund transportation projects.
Williams also supported legislation that would exempt interstate and developmental highways, the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority and MARTA from congressional balancing as well as changing the balance formula.
(You might also recall that Sen. Williams considered a run for lieutenant governor until Ralph Reed jumped into the fray.)
posted by Sid Cottingham | 1:18 PM
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