Georgia Food Industry Association

Legislative Link

November 7, 2006

Special Edition: Election Recap!

Throughout much of the nation it was a rough day for many Republicans, with Democrats taking over both the US Senate and House of Representatives. Two of the most watched House races in the nation occurred here in Georgia . The Eighth Congressional district pitted former Macon mayor Jim Marshall (D-Macon) against former US Rep. Mac Collins (R-Jackson). Marshall, who had run as a conservative Democrat, won by a razor thin margin in a race that many Republicans felt they could win. The other race, The Twelfth Congressional District in southwest Georgia, was a rematch with former US Rep. Max Burns (R-Statesboro) trying to regain the seat he lost in 2004 to Rep. John Barrow (D-Savannah) . As of this time, a winner has still not been declared in this race and the margin is apparently down to under 500 votes.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi is now in line to become the nation's first female Speaker of the House. How this new majority will affect the grocery industry will remain to be seen. However, as part of the Democrat's “100 hour plan”, an increase in the minimum wage to $7.25 per hour has been made a top priority of the upcoming session.

Those national failures were not reflected in the state of Georgia where Republicans continued to solidify the stronghold they have built in state government over the last 4 years. The following is a recap of what all happened in Georgia on election night.

GOVERNOR PURDUE GETS FOUR MORE YEARS

As a sign of the new direction that Georgia has taken over the last 4 years, Governor Sonny Perdue coasted to an easy 58% - 38% victory on Tuesday night over Democratic challenger and Lt. Governor Mark Taylor . Democrats were optimistic that a late ad blitz might be enough to at least put the race into a runoff, however after some of the first returns came in they could read the writing on the wall. Around 10:30 , Taylor conceded the race and said that he will retire from public service and return to his family business in Albany . Republicans now hold the governor's office along with substantial majorities in both houses of the legislature.

CAGLE BECOMES FIRST REPUBLICAN LT. GOVERNOR IN GEORGIA

History was made in Georgia on Tuesday night when Casey Cagle (R-Gainesville) defeated Jim Martin (D-Atlanta) by a 54% - 42% margin to become the first Republican Lt. Governor since the office was created in 1945. Cagle's win presents some potential possibilities in the Senate. Will the Senate restore the Lt. Governor's powers that were stripped after Republicans took the majority in 2002? Will there be a shuffling of the committee chairman who backed Ralph Reed in the primary race? Will there be a shakeup in Senate leadership? All this questions will be answered in the coming weeks as we draw closer to the start of the new session in January.

COMM. TOMMY IRVIN WINS; STAYS “DEAN OF THE STATE'S OFFICERS”

In the race for Agriculture Commissioner, long time Democrat Commissioner Tommy Irvin easily held off the challenge from Republican Gary Black , the former Georgia Agribusiness Council official, to earn his record setting 10th and final term.

OTHER STATEWIDE RACES

In other statewide races, former Fulton County Commission Chairwoman Karen Handel easily defeated Gail Buckner became the first Republican Secretary of State in the history of Georgia . Attorney General Thurbert Baker coasted to reelection after defeating Republican challenger Perry McGuire . Republican Kathy Cox trounced Denise Majette to earn reelection as the State School Superintendent. It was the second loss in a row for Majette after a failed US Senate bid in 2004. Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine was once again the top total vote getter in the election garnering a little more than 1.3 million votes. Oxendine easily defeated Democratic challenger Guy Drexinger . Finally, Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond held off a string challenge from Republican Brent Brown to win another term.

RECAPPING THE SENATE

The motto of the night for the members of the Georgia Senate was “status quo”. Neither party gained seats, nor did they lose seats, and the Republican majority in the Senate will remain 34-22. There were, however, some close races. Johnny Grant (R-Sandersville) held off a fierce campaign from former Madison mayor Bruce Gilbert , which was heavily funded by the state Democratic Party. J.B. Powell (D-Blythe) narrowly defeated former House member George DeLoach (R-Waynesboro) in race that was tighter than most pundits expected. In perhaps the nastiest campaign in the state, Republican Bill Cowsert (R-Athens) defeated Democratic challenger Jane Kidd (D-Athens) in a race to fill the seat vacated by Sen. Brian Kemp (R-Athens) after he left to run for Agriculture Commissioner. The only other real competitive race was in Northeast Georgia , where Sen. Nancy Schaefer (R-Turnersville) defeated former Senator Carol Jackson (D-Cleveland) in a race decided by about 2,000 votes.

There will be plenty of new faces in the Senate. Former state Representative Jack Murphy (R-Cumming) joins the Senate in the seat vacated by Bill Stephens (R-Cumming) after he left to run for Secretary of State. Former House member Nan Orrock (D-Atlanta) will take over the urban Atlanta seat vacated by retiring Sen. Sam Zamarrippa (D-Atlanta) . Gail Davenport (D-Jonesboro) will now represent parts of Clayton and Henry County after long time Senator Terrell Starr (D-Jonesboro) retired after serving 18 terms in the Senate. Republican Lee Hawkins (R-Gainesville) will be representing the Gainesville area district formerly held by newly elected Lt. Governor Casey Cagle.

REPUBLICANS GAIN SEATS IN THE HOUSE

House Republicans increased their majority to 106 seats, up two from last Session. No significant changes in leadership are expected since a majority of seats on both sides of the aisle were uncontested or decided in primaries this cycle.

Some of the Representatives that had close races were: Jeanette Jamieson (D-Toccoa) and Alan Powell (D-Hartwell) both held off strong challenges backed by the state GOP; in metro Atlanta, moderate Republicans Harry Geisinger (R-Dunwoody) and Jill Chambers (R-Atlanta) both held onto to seats that Democrats had thought they could pick up; some of the Democrats best chances to win were in middle Georgia, however, Allen Freeman (R-Macon) won reelection by a razor thin margin while Jimmy Pruett (R-Eastman) and Tony Sellier (R-Fort Valley) both won the seats held by former Speaker of the House Terry Coleman and Agriculture chairman Robert Ray , respectively.

Butch Parrish (R-Swainsboro), Mickey Channell (R-Greensboro ), Richard Royal (R-Camilla), and Johnny Floyd (R-Cordele), all of whom switched to the Republican Party shortly after last session, each easily won reelection.

Questions? Comments? Concerns?

Kathy Kuzava – (404) 819-7744                             Jason Bragg (478-719-9167)

kkuzvava@gfia.org                                                  jbragg@gfia.org