strongernow
06-25-2004, 10:43 AM
25 ex-legislators try comebacks
By NANCY BADERTSCHER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/21/04
They might be doing it for their party or for the power or the prestige. Whatever their reasons, at least 25 former legislators are trying to make comebacks this year.
They include a South Georgian who once was the Senate's second-highest-ranking Democrat and a Brunswick tree farmer and accountant who hasn't been in the state House since Ronald Reagan was in the White House.
Some left or lost their legislative seats because of redistricting, but they believe their election prospects are better in new, court-drawn districts. At least one departed the Legislature as a Democrat and wants to return as a Republican.
In a year when Republicans and Democrats are fighting for control of the House and Senate, former Republican state Sen. Ed Boshears, 57, who is from Brunswick, is running on a pledge to try to restore civility to the process.
"I saw plenty of people cry. I even had a fight break out behind me one night," said Boshears, who was in the Senate for three terms through 1998. "But since I left, there's been a decline in civility, particularly in the Senate. There's a level of excessive partisanship, and I think it hurts all concerned."
Former Senate President Pro Tem Walter Ray (D-Douglas) is hoping to return to the Legislature after an eight-year absence, a stint as chairman of the state Board of Pardons and Paroles and a lengthy GBI investigation.
While on the parole board, Ray, who never was charged, was investigated for allegedly accepting money from probation companies in exchange for influencing legislation that would benefit the companies. Fellow former board member Bobby Whitworth is appealing his conviction on similar charges.
Former Senate Majority Leader Charles Walker (D-Augusta) is vying to reclaim the state Senate seat he lost two years ago to a Republican.
"Our people are suffering," said Walker, who served 20 years in the Legislature, including a stint as the state's first black Senate majority leader.
State officials "have closed everything that is oriented toward African-Americans in this community," said Walker, a self-made millionaire who is the acknowledged target of an FBI public-corruption investigation.
One of the most closely watched races has former state Rep. Lauren "Bubba" McDonald, 65, of Cumming running as a Republican against Senate Majority Leader Bill Stephens (R-Canton), 47. Stephens, who worked for former Democratic Gov. Zell Miller, is part of Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue's leadership team.
McDonald was a Democrat during his 20 years in the Georgia House, in his bid for governor in 1990 and in his tenure on the Public Service Commission.
"I did a political DNA test on the Republican Party, and I found it stood for fiscal responsibility and family values. Then I did a political DNA test on myself and found a match," McDonald said when he announced his candidacy.
Several of the comeback candidates have not been in the Legislature for years. Shaw McVeigh, an accountant and tree farmer from Brunswick who is running as a Republican for the Senate, served one term in the Georgia House in the early 1980s. Democrat Howard Rainey, 76, of Cordele left the state House in 1989 after 28 years, but is hoping to make a return in an open state Senate seat that two Republicans also are pursuing.
Earleen Sizemore, 65, of Sylvester wants to return to the state House, where she served as a Democrat from 1975 to 1988. She later was a county school superintendent, a member of the PSC and, recently, a doorkeeper at the Legislature.
At 80, former state Sen. Joe Burton of Atlanta is the oldest of the old-timers and is one of two Republicans trying to unseat incumbent state Sen. Steve Henson (D-Tucker).
"I know I've already retired," Burton said. "[But] there's still some unfinished business."
Burton said he would not have left the Senate in 2002 had he not been redrawn into a district with two of his Republican colleagues, Bart Ladd of Doraville and Rusty Paul of Atlanta.
Others hoping to rebound after redistricting include Ladd, who is a Senate candidate, and former state Reps. Clint Smith (R-Gainesville) and Bobby Reese (R-Sugar Hill).
"I'm still angry that my district was dismantled," said Smith, who has moved twice in hopes of staying in the Legislature and is running against state Rep. Carl Rogers (R-Gainesville), who recently switched parties.
Reese, a real estate broker, said he ran for an open Senate seat in 2002 rather than go against a House colleague who was drawn into the same district.
"I really don't like politics," said Reese, who lost that Senate race and now is running for an open House seat. "They fight over the pork [money for pet local projects] down there like it's their right to take, and it offends me."
Reese is selling himself as untainted by the political process. "I don't drink the water down there," he said. "I bring my own bottled water."
Staff writer Rhonda Cook contributed to this article.
By NANCY BADERTSCHER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/21/04
They might be doing it for their party or for the power or the prestige. Whatever their reasons, at least 25 former legislators are trying to make comebacks this year.
They include a South Georgian who once was the Senate's second-highest-ranking Democrat and a Brunswick tree farmer and accountant who hasn't been in the state House since Ronald Reagan was in the White House.
Some left or lost their legislative seats because of redistricting, but they believe their election prospects are better in new, court-drawn districts. At least one departed the Legislature as a Democrat and wants to return as a Republican.
In a year when Republicans and Democrats are fighting for control of the House and Senate, former Republican state Sen. Ed Boshears, 57, who is from Brunswick, is running on a pledge to try to restore civility to the process.
"I saw plenty of people cry. I even had a fight break out behind me one night," said Boshears, who was in the Senate for three terms through 1998. "But since I left, there's been a decline in civility, particularly in the Senate. There's a level of excessive partisanship, and I think it hurts all concerned."
Former Senate President Pro Tem Walter Ray (D-Douglas) is hoping to return to the Legislature after an eight-year absence, a stint as chairman of the state Board of Pardons and Paroles and a lengthy GBI investigation.
While on the parole board, Ray, who never was charged, was investigated for allegedly accepting money from probation companies in exchange for influencing legislation that would benefit the companies. Fellow former board member Bobby Whitworth is appealing his conviction on similar charges.
Former Senate Majority Leader Charles Walker (D-Augusta) is vying to reclaim the state Senate seat he lost two years ago to a Republican.
"Our people are suffering," said Walker, who served 20 years in the Legislature, including a stint as the state's first black Senate majority leader.
State officials "have closed everything that is oriented toward African-Americans in this community," said Walker, a self-made millionaire who is the acknowledged target of an FBI public-corruption investigation.
One of the most closely watched races has former state Rep. Lauren "Bubba" McDonald, 65, of Cumming running as a Republican against Senate Majority Leader Bill Stephens (R-Canton), 47. Stephens, who worked for former Democratic Gov. Zell Miller, is part of Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue's leadership team.
McDonald was a Democrat during his 20 years in the Georgia House, in his bid for governor in 1990 and in his tenure on the Public Service Commission.
"I did a political DNA test on the Republican Party, and I found it stood for fiscal responsibility and family values. Then I did a political DNA test on myself and found a match," McDonald said when he announced his candidacy.
Several of the comeback candidates have not been in the Legislature for years. Shaw McVeigh, an accountant and tree farmer from Brunswick who is running as a Republican for the Senate, served one term in the Georgia House in the early 1980s. Democrat Howard Rainey, 76, of Cordele left the state House in 1989 after 28 years, but is hoping to make a return in an open state Senate seat that two Republicans also are pursuing.
Earleen Sizemore, 65, of Sylvester wants to return to the state House, where she served as a Democrat from 1975 to 1988. She later was a county school superintendent, a member of the PSC and, recently, a doorkeeper at the Legislature.
At 80, former state Sen. Joe Burton of Atlanta is the oldest of the old-timers and is one of two Republicans trying to unseat incumbent state Sen. Steve Henson (D-Tucker).
"I know I've already retired," Burton said. "[But] there's still some unfinished business."
Burton said he would not have left the Senate in 2002 had he not been redrawn into a district with two of his Republican colleagues, Bart Ladd of Doraville and Rusty Paul of Atlanta.
Others hoping to rebound after redistricting include Ladd, who is a Senate candidate, and former state Reps. Clint Smith (R-Gainesville) and Bobby Reese (R-Sugar Hill).
"I'm still angry that my district was dismantled," said Smith, who has moved twice in hopes of staying in the Legislature and is running against state Rep. Carl Rogers (R-Gainesville), who recently switched parties.
Reese, a real estate broker, said he ran for an open Senate seat in 2002 rather than go against a House colleague who was drawn into the same district.
"I really don't like politics," said Reese, who lost that Senate race and now is running for an open House seat. "They fight over the pork [money for pet local projects] down there like it's their right to take, and it offends me."
Reese is selling himself as untainted by the political process. "I don't drink the water down there," he said. "I bring my own bottled water."
Staff writer Rhonda Cook contributed to this article.