The 13 members of the State Transportation Board each serve a congressional district. They are elected by Georgia's Senators and Representatives whose districts fall within that congressional district. The board members in turn select a DOT chief.
On Friday, the contest for DOT Board Chair saw current Chair Mike Evans go toe-to-toe against former State Representative Stacey Reece. Reece had the backing of Republican Speaker of the House, Glenn Richardson, however Evans won. Evans had supported Governor Sonny Perdue in his choice of appointments to lead the beleaguered department.
The ballots cast by the legislators are supposed to be secret. But following Friday’s vote, heads began to roll in the House. That's when the first of four Republican Representatives lost his powerful House assignment.
Tom Graves (R-Ranger) was stripped of his position as Chair of several committees, including the State Highway Subcommittee of Transportation, the Education Subcommittee of Children and Youth, the General Health Subcommittee of Health and Human Services, and the Tax Reform Subcommittee under Ways & Means. In addition, Graves' office was relocated to less desirable digs across the street from the Capitol, in the Legislative Office Building.
Today, the following members of the House were ousted as well. They include:
· John Meadows (R-Calhoun); removed as vice chairman of Natural Resources and Environment and as Secretary of the Insurance Committee.In response to the Speaker's actions, Senate President Pro Tem Eric Johnson endorsed the use of secret ballots.
· Doug Collins (R-Gainesville); out as chair of the Children’s Health Issues Subcommittee of Health and Human Services; and
· Martin Scott (R-Rossville); out as co-Chairman of the Incomes Tax Subcommittee of Ways and Means and as Secretary of Ways and Means.
"There really is a valid argument that when the legislators are going to vote, it ought to do so just like the public does. And I think the build up to that vote and the aftermath of some repercussions demonstrate why it’s probably a good thing to try and keep those secret."
Johnson also took a shot at Richardson, saying intimidation is not the way to get things done.
"The senate generally tries to use carrots when leadership is trying to get senators to vote a certain way. We generally try to do it with an intellectual argument. Maybe a little bit of a carrot. We don't try to use sticks. Senators don't react well to sticks. And, I'm not sure how well House members react to a big stick."
A spokesperson for the Speaker’s office says “Richardson made the decisions,” and “the House leadership fully supports them.”
