Barnes Announces Run For Governor

Saying he's learned from mistakes made during his first term as Governor, Roy Barnes says now he's ready to fight for his old job.

Barnes made his intentions known to a packed conference room of friends, family and associates this afternoon at the Marietta Conference Center. He enters the 2010 Governor's race to challenge three other declared candidates on the Democratic side.

Barnes says a tour of the state the past couple of months sparked personal reflection on his one term as Governor that ended with defeat in 2002:

"I realized when I was Governor before, I didn't do enough listening. I realized
that I was impatient and had an aggressive agenda."

Barnes says a pair of issues that may have sunk his previous re-election bid--battles with teachers over accountability, and the firestorm over the state flag--are either his fault, or are of lesser importance now.

He says topping his agenda for this race is working to solve transportation problems, and mending shortcomings in education.

Barnes will begin his campain in earnest in July, once he wraps up legal work and a chairmanship term on a national education board.

Decision On Gov Run For Barnes Comes Today

Roy Barnes will hold a news conference this afternoon in Marietta to reveal his decision as to whether to run again for governor of Georgia. Some reports this morning indicate he will enter the 2010 fray. If so, he would enter a field with three candidates on the Democratic side: Attorney General Thurbert Baker, House Minority Leader DuBose Porter, and David Poythress, former commander of the Georgia National Guard. There are six Republicans are in the contest.

Barnes served as governor from 1999 to 2002 before losing to Sonny Perdue. He currently is practicing law in Marietta. If Barnes were to run and win, the 61-year-old would become the first Georgia governor in nearly 50 years to reclaim office after being voted-out.

Savannah Hosts State GOP Convention

Six Republican candidates seeking the 2010 office of governor in Georgia will be at the GOP gathering in Savannah with the early opportunity to sell their campaigns. Two-term governor Sonny Perdue is scheduled to address the state GOP delegates this afternoon.

The GOP field for Georgia governor includes Secretary of State Karen Handel, Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine, U.S. Representative Nathan Deal, state Senator Eric Johnson of Savannah and state Representative Austin Scott of Tifton. States rights activist Ray McBerry is also running for office.

Oxendine Blasts AJC Article Over Contributions

Republican candidate for governor John Oxendine is returning more than $100,000 in campaign contributions brought into question by a recent investigative report by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Oxendine in a statement Monday on his website says his campaign believes nothing was done illegally, but out of quote “an abundance of caution”, the disputed money is being returned.

The report claims two insurance companies tied to Rome and headed by the same person directed $120,000 to Oxendine’s campaign through 10 political action committees.

Campaign spokesman Jeff Breedlove says Oxendine became aware of some "technical issues" with the contributions last week, before the story ran Sunday, and filed an advisory opinion request with state ethics officials.

Breedlove says it was shoddy reporting by the AJC to run the story before interviewing Oxendine’s attorney:

"The fact is in this case a young, overzealous reporter who’s drank the liberal Kool-Aid at the AJC failed in his professional obligation to wait to Monday to talk to the attorney with the campaign."

The paper says it asked Oxendine about the allegations before its Sunday story.

Oxendine is Georgia’s Insurance and Fire safety commissioner, and was the first Republican to announce his entry into the 2010 governor’s race.

Oxendine To Return Questioned Contributions

Republican gubernatorial candidate John Oxendine says he is returning more than $100,000 in campaign contributions brought into question by a recent investigative report by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The report claims two insurance companies in the state headed by the same person directed $120,000 to Oxendine’s campaign. The paper says money was received from the insurance companies through 10 political action committees set up by an Alabama board member of both firms. Oxendine is Georgia’s Insurance and fire safety commissioner, and was the first Republican to announce his entry into the 2010 governor’s race.

Below is Oxendine's statement released Monday on his website:

"I appreciate all those who have expressed their support these past few days as our campaign has addressed an issue related to contributions made to our campaign.

As it appeared to us, these were not checks from an insurance company we regulate. Additionally, it appeared that these checks were from different entities, not controlled by the same person or people. Under those facts, as we understood them, accepting these contributions was perfectly legal. Based on facts that have recently come to light, previously unknown to us, we have concerns whether our understanding of the facts were complete. Last week, before these facts fully came to light, we filed an advisory opinion request with the Georgia State Ethics Commission.

Out of an abundance of caution, I decided to return the funds pending advice from the State Ethics Commission. Let me be transparent and direct with the taxpayers of Georgia. I have promised to transform Georgia government. Although my staff and legal counsel, Stefan Passantino of McKenna, Long and Aldridge, advise that we have done nothing illegal, based on the facts as we know them, I am concerned Georgia voters might see this as politics as usual. Therefore, last week, immediately after my initial awareness of this matter, I ordered the process be set in motion to return every single contribution in question and to seek advice as to our rights and obligations to the State Ethics Commission.

I have criticized this as a hit piece and the facts are thus: Mr. Passantino communicated via email with the AJC reporter last Friday that they were to speak today. It is unfortunate that the AJC elected to move forward with this piece before having spoken with Mr. Passantino to get our side of the story. Had this occurred, the story would not have been an issue because the AJC would have had the opportunity to report that the money had already been returned and that we had previously initiated a request for guidance and clarification from the State Ethics Commission.

The critics have questioned my personal integrity. I respect each of you as voters. I realize that many Georgians support our campaign and some oppose it. However, I am determined that those who do oppose my campaign, do so based on honorable disagreements on the issues and not based on a question of my integrity as it relates to campaign contributions.

I will run a non-traditional campaign and be a different type of Governor. I hope that today I have taken steps to demonstrate my sincerity to Georgia. It is my desire to have a campaign that is a positive, issue-oriented campaign based on traditional Reagan conservative values.

When reporters cover issues such as campaign contributions as opposed to covering the important issues before Georgia of transportation, education, water, health care, jobs, agriculture, and the Fair Tax, nothing is done to improve the lives of working families in Georgia.

I am pleased this matter is behind us and welcome the opportunity to listen to Georgians about those issues important to them and to talk about my Contract with Georgia."

Oxendine Campaign Money Questioned

Allegations have surfaced over some money raised by a candidate for Georgia governor. An investigative report by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution found two insurance companies in the state headed by the same person directed $120,000 dollars to the campaign of John Oxendine. The paper found money was received from the insurance companies through 10 political action committees set up by an Alabama board member of both firms. Oxendine is Georgia’s Insurance and fire safety commissioner, and was the first Republican to announce his entry into the 2010 governor’s race. One of his opponents is Secretary of State Karen Handel--a spokesman for her campaign told the AJC the allegations are "serious", and the money should be returned. An Oxendine spokesperson told the paper the attacks come because Oxendine is a front-runner in the governor’s race.

Eric Johnson Jumps Into Governor's Race

Another hat is into the ring for the 2010 Georgia governor’s race. Savannah Republican state senator Eric Johnson had been in the race for Lieutenant Governor, but decided to switch races when Casey Cagle withdrew from a run for Governor. Cagle has announced he will instead seek re-election for his current Lieutenant governor seat.

Johnson will join three other Republicans already declared in the Governor’s race--Secretary of State Karen Handel, Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine, and state Representative Austin Scott.