Olens Aims For Georgia AG, Not Governor

Cobb County Commission Chairman Sam Olens said he'll run for attorney general, not governor. Olens, a Republican, made the announcement Tuesday in Marietta. He had said last week that Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle's withdrawal from the governor's race made it more likely he would jump in.

But Tuesday, he said the attorney general's race would place less stress on his family and allow him to remain active as county chairman.

Democratic state Rep. Rob Teilhet, of Smyrna, has announced he is also running to replace Thurbert Baker as state's top lawyer. A number of other officials are also said to be considering the race.

Associated Press

Planning board offers new way to boost region

A so-called mega-region concept would help spur business development and lead to solving major problems in Georgia and neighboring states--so says a regional planning commission.

The proposal pushes the idea that different cities and communities can find more economic and problem-solving success by selling themselves as a group instead of individually. The Piedmont Atlantic MegaRegion would include communities from North Carolina through parts of Georgia into Alabama.

The concept comes from the Atlanta Regional Commission, a planning group for the metro Atlanta area. ARC chairman Sam Olens says this approach can make it easier to attract international business. And with a down economy, it’s even more critical.

"When you’re in a bad economy, instead of sulking about the economy, let’s make the plans so when the economy improves we’re in fifth gear maximizing that potential strength. So now’s the time to in fact create those partnerships so you get out of the starting gate faster."

Olens says a good example of an area with name recognition is Raleigh-Durham’s Research Triangle.

He says the mega-region concept could also lead to solutions for Georgia’s transportation and water resource problems.