Vance Smith seeking GDOT post

State Republican Representative Vance Smith, of Pine Mountain, wants to be the next commissioner of the Department of Transportation. Smith announced his interest in the position to Governor Sonny Perdue last week.

Current commissioner, Harold Linnenkohl, who has held the post for the last four years, is stepping down as of Nov. 30.

Smith is the president of Smith Construction Company, a construction and earthmoving concern, according to the state legislature website.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of Rep. Smith and, and here for state transportation issues.

Vance Smith Tapped As New DOT Commissioner

Department of Transportation board members Thursday unanimously chose state Representative Vance Smith to take over as the department's commissioner. The Pine Mountain Republican curently serves as chairman of the House Transportation Committee, but will give up the seat to move into the DOT commissioner's chair. Smith takes the reigns nearly four months after board members voted to oust Gena Evans as DOT chief.

Pine Mountain mourns Jamie Bishop

Jamie Bishop

As a church bell tolled under a cloudy sky on a windy afternoon in Pine Mountain, several hundred mourners paid their last respects to Jamie Bishop.

Bishop, a German professor at Virginia Tech University was killed in last Monday's shooting rampage.

Those leaving the service, held at the town's First United Methodist Church, described an emotional, standing-room-only sermon given by Pastor Matthew Mitchell.

Pastor Matthew Mitchell speaking
with worshipers after service.
(Dave Bender)
The Bishop family are active members of the church, and are well known in the community.

Among the visitors was local State representative Vance Smith, who spoke of Jamie's skills and talents, and how, in his words, Pine Mountain “wasn't quite big enough to hold him.”

Smith told of memories of Jamie riding his bicycle through town's streets as a child. Smith said Jamie would have gone far, had his life not been cut so tragically short.

"Even though he wasn't living here, he was a loss to this area," Smith said.

More details on this story are available here.

Smith Still Wants Commissioner Post

State Representative Vance Smith says he'll try for the Department of Transportation commissioner's job again. The Pine Mountain Republican was beaten out for the post on a 7-6 vote by Gena Abraham Evans in October 2007. The State Transportation Board voted 9-3 in February to fire Evans. Evans controversial tenure included a romantic relationship with board chairman Mike Evans, leading to their marriage. The General Assembly passed a bill that takes some power and influence away from the DOT board and shifts it to the General Assembly and the governors office. Smith is chairman of the House Transportation Committee.

(Associated Press)

Lawmakers remember Georgia victims of school shooting

State Representatives stopped voting this morning to remember the professors and students who died during the shooting rampage at Virginia Tech Monday and pray for their survivors.

German Professor Jamie Bishop was the first person shot in the Norris Hall academic building. He grew up in the Pine Mountain district represented by Rep. Vance Smith Jr.

"Remember his family," Smith said, gesturing with his hand. "I've known him since he was that big. Pray for him."

Rep. Quincy Murphy (D-Augusta) recalled Martinez native Ryan Clarke, 22, as "an active, humorous and gentle friend" to those who knew him. Clarke was expected to graduate next month with a triple major in psychology, biology and English.

Gov. Sonny Perdue has ordered state flags lowered to half staff until Sunday night.

Lawmakers seek solutions to transportation woes

State lawmakers came to Atlanta to study Georgia's growing transportation problems as money becomes harder to find.

A committee of mostly rural lawmakers says transportation is as much a problem in their areas as it is in Georgia cities. But the costs of fixing roads are rapidly outpacing public funds.

Pine Mountain Rep. Vance Smith says the committee will study nearly all the ways to cut costs, and raise money.

"The citizens of this state are in need of better modes of transportation and they're tired of paying more taxes," he said.

State transportation officials testified to the committee that Georgia's primary source of revenue—the gas tax—is becoming outdated as drivers turn in their gas guzzlers for more efficient vehicles.

There was no talk of public transit, but Smith says that will come later.

Transpo Fed Dollars Now At Work In GA

According to a report in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, 4.2 miles of Georgia 3, which runs through parts of Clayton and Fulton counties, is the state’s first federally funded road improvement project to get underway. Governor Sonny Perdue and newly appointed Department of Transportation Chair Vance Smith will be on hand Tuesday as the project breaks ground. Also expected to attend the celebration in Hapeville is U-S Deputy Secretary of Transportation John Porcari. The project was awarded to C.W. Matthews Contracting Company for $941,000.

Transportation need outpaces funding

State transportation leaders meeting in Savannah say, Georgia can’t keep up with its growing list of transportation needs… and some change in funding is needed.

Roads are gridlocked. Bridges are unsound. And state Department of Transportation has a 7-billion-dollar shortfall in funds to fix the situation.

That’s why a joint House-Senate Transportation Funding Study Committee met this week in Savannah and will meet next month in Columbus. House Transportation Committee Chair Vance Smith of Pine Mountain says, this year lawmakers considered bills imposing a new state-wide sales tax or allowing regional sales taxes to boost transportation funding.

“Those 2-bills were introduced, but no action taken because we wanted to have this study committee, listen to the people of Georgia to see what their needs were and come up with some recommendations,” he said.

Meeting participants included representatives from various transportation modes, including road, rail, bus and air. Committee members also toured the Georgia Ports Authority, where officials noted 3-projects critical to keeping up with growth.

Sine Die 2009 - Budget: Pass Transportation: FAIL

Last night, just before midnight, the 40th day of the Constitutionally mandated session came to a close.

Lawmakers in the House and Senate agreed to next year's budget by around two in the afternoon.

But for transportation - there just wasn't enough time to come to a consesus.

Lawmakers from both chambers held conference committee talks late into the night; but they failed to come up with agreement on how to fund the state's transportation network.

Leading talks in the House was Republican Vance Smith. His team of negotiators proposed a plan that would let voters decide if they wanted a statewide penny sales tax. If that vote failed, then the Senate's regional plan would take effect.

"The Senate just for some reason wouldn't along with that, so..."

House Democrats like Dubose Porter say they're disappointed with their Republican colleagues.

"Transportation's the #1 economic development issue facing the state and for the 2nd year in a row it failed because of a lack of leadership from this administration."

Both chambers did approve a bill that would overhaul the DOT and let the governor appoint a planning director. That bill now heads to Governor Sonny Perdue's desk.

Transportation Compromise Looks Unlikely

State House and Senate lawmakers have just one day left to come up with a transportation compromise. But talks between both chambers appear to be grinding to a halt.

Lawmakers seem to be unable to move from their positions. House negotiators in a transportation conference committee say a penny sales tax for transportation should be paid by all Georgians – because it would bring in more money.

Representative Vance Smith:

“I say let’s crank this engine and move the whole state forward.”

But senators, including Jeff Mullis, say there is no way the Senate would ever support a statewide penny sales tax. It wants regions to decide whether to tax themselves for their transportation needs.

"I've told you from day one - I've told everybody from day one. And I don't know if I'm being heard. Is anybody hearing me? Can anybody hear me today? Well I'm telling you the facts. We will not pass a statewide in the Senate."

House leaders have put forth a plan that would let voters decide if they want a statewide approach. If that vote fails, then the Senate's regional plan would take effect.

But Senate leaders are sticking to their guns and want nothing "bigger" than a regional approach.