The session is over and the Georgia Senate is now in the midst of searching for a new leader, Majority Leader that is!
Senator Ronnie Chance of the 16th district is leaving the Georgia Senate to return to private life and in doing so is relinquishing the title of Senator and also that of Senate Majority Leader. Senator Chance, in deciding to “retire” from political life has opened up a void to be filled by the members of the Republican caucus as their internal party leader within the caucus on issues that involve the direction of the Senate.
Two men are starting to emerge in the hunt for this job and it seems that the Gainesville/Hall County area is making a push to add yet another member to the higher levels of leadership in Georgia. Governor Nathan Deal and Lt. Governor Casey Cagle are also from this area. At the same time Cobb County has a long serving Senator that is getting a lot of encouragement to step up and take the Senate reins.
Those close to the situation say that Senator Butch Miller from District 49 in Hall County is openly seeking the job and is in full campaign mode for the position within the caucus. Miller a relative newcomer to politics has shown an aptitude for learning the job of a Senator and has the skills as a business owner that it takes to sell himself and his capabilities to his fellow senators.
The conservative Cobb County Senator from District 32 Judson Hill, is currently Majority Caucus Vice- Chair. After a long involvement with the republican party dating back to 1980, Sen. Judson Hill was elected in 2004 and has served most recently on the Senate Appropriations Committee and also as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. Senator Hill chaired the Fair Tax Study Committee charged with holding meetings across the state to hear from Georgians as tax simplification begins to take shape as an issue for the next legislative session.
Both men bring their own unique skills to the job and would work tirelessly to lead the caucus as Georgia deals with the usual list of problems including roads, education and continued economic growth. Who knows there might be someone else wanting the job too! Look for this internal race to pick up steam as the May 20th primary shakes out the list of those interested. An election of a politician by politicians…to lead politicians!
