ATLANTA — Athens Republican Bill Cowsert won election as Senate majority leader, and David Shafer overcame a challenge to hold his post as president pro tempore when the Republican Caucus held elections Monday.
Cowsert, brother-in-law to Secretary of State Brian Kemp, is an attorney with Cowsert & Avery who was elected to Kemp’s Senate seat in 2006 when Kemp made an unsuccessful attempt for agriculture commissioner. Cowsert became Republican Caucus chairman in 2011 and chaired the Senate Higher Education Committee during the last legislative term, posts he’ll give up now. He considered running for Congress when Paul Broun announced his campaign for the U.S. Senate, but he concluded the timing was wrong for his law practice and decided to stay in the legislature.
As majority leader, he, Shafer and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle will set the agenda for the Senate, deciding what proposals advance and which die, negotiating with the House when there are conflicts. It is considered one of the three or four most powerful positions in the Capitol.
Two GOP senators had announced intensions to challenge Shafer for the top post in the Senate, but when Rene Unterman of Buford withdrew her bid, that left Butch Miller of Gainesville. Shafer reportedly squeaked out a victory, and senators were tight lipped about the reasons for challenging him.
