Based on the comments on this thread, it seems pretty clear that the field of potential replacements will be large, and front runner status may take a while (like, until election day) to sort out.
I can’t let the opportunity pass to comment on the contrast between the two candidates mentioned in the body of the original post.
Mike Evans has served in the Georgia House and on the GA DOT board. He’s a known commodity. He has “the right” friends, and has been able to successfully leverage those relationships into high profile positions.
Tom Graves is somewhat of an outsider. Though a member of the Georgia House, he has clashed with leadership, and has strictly upheld a voting record of siding with the taxpayers over the “inside” crowd.
Graves most prominent clash with House leadership was over a DOT board election; that of one Mike Evans.
I can’t help but see the total failure to define and implement a “Republican” transportation plan, and frankly, any significant Republican agenda, as anything other than the result of getting Gena Evans appointed DOT Commissioner, and the related defense of Mike Evans seat on the DOT board.
The amount of political capital spent on behalf of these two people left the bank of goodwill among our top 3 State executives in need of a bailout. Yet, with the Governor and Lt. Governor going to the mat for Evans, he resigned just a few months later. His wife, unable to find her footing in a hostile environment, and with a few self-inflicted non-performance related embarrassments, was fired a few more months later.
And who bore the brunt of this political capital that was spent? Tom Graves. The man stood on principle and voted against the direct order of The Speaker. His reward was an office in “Siberia” and loss of his committee “hawk” status.
If these two men are the leading contenders going in to this election, the voters of the 9th will have a clear and compelling choice: They can vote for an established insider who used an entire Governor’s term’s worth of political capital to get re-elected to a board for a couple of months. Or they can vote for an “experienced outsider” who has demonstrated that he is willing to sacrifice his own personal power and prestige to vote the will of his constituents.
I wish all the races I get to vote in could offer a choice that is so compelling.
{ 25 comments }
Run Tom Run!!!
Anyone know if David Ralston has given any thought to running for this seat? I think he would be a good representative of our district
Not as good as Graves.
Mike is the right choice for Congress. We need Tom in Atlanta, he is badly needed there.
What happened to the rumors of Bill Stephens joining this race?
Icarus, well written. but before you go too far in your praise and prayers to the new patron saint of principles, you should ask Tom about all the deals he tried to cut with the Speaker to vote against Evans.
He clumsily tried to demand all sorts of committee assignments and other little favors. when the speaker refused, tom then voted on principle.
I’ve met tom, and like tom. But let’s not get carried away here.
And I do think you are placing too much of the burden of the failure of transportation in this state on two people. you neglected to mention the House’s complete unwillingness to negotiate, Cagle’s complete failure of leadership last year, the Governor offering absolutely no vision, plan or leadership, and a DOT board that is corrupt and incompentent. Guys like Doss and Beech who offer road projects for bribes belong in jail.
Sure, Mike and Gena deserve some blame too. But the Capitol and DOT as a whole need to hit the refresh button and start over.
Tom didn’t need to cut any “deals”, he was already an insider and a powerful “hawk”. He had gone very far in the house in relation to his age and tenure and was considered a rising star by the Speaker. He risked all of that for a vote on principle and was then relegated to outside status.
I’m sure Evans is a good guy, but the state of GA has been a bit embarrassed by Mike and Gina’s antics. I think they need to take a political breather before they hop back into the scene.
Let’s not forget that Tom Grave was the leader of a small group of principled conservatives that did this novel and new thing called reading the bills before deciding how to vote, and rating each one on conservative principles, the top two being lower taxes and less government. I am torn here. I wonder if his work is done in the state, but think we need many more like him in Washington.
On a somewhat related topic, anyone know if Gov. Perdue has decided whether or not he will sign the JOBS bills? He needs to hear from everyone about this to help him make up his mind…
This is my Congressional District, and I’ll need to consider all my options. I’d say that potential candidates for this seat(that I would endorse) include Bill Stephens, Tom Graves, David Ralston, Doug Collins, Jeff Mullis, Mike Evans, and Max Burns, with Burns likely getting my support.
He needs to hear from everyone about this to help him make up his mind…
Sorry, but do you think the Governor gives a crap about what people like you think?
Bill,
You’re right…he doesn’t really care, but it makes me feel better. If I never said anything, I couldn’t legitametly gripe if he doesn’t sign the bills.
Fair enough.
Of course, another option is to learn about ALL of the candidates, including those with no political ties, (favors) and are doing it because it is time Congress start doing the duties with what it was charged. I know some of the “front-runners” and of all of them, I have nothing bad to say about them. However, even if I was not in the race, I would want to learn about those that I have not met. You never know what you might find.
Thanks for reading. I look forward to meeting everyone.
Jeremy Jones
http://www.JonesForUs.com
Jeremy Jones = The Ray McBerry of the 9th.
Come on, man. How about actually ACCOMPLISHING something for Georgia before you assume we’d vote for you?
Even a working website would be nice.
Tom Graves would make a great Congressman but I do not see how he can win. I wish him the best of luck if he decides to run.
Is it Congress or congress?
Location may hurt Graves most. He lives in the western end of the district, while the population centers are in Hall and Forsyth. He would have to get a lot of support from the eastern end of the district that doesn’t know him so well.
I think his record would bode well with the voters, but he may struggle with getting name recognition in time to go after his opponents.
I assume nothing. Sorry if I came across as though I do.
My website is “working” but is certainly not complete. Thanks for taking the time to go to it however. I hope after my speech Saturday you visit it again.
Jeremy Jones
http://www.JonesForUs.com
Re: Graves
If you get more than one candidate from Hall and Forsyth it helps a guy like Graves. Dividing the Hall/Forsyth vote could help propel Graves into a runoff. He’s a solid speaker, well known among GOP activists, and let’s face it the ladies love him.
I’m of two minds about this. Graves would be a great addition to Congress, but he’s very valuable as the de-facto Conservative leader in the House.
Open Congressional seats don’t come along very often so I don’t begrudge anyone who decides to take a shot at it.
I agree with Buzz completely except I think Graves needs two from Forsyth and two from Hall to get him to the runoff. Right now I could see a runoff between a person from Hall and a person from Forsyth. The population is stacked pretty heavy in the south part of the district.
The U.S. House is near worthless right now, compared to what may be possible to accomplish in the Georgia House (as tough a climate as it is for conservative principles). I hope that Graves stays in the House. We could sure use him there against the party hacks.
JJ, no offense, but how can we learn about you when you have a blank website up? Why even put one up if it has no content? Why direct people there when there is nothing to see?
It’s like asking people to vote for you, but not even giving them one reason why they should.
I have asked for no votes yet. There is very little on my site. As I said earlier, it will be complete by next week. The reason I have it up, and am directing people to it, for the Tax Day TEA speech, and so people can sign up to receive updates.
I assure you, I know the odds are more than stacked against me. However, that will not diminish my commitment and passion in running this campaign. I truly believe it is time a new era of Republicans enter into politics. We, as a party, have simply not been true to ourselves. It is time for a new generation to enter the race. But, I am starting to sound like a campaign commercial, and this is certainly not the place for such.
Thanks again for everyone. I look forward to discussing the issues at hand and meeting as many people as possible.
Jeremy Jones
http://www.JonesForUs.com
Jeremy Jones:
You actually handled those pops from myself and Georgia Values pretty well. Really, well done. I retract my McBerry comment, I was off base on that.
You seem very temperate, cool minded, and honestly humble on both responses.
Well done.
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