James Magazine Names Isakson, Eric Johnson Georgians Of The Year

* Ehrhart Named Legislator Of The Year

* Mattingly, Gingrich, Miller, Lewis, Young, Carter, Sanders and Jordan Named to "Political Hall Of Fame."

* First Political Reporting Award Goes To Salzer

(4/24/08) Sen. Johnny Isakson, representing Georgia’s Washington, D.C., leadership, and state Sen. Eric Johnson, representing state-level elected officials, were named the Georgians of the Year by InsiderAdvantage’s political magazine, James.

The magazine - named after Georgia’s founder, James Oglethorpe - was launched four years ago and is now read by over 67,000 of the state’s top political, media, business, and community leaders. InsiderAdvantage, known for its polling unit, owns political electronic and print publications throughout the South and in Washington D.C.

Our usual party honoring all of our “Most Influential Georgians” will be held in September. Past recipient attendees have included: Gov. Sonny Perdue, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, Speaker Glenn Richardson, Speaker Pro Tem Mark Burkhalter and Bernie Marcus.

InsiderAdvantage CEO Matt Towery:

“We named Johnny Isakson for obvious reasons. He is a dear friend, a great leader, a man of integrity, and, I still believe, has a keen sense of humor and loyalty. These are the two most important traits in a great leader. Plus he had to deal with me as a pitiful lieutenant gubernatorial candidate weighing him down in 1990. That alone qualifies one for an award.
“Eric Johnson was named because of his devotion to public service and the fact that he functioned for several years as the defacto lieutenant governor of this state. I have known Eric since 1980 and he is a man of great integrity and a true friend.”

The Magazine chose several former leaders for its “Hall of Fame."

Towery:

“Mack Mattingly created the modern statewide Republican party with his Senate victory in 1980. I am too close to him to say anything else that would be deemed objective. Given the fact that we have spoken on the phone virtually every day since those early years, there is no political leader for whom I have greater affection. He has given to Georgia and this nation in roles from ambassador (two stints) to head of our Ports Authority. Beneath his sometimes gruff exterior is perhaps one of the kindest individuals I have ever known.

“Newt Gingrich clearly made one of the most enduring marks of any political leader of our lifetime. Were it not for Gingrich, the late 1990s would not have been one of the greatest periods of economic expansion in modern history. Newt is a man always ahead of his time. While we have known and worked at times very closely together since I was a teenager, we have always engaged in a love-hate relationship. I loved him and he hated me! It shows good judgment on his part!

“Jimmy Carter brought the ultimate honor to Georgia—the Presidency. Carter inherited a bad economy and shaky foreign policy from his predecessor. In reality, his presidency, in my eyes, was filled with innovation and unheralded success. He faced the inherent bias which the Washington establishment has for a true Southern-born leader. He taught everyone that there is no limit to what a Georgia boy can do and we are proud of his legacy.

“Zell Miller is, to date, generally accepted as the greatest governor in modern history. Another friend since my youth, I know Zell to be a man of great intellect, character, and vision. And he was a lot of fun to serve under. There are not enough words to describe how fantastic this man is and what a blessing he has personally been to me. Zell Miller saw more in me than I saw in myself. I’m only sorry I let him down. He is the North Georgia Mountain.

“John Lewis is a living legend. A smart political leader with a heart of gold, John has brought great honor to our state both as a civil rights activist and elected official.

“Andy Young is a giant in Atlanta and around the world. I had the pleasure of sharing adjoining offices with Andy in the later 1990s and the opportunity to both learn from and share with this great man is one of the greatest blessings of my life. Congressman, Ambassador to the UN, Mayor, good and caring friend…what else can I say?

“Carl Sanders will always be, in my mind, the John F. Kennedy of Georgia. He is known as Georgia’s first ‘modern Governor.’ Had we not imposed term limits, Sanders’ legacy would likely have been so great that it would have rivaled that of Zell Miller. Even in four years, Carl sanders brought Georgia into the light of day with great progress in education and economic development. He is the greatest of gentlemen and brings great honor to his true profession—attorney.

“Hamilton Jordan is the only ‘unelected official’ in our Hall of Fame. This is one of the brightest political minds I have ever witnessed. The service he provided in attempting to free the Iranian hostages in late 1979 and 1980 was an act of true heroism. He represents all unelected public servants who have given their all for our sate and nation.

Legislator of the Year Rep. Earl Ehrhart.

Towery: “Since we were teenagers we have been friends. In that time Earl has grown to become a devoted public servant and, I might add, a very devoted father. Earl often acts on impulse. But that’s what I like about him. And as Rules Chairman in the House he has brought order in an otherwise relatively wild and crazy (by tradition) place. We decided even before this session that Earl was our choice because of his loyal service to his state and his Speaker.”

The Shipp/Pettys Award—James Salzer, AJC

There are no two bigger names in modern political state journalism than those of Bill Shipp and Dick Pettys. Bill was political editor of the AJC for years before founding “Bill Shipp’s Georgia” in 1987. In 2000 our company purchased Bill Shipp’s Georgia and Bill served as editor until 2005. For the past three years Dick Pettys, with over thirty years as the Gold Dome reporter for the AP, has served as the editor of what now is called ‘Dick Pettys InsiderAdvantageGeorgia.’ While Dick will retire from day-to-day coverage later this year, he will remain as Senior Editor and will continue to contribute and be a part of the site, as he works with a new team of reporters who will carry on our tradition.

The first winner of the award named in their honor is James Salzer of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Towery:

“James is a symbol of the best Georgia has to offer in journalism. He knows every possible contact, follows leads quickly, and understands the real deal of politics and government. He has the kind of smart-a** wit that we love, and most of all, he is fair. If he is a “beat” reporter it must stand for “I beat you to the story.”