Special Weekend Report:

Turmoil In The Senate Now, Too

By Dick Pettys
InsiderAdvantage Georgia

(7/28/08)The House isn’t the only chamber in the Georgia Legislature where a coup attempt is being formulated. A challenge is brewing in the Senate, as well.

Senate Republican Whip Mitch Seabaugh sent an e-mail to his caucus mates Saturday announcing he plans to challenge Sen. Eric Johnson as Senate President Pro Tem, a position which is second only to the lieutenant governor in the chamber.

Johnson said he has made no decision yet whether to run for the post again. Meanwhile, Sen. Ronnie Chance traveled to Lyons this week to tell Senate Majority Leader Tommie Williams he plans to challenge him for that post, two sources said.

Johnson, who was de facto lieutenant governor for four years after the new GOP majority stripped then-Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor, a Democrat, of his powers, has said he intends to run for lieutenant governor in 2010, assuming there’s a vacancy. (Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle is expected to run for governor. Incumbent Gov. Sonny Perdue’s second and last term expires that year.)

Seabaugh said Caucus rules stipulate "you cannot hold a leadership position while running for another office" and that since Johnson is running for lieutenant governor, the office, therefore, is vacant. Secondarily, he said there is concern about contributions Johnson made this year to the campaigns of Democrats. "Politics is a team sport," he said. "You pick a team and put on their jersey."

He said he's also unhappy that he's been blocked in trying to implement changes in how the Caucus operates to ensure that ideas move from the bottom up and not the top down.

Here’s the text of Seabaugh’s e-mail:

I want to convey to each of you how honored I have been to serve as your caucus whip the past six years.

Because of my respect for each of you, I want to contact you and let you know first hand that I have decided to offer myself to the caucus in service as the President Pro Tem. I realize this seems so premature, especially since our LG has not even announced his intention to run for governor, but at times we don't control the timing.

I feel our efforts at this time should be more focused on November elections, but circumstances have occured that cause me to begin communicating that I will offer myself to serve as PPT and what I feel I have to offer our caucus as PPT sooner than I would have preferred. Remember, we have many caucus members who have November opposition.

While I will be taking some time to communicate my vision and articulate my reasoning, I commit to you I will do all I can to ensure I do not distract from our focus of what our party needs to accomplish in the November elections.

Our party's elections in November are more important than caucus elections and that should be our focus. I just want to make you aware that come time for selection of who will serve our caucus, I will be asking for your support for a different role than in the past.

I have discussed this option with some members, and it has become more public than I would have chosen at this juncture. I simply ask at this time for the opportunity to discuss with you my vision and why I have decided to take this step before you make any commitments.

I want you to know that this was not an easy decision for me because I have truly enjoyed serving as our caucus whip. I have truly felt honored to work with our outstanding whip team, and it is that kind of team atmosphere I hope to bring to our entire caucus.

Thank you for your time and consideration. If you have any questions, please feel free to call.

Mitch.

Johnson issued this statement Saturday:

“I have made no decision whether to run for President Pro Tempore or not. We should be focused on the people of Georgia and not political offices that will be decided in January of 2009. People are hurting and they should come first. The present Senate leadership is working with the Governor, the lieutenant governor and the House leadership to decide how and what to cut to balance the budget without a tax increase.”

Meanwhile, Seabaugh said he's suspending his own exploration of a possible bid for lieutenant governor in order to pursue the president pro-tem's position.

With Sen. Chip Rogers also considering the lieutenant governor's post, Seabaugh said, and because he's a friend, "it would be a good thing for me to be president pro tem."

However, Rogers also has been mentioned as a possible candidate for president pro tem and is said to have been making some calls of his own to Caucus members.