2nd UPDATE
Johnson Will Run For Lieutenant Governor In 2010; Won't Seek Another Term As Pro-Tem

2nd Update at 6:40 p.m. adds possible other candidates for pro-tem job. New material highlighted.
Update at 6:33 p.m. adds biographical material, context.

By Dick Pettys
InsiderAdvantage Georgia

(7/31/09) Sen. Eric Johnson declared Thursday he will run for lieutenant governor in 2010 if Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, as expected, seeks the state's top job. Johnson said he will serve out his current term as president pro tem but will not seek another term in that job when his Republican Caucus colleagues meet in November.

He said he plans to focus the final two years of his Senate service in working for his district, in developing his campaign and in "presenting solutions to the challenges that threaten our state's future prosperity."

He commented in an e-mail circulated Thursday afternoon, a few hours after rolling out what appears to be a key element of his campaign for the state's second-highest post - a proposal to revamp the state's educational policies through universal school choice. Click here for that story.

Here is the text of the e-mail:

Dear friends and colleagues,

After two months of personal reflection, family discussions, and consulting with friends and activists across this great state, I have made an important decision. If Casey runs for Governor, I will run for Lieutenant Governor. I am proud of the work we have done as a team and confident in my ability to continue bringing people together to move our state forward.

It has been my honor to serve as the Minority Leader for four years and the President Pro Tempore for six wonderful years. During this time, we elected a Republican Governor, gained and expanded our majority in the Senate, won a critical redistricting case, and helped our allies in the House achieve a majority as well.

Together, we earned our transition from minority to majority party. We promised the citizens that, given the privilege of leading this great state, we would govern based on core conservative principles. That is exactly what we have done. Limited government, local control, and personal accountability have been the foundation for our efforts as a caucus.

As with the role of Minority Leader and President Pro Tem, I intend to pour every ounce of energy, experience, and enthusiasm that I have into my candidacy. As a result, it is in the best interest of the caucus to turn the reins of leadership over to someone else. I will serve out the remainder of my term as the President Pro Tem and then focus my final two years in the Senate on my district, my campaign, and presenting solutions to the challenges that threaten our state’s future prosperity.

Steady leadership has served our caucus well in the past, and I believe that steady leadership is imperative for us to continue effectively addressing whatever problems may await us on the horizon. That is why I am also using this opportunity to express my support for Tommie Williams as our next President Pro Tempore and Chip Rogers as our next Majority Leader. Without a doubt, our caucus has many individuals capable of assuming more responsibility; however this is the team that I believe will best lead us in the future.

You are a great caucus, and it has been the honor of my life to have your support as President Pro Tem for these last six years. I look forward to seeking your valued advice and counsel as I begin a new path in my public service.

Johnson, an architect, was elected to the Georgia Senate in 1992 after serving a term in the House. He was minority leader for two terms and was elected president pro tem in 2003 after Gov.-elect Sonny Perdue swung the Senate into the GOP column by persuading four Democrats to switch parties.

Johnson became de facto lieutenant governor when majority Republicans removed most of Democratic Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor's power in the chamber. When Cagle was elected as the first Republican lieutenant governor, Johnson surrendered those powers.

He had telegraphed a few days ago that he might not run for re-election as president pro tem. That came after Caucus Whip Mitch Seabaugh announced he would seek the pro-tem's seat, himself, because his interpretation of Caucus rules indicated Johnson could not hold the job while running for another office.

(Senate Majority Leader Tommie Williams has said in the past he is interested in that job if Johnson decides to run for lieutenant governor. We've also heard from one source that Sen. Chip Rogers has expressed interest in the pro-tem position, rather than making his own run for lieutenant governor.)