(U.S. Air Force photo, 2018/Don Peek)
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
AUG. 30, 2019 | The political world in Georgia got thrown topsy-turvy for the coming year’s election, when Sen. Johnny Isakson announced that he would resign from the Senate at the end of the year. The senior senator has served with distinction for 14 years, and has been re-elected rather easily two times. He was not so much the Republican party man, as he was more moderate in his decisions, reflecting many Georgian’s views.
The state first heard of the Republican senator politically as a state representative from Cobb County, serving seven terms in the Georgia House of Representatives, and gaining respect from all sides for the way he conducted his office. He lost a race for governor in 1990, when Georgia was more thoroughly Democratic. In February, 1999, he won a seat for the Sixth District of Georgia in the U.S. House of Representatives, serving until elected to the Senate in the term to begin in 2005. He’s served there since.
Maybe what Georgians liked best was the calm and deliberate way that Mr. Isakson conducted himself in the office. He wasn’t a bombastic person, but ever so much one to go about his effort in a quiet, reasonable way. We will miss him.
SO NOW the horse race begins to determine who will succeed Mr. Isakson as the next senator for Georgia. That immediate decision, because of when this resignation comes, means that Gov. Brian Kemp must appoint someone to serve until a new senator can be elected in the fall of 2020 to complete the four years remaining on the Isakson term.
Who will Governor Kemp choose? Mentioned already are:
- The governor himself. Though he has been in office only a few months, still, if he ever had a yearning to become a Senator, that’s a legal option for him. Of course, he would face opposition next November, but he would be a favorite to win, you would think.
- Pick Nathan Deal to serve as a one-year caretaker term, throwing the next election into a wide-open contest. Deal would be effective, since he knows his way around Washington.
- Elevate Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan to an unexpected seat, no doubt changing statewide politics itself. The lieutenant governor could then run for the seat himself.
- It’s crazy sounding, but it could happen: Governor Kemp could appoint former Gov. (and current Agriculture Secretary) Sonny Perdue, first cousin of the state’s other U.S. senator. Far as that goes, Sonny might like to get out of being a member of the president’s cabinet. It would have to be less stressful.
- Another possibility is that the governor will appoint Attorney General Chris Carr as the new senator. Carr’s wife, Joan Kirchner, is the chief of staff of Senator Isakson’s office, and would provide a ready-made staff to help guide the new senator in the new office. Again,far-fetched, but possible.
Now with Sen. David Perdue facing election in 2020, suddenly the Democrats could have hopes of electing not one Democratic senator, but two! All they would have to do is become the dominant party in the state again! Sure! Piece of cake?
What the Democrats do not have at this time are well-known, attractive obvious candidates. Strong Democratic names don’t automatically fall off people’s lips. The only big name is Stacey Abrams, who came mighty close to winning the governorship. But she has said she would try to help other candidates in the coming races, and is not a candidate herself. Of course, that could change.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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