January 13, 2003
(Atlanta-AP) -- Sonny Perdue is now Georgia's first Republican governor in more than a century. Perdue took his oath of office this afternoon, raising a cheer from the crowd at Philips Arena in Atlanta. The new governor pledges not to let the historic party shiftdisrupt state government.
Meanwhile, state Republicans are waiting only for the opening
gavels of the Legislature to take over the Senate and to fight for
a share of power in the House.
Lawmakers are returning to a Capitol reeling from an election
two months ago that gave Republicans the governor's office and
control of the Senate.
Democrats still hold the House, but Perdue is putting the power
of his office behind an effort to defeat the Democratic nominee for
speaker -- Representative Terry Coleman, and to elect a candidate
friendlier to his cause.
Perdue's candidate was Representative Larry Walker of Perry --
also a Democrat, but a friend of the new Republican governor's and
a fellow middle Georgian.
Perdue's agenda includes a referendum on the flag and redrawing
the election districts that majority Democrats designed last year
to favor themselves.
Today, the new Republican majority will begin flexing its
muscle, first with a rules change to strip Democratic Lieutenant
Governor Mark Taylor of his power to appoint committees.
That power will be given to a new three-member committee on
committees composed of Republican Senator Eric Johnson of Savannah,
Tom Price of Roswell and Taylor.
That means many top Democratic chairmen will lose their posts,
including Appropriations Committee Chairman George Hooks of
Americus. Expected to run that committee under the Republican
majority is one of the four party-switchers, Senator Jack Hill of
Reidsville.
Several hundred people gathered this morning for an inaugural
prayer service for Perdue at Atlanta's Church of the Apostles.
Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy and Georgia football coach Mark
Richt were among the speakers. Perdue's 25-year-old son, Jim
Perdue, gave the sermon.
Jim Perdue told his father, "You've been elected to
the highest office in the state, but you've also been elected the
highest servant in the state."
The prayer service, held prior to the inauguration ceremony, is
a tradition set by many incoming governors. Perdue will take office
as Georgia's 81st governor today.
Richt gave the benediction. Perdue was a non-scholarship
football player at UGA and has become friends with Georgia's new
head coach.
updated at 2:30PM by dave.miller@walb.com
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