Newly elected House Speaker David Ralston on Monday swore to restore Georgians' confidence in their elected officials and said "renewal is born from adversity."
Indeed, the first day of the 2010 legislative session was dominated -- in the House, at least -- by vows of renewal and new beginnings and promises of cooperation and bipartisanship.
"We are at a point that is both unprecedented and unexpected," Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) said in what amounted to an inaugural address following the House's 116-58 vote in favor of Ralston over the Democratic nominee, House Minority Caucus Chairman Calvin Smyre (D-Columbus). "We face great challenges. There will, no doubt, be obstacles thrown in our path. But I truly believe this chamber is filled with good leaders."
Ralston said he learned as a legislative page when he was in the fifth grade that "public service was both noble and honorable. I watched great leaders here that day do great work for the people that sent them there. I still believe public service is noble and honorable."
That sense of nobility and honor at the Capitol sustained a mighty blow last month when former House Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram) announced his plans to resign after his ex-wife told the world via a series of devastating television interviews that Richardson cheated on her with a lobbyist for a local utility company while championing legislation to benefit his paramour's employer.
Susan Richardson's decision to reveal her ex-husband's infidelities, as well as his need for attention and sympathy, did not cost only Richardson. It opened the floodgates on a month of rumor mongering and depictions of the Gold Dome as frat house rather than people's house. Lobbyists, especially female ones, have complained that the scandal has put them all under a banner of corruption. Indeed, veteran lobbyists said Monday that there were far fewer female lobbyists at the Capitol than normal.
The ripple effects of the Richardson scandal led the House and the state to Monday, through a convoluted order of succession that saw Rep. Mark Burkhalter (R-Johns Creek) gavel the chamber to order at 10 a.m. in a stint as speaker of the House that lasted about 12 days. Burkhalter was speaker pro tem when Richardson resigned Jan. 1 and thus assumed the speakership. But Burkhalter said he would not seek the job permanently, and Ralston beat out two other Republicans to win the job.
Burkhalter has plans beyond the Gold Dome. He said he's opening a London-based realty firm, but hasn't decided whether he will need to give up his seat, which he's held since 1993.
After ending his first legislative day in charge, Ralston defended his chamber and his colleagues.
"This is not a frat house," he said. "These are good people, and I am intent that the people of Georgia know that I'm not going to let the actions of a few ruin the reputations of many."
The House, he said, needs to change "substantively" and "symbolically."
Meanwhile, in the Senate, the first day was without drama. Senators met for about 40 minutes, taking little official action.
Following an opening prayer, senators lined up to shake Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle’s hand. Donzella James (D-Atlanta), the new and former senator from the 35th District, was introduced, after winning a special election for the seat formerly held by newly elected Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed.
Reed was in the House gallery for much of the morning. Ralston, in his speech following the vote, said his promise of a new beginning extends to relations with the city of Atlanta.
"Atlanta has a great new leader, and I look forward to working with Mayor Kasim Reed and Atlanta to move all of Georgia forward," Ralston said.
Smyre, the veteran Democrat, said in a speech before the vote that he knew the outcome in advance. But his candidacy, he said, was about something far more important.
"I don't expect to win today by popular vote, but the mere fact that I am a candidate is a victory for democracy and the minority party," Smyre said.
"Spoils go to the winner," Smyre said. "But whether you win or lose, politics ought to be about an open and participatory policy. I don't suffer from the illusion of inclusion, but I do expect the decency of participating in this House."
That participation is more likely under Ralston, for whom 11 Democrats voted over Smyre. The new speaker is expected this week to roll out changes to House rules that allow for more dissent and more debate both in committee and on the House floor. Ralston also said he will announce new committee chairs this week, and several top lawmakers are expected to be removed from committee chairmanships.
Ralston said he will meet with key advisers this week and announce changes by Wednesday.
Joining Ralston in the new House leadership Monday was Rep. Jan Jones (R-Milton), who was elected speaker pro tem. Jones becomes the first woman to hold such a lofty title in the House. Jones defeated Rep. Kathy Ashe (D-Atlanta) for the No. 2 spot in the House.
"I pledge to serve the new speaker and you, doing what is good and right for all Georgia," Jones said.
So, Monday was about change and starting over. Richardson's name was barely mentioned. Tuesday begins the real work and the real test for the new leadership, the House and the Senate.
"Georgians need to know now more than ever that their state government belongs to the working families and people of this state and not to the special interests," Ralston said. "We must embrace change because business as usual in this House will no longer be tolerated."
Staff writers Ernie Suggs and Nancy Badertscher contributed to this article.
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