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Georgia: Switching Parties to Stay in Power

State Capital Strategies
Friday, April 10, 1998

Georgia Senate President Pro Tem Sonny Perdue (D) is pondering a switch to the GOP and has been phoning several conservative Democrats this week to encourage additional defections.

A conservative Democrat, Perdue apparently fears he will lose personal influence if the Senate falls under Republican control next year. Several senators have confirmed that Perdue called them last week, which infuriated Senate Democratic leaders who overheard the plans. SCS sources say key Democrats promise not to consider Perdue as president pro tem if the party retains control of the upper chamber.

Perdue's efforts apparently have not included contact with key Republican senators, who say Perdue would have a slim chance at the GOP's speaker job just because he switched parties and brought a few legislators with him.

Democratic Lt. Gov. Bob Peeler's retirement after the session will trigger a leadership shuffle regardless of Perdue's plans. Senate Democratic Majority leader Charles Walker is considered fairly liberal and has traditionally disagreed with the more conservative Perdue. Democrats in the Georgia legislature will not enjoy the support of term-limited Gov. Zell Miller (D) next session.

Alabama: Pardoned Governor Jumps in Race

Former Alabama governor Guy Hunt, who was forced from office after he was found guilty of using the governor's office for personal gain, has entered the June 2 GOP gubernatorial primary. Hunt's candidacy follows a special session in which the state Board of Pardon and Appeals granted him a full pardon and his attorney paid the final $200,000 installment of court-ordered restitution. The pardon declared Hunt, the first Republican governor of Alabama during this century, innocent of all charges.

Hunt was removed from office after his 1993 conviction for using tax-free funds earmarked for his 1987 inauguration for personal gain. Judge Sally Greenhaw had extended Hunt's probation by five years because he was paying restitution so slowly. But Greenhaw canceled the probation when Hunt paid the full restitution on March 31. He said donations and an unidentified loan funded the final payment.

Several leading Republican sources said they contributed to the fund to retire the debt, but they complained last week that Hunt didn't make his gubernatorial plans public prior to their donations.

His candidacy could cause problems for incumbent Republican Gov. Fob James, as he likely will siphon off some the right-wing Christian vote. A James-Hunt primary would probably benefit another primary candidate, Montgomery businessman Winton Blount III.

Meanwhile, Democratic Lt. Gov. Don Siegelman faces only token primary opposition, leaving him a strong campaign war chest for the general election.

Alaska: Guarding Against Gerrymandering

Alaska House members will seek state constitutional amendments on reapportionment and redistricting to block future gerrymandering. The amendments will create a five-member Reapportionment Board, with appointments from the legislative majority, legislative minority and the chief justice of the Alaska Supreme Court. The amendments will require apportionment plans to avoid legal challenges. The proposal, by Republican Reps. Brian Porter and Eldon Mulder, passed by a vote of 27 to 11.

House members oppose the current plan in which the governor, a Democrat, controls the reapportionment process.

Florida: Potential Running Mate Says No