House Leadership Shake-up

Jay Roberts (R-Ocilla), one of the Speaker’s top lieutenants, is to be the new Chairman of House Transportation Committee. This is seen as good news for rural Georgia, as it provides a key balance to Transportation funding throughout the State. Indeed, with the drama surrounding the Transportation Reorganization (SB 200), something was missed out: The House Transportation Committee now has the power to confirm the Governor’s appointment of Transportation planner. (Section 9 of SB 200, which changes Code Section 32-2-43(a) to read “There shall be a director of planning appointed by the Governor subject to approval by a majority vote of the House Transportation Committee.”) Meaning that Roberts, a South GA boy, will play a key role in this.

Donna Sheldon (R-Dacula), currently the Vice-Chair of Transportation and the Majority Caucus, had put in to be Chairman of Transportation. Because House rules prevent the Chairmen of elected leadership positions such as the Majority Caucus from also holding Committee chairmanships, Roberts, the current Chair of the Majority Caucus, is stepping down from that position and Sheldon is running for it unopposed, making her the heir apparent for the Chairmanship of the Majority Caucus.

Jeff May (R-Monroe), current Majority Caucus Secretary/Treasurer, is now running for Vice-Chair with no known opposition.

Currently there are three people seeking to replace May as Secretary/Treasurer: Sean Jerguson (R-Holly Springs), Allen Peake (R-Macon), Barbara Sims (R-Augusta).

Why is the the leadership of the Majority Caucus so important? Its leaders serve on the closed-door Committee on Assignments – which decides all chairmanships and what committees people are assigned to.

These elections will be held the second week of July at the House Republican Caucus Retreat.