Roy Barnes to join 2010 race for governor
Roy Barnes will announce today that he intends to become the first former Georgia governor in a half-century to reclaim the office after being turned out by voters.
The announcement is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at the Marietta Conference Center. Barnes, we’re told, will delay the actual start of his campaign until July, in order to wrap up some trial work and finish up as chairman of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
Former Gov. Roy Barnes/Rich Addicks, raddicks@ajc.com
Barnes, 61, enters a field already occupied by three Democrats — Attorney General Thurbert Baker, House Minority Leader DuBose Porter, and David Poythress, former commander of the Georgia National Guard.
Six Republicans are in the contest.
Despite a huge financial advantage, Barnes was defeated in 2002 by Sonny Perdue, an upstart Republican state senator from middle Georgia. Both chambers of the Legislature quickly shifted to GOP hands, removing Democrats from control of the state Capitol for the first time since the mid-19th century.
Barnes settled into a law practice in new offices off the Marietta Square, and eschewed any suggestion of a return to the political field. A spokesman for the state GOP called Barnes “about as popular as Michael Moore in a VFW hall.”
But Republican infighting in the Capitol and inaction on a number of issues — transportation at the top of the list — created an opening for a return, and starting late last year, Barnes began indicating a change of heart.
“Yes, I’ve had a lot of the business folks come out here. Sometimes they just show up. And basically, what they say is, ‘Listen, you need to try this again, ‘” Barnes said from his law office in December.
In a series of speeches and appearances earlier this year, Barnes struck a populist tone, condemning the grasp of special interests on legislation passing through the Legislature.
For the last several weeks, the former governor had kept even close friends guessing. Word leaked that fund-raisers, pollsters and strategists — those who would be involved in the nuts-and-bolts of a campaign — had been interviewed. But even close friends said they were unsure of his path.
The former governor dropped a large hint at a party fund-raiser in May, when he assessed other Democrats already in the race:
“There’s a verse in the Old Testament that says the people perish where there is no vision. And I’m looking for vision. And in that category, I haven’t seen it yet. It’s not that they’re not good folks. It’s just — listen, we can do better.”
Polling in anticipation of a Barnes return indicates the former governor becomes the immediate favorite in the primary, though he also carries the burdens that caused voters to reject his bid for a second term — teachers who resented his attack on a tenure system, Confederate enthusiasts angered by his hauling down the ’56 state flag, and residents found themselves the path of a now- defunct Northern Arc.
But Barnes also brings to the race a well-known name that resonates with many voters, including African-Americans, an ability to raise cash, and — perhaps most important in a down economy — the ability to invest substantial dollars in his own campaign.
Barnes’ entry into the race is also likely to help fill out down-ballot contests. No Democrat has yet to enter the race for lieutenant governor. State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond, a Barnes ally, has been mentioned as a possibility.
But to return to the Governor’s Mansion, Barnes will first have to win a primary. His fellow candidates have promised he’ll get no cake-walk — and have recommended that he remain an elder statesman for the party.
At that Democratic fund-raiser back in May, Porter, the House minority leader and newspaper publisher from Dublin, said Georgia hasn’t changed that much since 2002.
“You know, I appreciate Roy,” he said. “But, you know, the problems he had before are still there. As I travel the state, I’ve supported education, I’ve supported teachers, I’ve supported smaller classrooms. The things that were out there for him before are still there.”
Many governors, with their terms constitutionally limited, have attempted gubernatorial comebacks — E.D. Rivers, Marvin Griffin, Ellis Arnall, Carl Sanders, and Lester Maddox included.
But the last ex-governor to win re-election after being ousted by voters was Gene Talmadge — the namesake of Roy Eugene Barnes.
Talmadge was elected to two, two-year terms in the 1930s, and then a third term in 1940. But he lost a primary fight in 1942, the result of a backlash that came from his interference in the state university system.
Talmadge won re-election in 1946, but died before taking office.
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176 comments Add your comment
Ron Barnes
June 3rd, 2009
10:13 am
Great, Roy Barnes is running again. Now people are going to confuse our names once again. Perfect, just what I need. It is bad enough to be associated with the likes of him but I hate when people think that my wife also looks like Shrek. That is not cool. I hope he changes his mind and drops out – or I will change my name. I mean it!
JJ
June 3rd, 2009
10:22 am
If Barnes were to win, how many terms could he serve? Would he be limited to just one term because he had been governor before.
Raul
June 3rd, 2009
10:31 am
BARNES SUCKS!!!
Mildred
June 3rd, 2009
10:32 am
Exstatic that Roy Barnes is running for Governor. He is the most intelligent Governor we have ever had and the most honest and ethical. He is the only person who I think can straighten out the huge mess Sonnny Perdue and his staff of 12 year olds and retired bankers have made of Georgia. These retired bankers are responsible for the shape the U.S. Economy is ion and Perdue surrounded himself with this group so they could destroy the Economy of Georgia. And as for teachers, you need to to look and see what Perdue has done for you, he has cut funding for education and test scores have not significantly improved, except when the Department of Education manipulates the test scores to show what they want them to show. And Perdue has gone after your retirement income and and tried to cut out your annual pay raise – Roy Barnes would have never done anything like that. He cares for the little people and teachers and unlike Perdue isn’t only interested in the rich the bankers, and passing legislation that lines his own pocket book. It is time for an honorable Governor in Georgia who cares about the little people and has vision and a backbone and isn’t afraid to make and implement hard decisions. Sonny Perdue is just mean and doesn’t like to hear any contrary opinion to his, it’s his way or you are out. Remember his comment last night regarding taxpayers being spoiled because they are complaining that their income tax refunds are not coming soon enough. That is the taxpayers money and should be refunded very quickly and timely. If you disagree with him his neck and head just starts turning red and he starts screaming at who ever disagrees with him and threatens them.
Reid in EAV
June 3rd, 2009
10:33 am
Best news I’ll likely hear all day. As an intown Atlanta conservative who thinks Ga. is seriously on the wrong track in terms of transportation (all cars, all the time) and growth (sprawl), I’ll definitely be voting the Democratic ballot in this one.
John j
June 3rd, 2009
10:34 am
Has everyone forgot Old Roy stole the money from the GA 400 tollway authority to finance a marta station in Atlantic Station. (of course this went to one of his friends) Or how about when Sonny took office to find out the state was $700mm in the red, oh yea Old Roy forgot to talk about that when he was running. Fiscally I agree with a lot that Sonny has done, but I do not like his jumping into “social issues” that let his religous beliefs become his direction versus what the people want. Either party can do better than Old Roy and I hope they do.
MiltonMan
June 3rd, 2009
10:42 am
The only thing that Barney is good at is gerrymandering. Let’s not forget that the clown threw as many conservative voters in as few possible precints.
Loretta Bell
June 3rd, 2009
10:42 am
Mr. Porter’s support for teachers is suspect. At one time his kids were transported from Dublin to Macon so tht they could attend private school. How is that supporting teachers and public education. No other democrat can tough Gov. Roy Barnes, teachers are excited that he is back!!
GaGo10 – Barnes is In « The Perimeter Progressive
June 3rd, 2009
10:42 am
[...] of Jim Galloway, Roy Barnes will announce today that he intends to become the first former Georgia governor in a [...]
Dawg A
June 3rd, 2009
10:55 am
Great news!!!! Under Barnes the General Assembly never passed laws that was done simply for votes! Being a lawyer he knew what would stand up in the courts and which ones were simply grandstanding!!!!!! Now we just need to get the Democrats back in office!!!!
Bobby
June 3rd, 2009
11:10 am
Get Real at 8:04am; Don’t get me wrong. I actually prefer the current State Flag to the ‘56 flag. It is historically more accurate to the 1879 flag. My problem with Barnes and the Flag was the way he changed it behind our back. Whether Sonny lied to us or not is somewhat dubious as it is the legislature that decides what our flag should be and he did get the legislature to give us a vote on the more historically accurate flag or the Barnes flag. Perdue at least let us contact our representatives about the flag even if some still preferred the ‘56 flag. Barnes decided he knew what was best for us and did everything behind our back. I therefore will not vote for him.
Teacher flunkies for Barnes
June 3rd, 2009
11:11 am
Notice that when directly challenged to show one specific policy that gave direct tangible support to teachers in the classroom, the Barnes apologists can’t do it.
wes
June 3rd, 2009
11:13 am
Roy fixed Atlanta’s infrastructure and all DMV’s state-wide in 4 years.
What has Sonny done in 8 years?
Bobby
June 3rd, 2009
11:13 am
To Jim @8:30 Thank you for your knee jerk comment. I’m not a redneck in the least; I’m a very liberal Democrat and rarely (but will) vote Republican. Nonetheless I am very proud of my Georgia ancestors who fought for the Confederacy and will not vote for Barnes after the deceitful manner he tried trashing our ancestors with his flag change behind our backs.
Elmer's
June 3rd, 2009
11:16 am
Mildred, please use our product in the proper way – used for adhesive and not for sniffing glue. We came to this conclusion after reading her alarming approval of Barnes. Please don’t sniff glue and post. Thanks in advance.
OHSO
June 3rd, 2009
11:19 am
Get ready, Roy. You’re going to see thousands of ‘56 flags this time. It’s BOOT BARNES time again!!!
TANSTAAFL
June 3rd, 2009
11:24 am
It’s nice when a forecast pans out.
Now that King Roy has thrown his hat in the ring and roiled the waters in democrat land, it’s time for a secret memo/poll/rumor to leak out and reveal that Nathan Deal is the man destined to lead the Republican effort for the job of Governor in the great State of Georgia.
So the ballot we’ll all be peering at in 519 days will have three choices, Democrat Roy Barnes, Republican Nathan Deal and Libertarian John Monds. The question is do you want more of the same old same old or do you want real change? Vote Libertarian. Vote John Monds for Governor in 2010!
meagain
June 3rd, 2009
11:27 am
roy barnes hopefully gets it this time around. don’t spend 20 million on t.v., know who your base is and spend money with those folks and get the hell out of metro atlanta if he wants to win. don’t hire folks that don’t want to travel around the state and please lose some weight.
Colonel Sanders
June 3rd, 2009
11:27 am
Teachers, once AGAIN please say NO to KING RAT! Show that venomous, villainous rodent the door back to his sewer!
Keith
June 3rd, 2009
11:27 am
OMG… this going to be fun! Most teachers will remember how Barnes screwed them over the last time. The flaggers will be back in force! King Rat will hit the airwaves! I can’t wait!
OHSO
June 3rd, 2009
11:32 am
Enter your comments here
OHSO
June 3rd, 2009
11:32 am
Enter your comments here
ROHO
June 3rd, 2009
11:35 am
I sell ‘56 Ga flags> Thanks ROY, you just made my day!!
Anne
June 3rd, 2009
11:47 am
If Barnes wants to win this race he needs to state where he stands on how dirty the current administration has treated Retired State Employees.
Turner
June 3rd, 2009
11:52 am
Look no further than HR 21 to see the state of affairs in the General Assembly.
North Fulton would like to pull away from the rest of Fulton to recreate Milton County. This resolution would allow them to do so without even having a vote by the rest of Fulton County.
That seems odd to me since we all know, or should know, that Milton joined Fulton in 1932 to avoid Bankruptcy. You wouldn’t know that if you read the AJC or any of Mark Burkhalter’s comments about the legislation. (he also wrote an article for the AJC on it)
The General Assembly went one step further and commissioned $250,000 for a study to be conduced by the GSU and UGA to tell them exactly how much it would cost Milton to separate. It is a roadmap for succession. The impact on the rest of Fulton was excluded from the study.
How in the world do you guys think you are going to get a 2/3 vote with that kind of blatant disregard for the rest of the State who might have a vested interest in what happens to Atlanta after. I would actually support the separation but you guys shot yourselves in the foot with that one. What year is this? Duh.
Here is the study/roadmap…
http://frc.gsu.edu/miltoncounty.html
Jerome
June 3rd, 2009
12:05 pm
I am a republican but I am voting for Roy Barnes. We need solutions to transportation and our budget. I say build the Northern Arc….. I-285 sucks.
Steven
June 3rd, 2009
12:11 pm
Floks….WOW! I certainly can tell who are the racist Republicans. They disagree using a tactic of mudslinging, name calling, and horribly potty mouths. That kind of name-caling did not work in the national elections. I will vote for Roy Barnes! I can’t wait until he wins! On the other hand, I am tired of people in politics only use their office to enrich themselves. Gosh, Gov Perdue (enriching himself) did this with the type of no-doc loan he was able to secure and it appears that Oxendine is following in the same steps as Sonny Perdue. BTW, I would have voted for Oxendine had not Barnes entered into the race. I am a registered Democrat.
Steven
June 3rd, 2009
12:14 pm
Also, Folks plz consider stop borrowing money to finance your lifestyles and then will not look to politicians to get us out of messes. No politician can get you out of what you got yourself into. Barnes 2010!
Get Real
June 3rd, 2009
12:17 pm
Bobby @ 11:10, if the legislature decides the fate of the flag, which is true, then why use it as a campaign issue which Sonny did. And if the legislature decides this as you say, how could Barnes do anything behind you back?
The Real Politico
June 3rd, 2009
12:22 pm
It didn’t take long for the people most harmed by 8 years of republican state government to mimic the same lines and lies that got Georgia in the mess we find ourselves:
We toss our state away over a flag.
We elect a unqualified Education head because we couldn’t get her name right.
We throw away Federal highway funds yearly because we’re the only state in the country That does NOT require seat belts in pickup trucks.
Wake up Georgia!
william
June 3rd, 2009
12:31 pm
Roy is a good man, but he doesn’t compare to the character and depth of Deal. This should be a good race.
Georgia Gal
June 3rd, 2009
12:44 pm
Loretta Bell @ 10:42 a.m., As someone who is very familiar with the Laurens County (Dublin is the County Seat) School System, I am not surprised he did this. I have one relative that still lives there and relatives that grew up there a long time ago and back then, the school system was still a good one, but unfortunately no longer. If I lived in Laurens County I too would send my child to a private school.
Lea
June 3rd, 2009
12:47 pm
Mr. Barnes can count on my support– he has the gumption to lead and make tough decisions when necessary, exactly what this state needs to remain competitive. As an African-american woman,he is a candidate I can get behind. I couldn’t imagine voting for Thurbert Baker.
wes
June 3rd, 2009
12:48 pm
Anyone can fly the rebel flag in Georgia. We just don’t fly it anymore at State run buildings.
If THE FLAG ISSUE is your main concern these days, you sorely need to get a life and a clue. It has zero effect on anything which effects our economy.
Change in Atlanta
June 3rd, 2009
12:51 pm
I am African American I am going to vote for Roy Barnes we need him back as governor the best thing will ever happen to Georgia to see Roy Barnes as governor……….Please Roy Barnes run for Governor beat Karen Handle she a racist.
IVoteRight
June 3rd, 2009
1:08 pm
Change, how is Karen Handel racist?!? But then again, you mentioned you are African American. I should have expected you to pull the race card out.
SOUTHERN ATL
June 3rd, 2009
1:12 pm
The CONFEDERATE FLAG will NEVER represent all of Georgia again!!! We will never get to vote on it again!!! It belongs in a museum!!
Republicans are the new Whigs
June 3rd, 2009
1:39 pm
I think it’s interesting how Handel, Oxendine, and Deal and also Poythress and Porter have their staffers posting on this blog. Now that we have a real candidate Republicans are sweating.
Barnes 2010!
flyfishva
June 3rd, 2009
1:52 pm
Great news about Roy Barnes running for Governor. As for M. Thurmond running for LG- I will wait on that one just as all the unemployed in GA have waited to get info and or funds for the SEB program…why all the secrecy Mr. Thurmond concerning release of the money to all of GA’S unemployed?
rupert cheshire
June 3rd, 2009
1:53 pm
oh my Barnes is back. so that means he will fight teacher tenure! He will be an OBAMA icon, remember the Chryler plant in Savannah that never came to be… That WAS Barnes tot he tune of several million in Tax money? Whet did he do for rural Georgia… Nothing!!!!! Oh yes and here comes the idiot Bobby Kahn again , heidrick Himmler incarnate!!!
He is not for Georgia! he is for himself!!!
rupert cheshire
June 3rd, 2009
2:08 pm
oh yes and remember folks KING ROY’s bestest buddy was Charles Walker over in Augusta!!! Mr Chain gang himself!! Mrs. Senator Harvey over in Savannah was a buddy of his in the chaingang now! and he is defending Crooked Judge Brooks Blitch down in rural Georgia, who burned down his auto dealership and created jobs in county government for kickbacks.. ahhh this is what we need as Gov!!!!!!!
G-Man
June 3rd, 2009
3:47 pm
I must agree with some of the teachers on here. As a state law enforcement officer, Barnes was “less than truthful” with many of his projects needed to improve Georgia’s state law enforcement. With that said, Perdue has not been much better especially in the area of pay. Most of Georgia state law enforcement officers rank near the bottom of the National pay scale. This includes benefits and retirement of course. At this time it is a toss up as to who will be more beneficial for me. One thing is for certain, they will tell you EXACTLY what you want to hear right now. Just don’t try to cash those chips in after they are in office.
Patty
June 3rd, 2009
4:30 pm
Great News. Our transportation system in Georgia with low-grade contractor work is terrible. Roads paved two years ago look like they were paved 20 years ago. When Roy Barnes left office, we on our way to improving roads as well as the Georgia educational system. At that time, the state was addressing our water shortage. Perdue cancelled many of Barnes’ proposed improvements. Can’t wait to have someone who will show the rest of the country Georgia can once again be a great place to live and work.
Jon
June 4th, 2009
12:44 pm
Regardless, Georgia MUST get “Sonny” (Mr. Trout Fishing in Georgia) out of office ASAP. I’m unsure whether the University System of Georgia can wait until 2010 to oust Sonny’s pet-chancellor, and install someone (anyone) with actual experience at that level IN Higher Education. The current chancellor sits on the board of GM, and whenever he recites the old saw, “We need to run higher education more like a business,” I cringe.
Our state economy, though better than some, is in shambles, and with more students are enrolling in college than ever…furloughs for all USG employees are just around the corner. And this travesty will endure LONG AFTER the financial rationale has abated. Count on it. Don’t like some “liberal” professor? Furlough him!
Hey! Here’s an idea whose time is LONG OVERDUE. Anyone & everyone running for state office in Georgia MUST HAVE A COLLEGE DEGREE! Too many of the candidates this year barely graduated from high school. What a national embarrassment!
John Praxton
June 4th, 2009
4:05 pm
Wow, I am sure Denny’s Restaurant chain will be glad Roy is running. They need someone to design another placemat for their tables. Are we for real? Is this the best we have to offer? A washed up has been that couldn’t get it right the first time? Just like the flag issue, he will be pulling the wool on us again. Vote, but for anyone but him!!
Rockmart Republican
June 4th, 2009
8:52 pm
No one up here wants to see arrogant King Roy back in office except those who can afford to buy some face time with him or who stand to gain something from helping him. Heck I’m a north Georgia Republican and I will probably be supporting the Porter fellow just because he is squeaky clean and has an strong, conservative, consistant voting record.
NO MORE KING ROY!
June 4th, 2009
8:58 pm
Great! If Roy gets elected again we’ll get at least a hundred Cobb County elite working in State Government again. Who cares if they are qualified, as long as they know the King. WOOOOOHOOOOOO! Barnes is as self centered and arrogant as I have ever seen and he is killing our party.
EG
June 5th, 2009
1:05 am
I am a long time member of the GOP. But I’ll vote for Roy, because Sonny was a con artist. Time for real men and woman to return to power not false politicians. I live in Macon and we had Jim Marshall playing both sides for to long and then my own party ran Goddard, what a joke. The time has come for real men like Mac Collins to enter the race for the House or Senate. We need so honest people in office who care about people.
Thomas Miller
June 5th, 2009
12:29 pm
Roy Barnes is somone I can support since I voted for him in 2002. Since I volunteered for Obama and worked for his election maybe I can contribute something to a real Democrat and it isn’t insane “socialist” politics but pragmatic Democratic politics, We need to matter in this nation again, and not be seen as stereotypes.
David Johnson
June 5th, 2009
5:08 pm
The one most worthless two faced govenor’s that we have had recently. I will spend all my time fighting to stop this character from wining another race. There will be signs all over my business against him and his dirty politics. WE HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN THE FLAG!!!!!!!!!!!!