George Hooks, ‘dean’ of the state Senate, calls it quits
Over at Georgia Report, my friend Tom Crawford reports that state Sen. George Hooks, the Democrat from Americus and one of the longest-serving members of the chamber, is throwing in the towel:
“I’ve got 32 years up there,” Hooks said in a phone interview Friday. “I’ve been floor leader, rules chairman, appropriations chairman, involved in designing the new state flag. It’s been a good run.”
Hooks’ Senate District 14 in southwest Georgia was a victim of stagnant population growth and was eliminated during the reapportionment process last year.
“When I saw the census figures – every county I represented lost population,” Hooks said. “I had nowhere to turn.”
Hooks did not make a farewell speech during the legislative session and had stayed quiet about his political plans since the session adjourned on March 29. If he had decided to run again, he would have opposed incumbent Sen. Freddie Powell Sims (D-Albany) in the redrawn District 12.
“Frankly, I don’t like swan songs anyway,” Hooks said. “I will continue to do committee work for the rest of year. I’m going to stay busy.”
Hooks, who operates an insurance business in Americus, was first elected to the Georgia House in 1980 and served there for 10 years. Although he was elected to the Senate in the same year as Sens. Jack Hill and Steve Thompson (1990), Hooks was commonly referred to as “the dean of the Senate.”
To honor Hooks’ service, we’re pushing for a Seersucker Suit Day at the Capitol.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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23 comments Add your comment
td
May 11th, 2012
1:50 pm
Another life long lib calls it quits in Georgia. I guess we should have a state holiday.
George Hooks To Retire From Senate — Peach Pundit
May 11th, 2012
1:52 pm
[...] Crawford via Jim Galloway is reporting that George Hooks has decided to retire rather than compete against fellow Democrat [...]
jebbery
May 11th, 2012
2:04 pm
@td your comment just demonstrates how clueless you are. A fond farewell to Senator Hooks…a class act all the way.
Lawrence
May 11th, 2012
2:29 pm
You are right, Senator Hooks is a class act.
Best Wishes…
Mark
May 11th, 2012
2:36 pm
@ [...] Crawford via Jim Galloway is reporting that George Hooks has decided to retire rather than compete against fellow Democrat [...]
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jebbery
May 11th, 2012
2:04 pm
@td your comment just demonstrates how clueless you are. A fond farewell to Senator Hooks…a class act all the way.
Clueless in and understatement. Try using egotistical, arrogant snob
History Will Teach Us if We Will Learn
May 11th, 2012
2:40 pm
Senator Hooks was anything but a life long lib. He was an accomplished historian in his own right, a mentor to both Democrats and Republicans in the legislature, and most importantly a man of good character who always tried to make Georgia a better place while in the Senate. He could have been one of td’s leading RINOs but chose instead not to desert his ideals for the sake of political expediency. Indeed a class act!
td
May 11th, 2012
2:50 pm
So let me see if I have this right. When Dems retire or are thrown out of the legislature they are good people and a great asset to the state. When Republicans leave or get thrown out then that is good because they were corrupt or evil.
Give me a freaking break. There is not a politician under the gold dome their because they a pure and righteous. They are all there to make their own personal lives better and if it helps the common man (be it lib or con) then they will take credit for it as their idea.
Aaron Burr V Mexico
May 11th, 2012
2:58 pm
@Total Disdain of Humanity – Except, Republicans really are monsters, so when they do things it is bad, and Democrats, some of which are human beings, often are good.
And no, I don’t really think you deserve a break given your extremely evil beliefs.
But yes, its true, under the gold dome there are far fewer good men among the non monsters than one might find in the general population.
Not a regular contributor
May 11th, 2012
3:03 pm
While I do agree with the double standard that the media does sometimes portray, Sen. Hooks was anything but a liberal. As a matter of fact, he was probably one of the most effective legislators because he was looked up to by both Republicans and Democrats. He wisdom and ability to cut through party lines is what made issues like the the charter school amendment pass when most every other Democrats was against it for purely political means.
The Senator will be missed greatly by those around the Gold Dome.
td
May 11th, 2012
3:03 pm
Aaron Burr V Mexico
May 11th, 2012
2:58 pm
Keep living in your delusional world and you will not end up on Obama’s enemies list.
Senate Girl
May 11th, 2012
3:05 pm
Party has nothing to do with it. Sen. Hooks is a class-act and one of the kindest gentlemen I have ever known. He will be missed. The Senate is a better body of government because of his service.
Aaron Burr V Mexico
May 11th, 2012
3:07 pm
@Tasmanian Dentist – Oh I’m sure I am. I sent him an email explicitly saying, ‘This is my name. Here is my address. Feel free to look me up any time.”
I did the same to Kaseem Reed.
I don’t fear monsters. And I don’t fear you.
By the way, that guy who waved to you today when you went to the store from the Gold 2007 Ford Pickup? That was me. Nice house by the way.
JUST KIDDING!
Betty
May 11th, 2012
3:16 pm
Senator Hooks was one of the good guys and he’ll be missed under the Gold Dome.
Marlboro Man
May 11th, 2012
3:17 pm
Hooks was a statesman, unlike the majority of his collegues.
td
May 11th, 2012
3:22 pm
Aaron Burr V Mexico
May 11th, 2012
3:07 pm
I wish I would have seen you because I would have pulled over to have an interesting conversation.
Centrist
May 11th, 2012
3:37 pm
I don’t know anything about Senator Hooks – but I did know a lot about Speaker Tom Murphy and the glowing blogs about him last month was pure partisanship. As td points out, this smells the same – but, again, I simply don’t know anything about Hooks’ representation.
Bryan Tolar
May 11th, 2012
3:51 pm
Senator Hooks is a true southern gentleman, a friend to all of Georgia and an American classic! He is a an outstanding historian and an amazing story teller. In a state with so many political giants, he may be the last of his kind. It is a honor to have known him the past 12 years and I look forward to crossing paths with him at a community barbeque in Americus. Thank you Senator Hooks for your service to Georgia and your friendship to me and so many thousands of others.
Jay H
May 11th, 2012
3:51 pm
@Centrist – so to translate, you know nothing about Sen. Hooks and have no opinion whatsoever on the subject at hand, but felt compelled to add you .02?
@TD – what are you, a 12-year-old boy waiting for that first chest hair? Just what the world needs: another conservative faux toughman.
OK, I did know Sen. Hooks and he was a good man with honorable intentions, even when I disagreed with his position. He was often far too conservative for my taste, but he never gave any reason to doubt the sincererity of his position and beliefs. The Legislature is again diminished by this loss.
DannyX
May 11th, 2012
4:07 pm
“As td points out, this smells the same – but, again, I simply don’t know anything about Hooks’ representation.”
Again, Victimist at 3:37 fails to say anything close to being centrist. Again, td totally embarrasses himself with his brain dead replies.
Centrist
May 11th, 2012
4:13 pm
Jay H posted “@Centrist – so to translate, you know nothing about Sen. Hooks and have no opinion whatsoever on the subject at hand, but felt compelled to add you .02?”
Yep. That’s what these comments are meant to do. My point was not about Sen. Hooks, but how this blog applauds Democrats and bashes Republicans. I am neither, but call out the bias (or this case got a whiff) when I see and smell it.
In this case, maybe I just ignored the little blogger who always calls wolf.
George Hooks To Retire From Senate
May 11th, 2012
4:17 pm
[...] Crawford via Jim Galloway is reporting that George Hooks has decided to retire rather than compete against fellow Democrat [...]
Senate Girl 2
May 11th, 2012
7:26 pm
Oh, I know him very well and anyone that knows him knows what a class act he is. A true historian who helped renovate the Capitol, help mold south Georgia, chaired Appropriations for years along with the Rules committee..He also served as Floor Leader. Was once voted as GQ of the Capitol a few sessions ago because of his southern style and charm. A storyteller beyond belief and can give the best speech in the well of anyone I know. If you have something negative to say, it is evident you did not know him. It is a sad day in Georgia and I can speak from MANY that I heard from today that the Georgia Senate will never be the same. God speed Senator. We love you!
Carlotta Ungaro
May 12th, 2012
4:38 pm
This is a great loss for the state and especially for Sumter and Schley Counties. I can’t imagine the Georgia Senate with Senator Hooks. It was an honor to work with him on many issues, especially the state flag. His knowledge of the State’s history is incredible. You will be missed!