A retiring George Hooks dips into his campaign treasury
Retiring state Sen. George Hooks, D-Americus, the dean and unofficial historian of the chamber, has long sat on the biggest campaign bankroll among Senate Democrats.
He’s seldom had opposition, but unlike other lawmakers, Hooks has never been big on spreading his wealth to colleagues seeking re-election. He always said donors gave the money to him, not to the other candidates looking for him to shift his largesse to them.
My AJC colleague James Salzer noticed that Hooks’ July 1 campaign disclosure shows he’s finally starting to give away his $340,000 warchest, and he’s doing it in a bipartisan manner.
Hooks gave $5,000 to Republican Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and $5,000 to the Georgia Democratic Party. He also contributed $1,500 to five legislative colleagues: three Democrats and Republicans Cecil Staton of Macon and Johnny Grant of Milledgeville. Grant was defeated on Tuesday. Staton survived — just barely.
Hooks’ biggest donation – $225,000 – went to Historic Woodfin Inc., a non-profit he heads in Americus. The organization is intended to finance historic preservation projects that no longer are eligible for state funding. It’s to fill a niche that we’ve lost through budget cuts,” Hooks said. “Woodfin” is the middle name of Henry W. Grady, editor of the Atlanta Constitution and author of the 19th century concept of “the New South.”
Hooks’ penchant for historic preservation has Republicans breathing easier. Some feared the bulk of the Hooks reserve might find its way into the Democratic fight to preserve the career of state Sen. Doug Stoner of Smyrna, whose district has been shifted into heavily Republican Buckhead.
Hooks ended June with $42,000 left in his campaign account, which is more than many if not most incumbent Democratic senators.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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22 comments Add your comment
Going Right
August 3rd, 2012
4:56 pm
If all Democrats were of Sen, Hooks caliber and esteem there may not be a Republican Party today.
I for one wish him well in his retirement. He served his constituency well and deserves to end it on a good deed, i.e., his contribution to the Historic Woodfin, Inc.
Peter Lewis
August 3rd, 2012
5:04 pm
Senator Hooks is a fine statesman. It is sad to see him leave the Senate.
Marlboro Man
August 3rd, 2012
5:09 pm
Results not parties, the GOP in GA does a bad job.
20/20
August 3rd, 2012
5:35 pm
Marlboro Man;
The “GOP” in GA is nothing more than Old Dixiecrats and Democrats with different name tags. Sorta like wolves in sheep’s clothing.
findog
August 3rd, 2012
6:23 pm
there are very few real republican’s in Georgia; most just jump in front of the crowd like Pergue and Deal
people like Kidd and Gingrich are true republican’s from Georgia
thus as sonny turned into a failure conservatives distantanced them selves from the rino
Non-Partisan
August 3rd, 2012
7:04 pm
I would put Paul Coverdel in that “true Republican” crowd. You must admit he was a very good, bi-partisan legislator, both in GA and in the US Senate.
American Dream
August 3rd, 2012
7:05 pm
Sorry I did not post earlier. I was to busy kissing my significant other at the Dunwoody Chick Fil A. Hooks is a fine man. He has been a true support of the arts in Georgia and unlike those mean Republicans he has a heart for the common person.
td
August 3rd, 2012
7:26 pm
Why is it that the only way liberals believe a Republican can be good is if they are bi partisan but a Democrat that is bipartisan is horrible?
hiram
August 3rd, 2012
8:11 pm
How many yummy antibiotic, hormone, and carcinogen laced, greasy chicken sandwiches did you have today, td? All good Christians should eat every meal there, every day.
Mandingo
August 3rd, 2012
8:41 pm
You guys seem to understand the problem but could really care less about solutions. If Jesus came to Georgia looking for his Christians all he would find would be Southern Baptists and would have to send them all to Hell….. Dixiecrat , Democrat , RINO , Republican…what happened to Georgians ?
td
August 3rd, 2012
8:45 pm
hiram
August 3rd, 2012
8:11 pm
None today but have been there 3 times since this leftest strong arm tactics have started. I do not like chicken and have have probably only been to Chick-fil-A twice in the last year but you can be rest assured that I will be going more often now.
double
August 3rd, 2012
9:40 pm
Told ya TD is for BQ.The vote Romney BQ.
hiram
August 3rd, 2012
10:14 pm
@double
Yeah, Harry Reid has Romney blubbering like a two year old. The Republicans are all on deck, with their life jackets buckled, lowering the life boats
hiram
August 3rd, 2012
10:53 pm
@td
“I do not like chicken and have have probably only been to Chick-fil-A twice in the last year but you can be rest assured that I will be going more often now.”
Good for you – you just dodged the bullet on the arsenic laced chicken feed, that the FDA banned just last month(when they run out of the feed they have on hand, that is), but you will still get a hefty dose of antibiotics, and a few heavy metals, that you can wash down with that the chicken litter tea from Lake Lanier.
G Mare
August 3rd, 2012
11:29 pm
Gingrich? Really??
Amazing
August 3rd, 2012
11:44 pm
Why is that the only way republicans believe a democrat can be good is if they are bipartisan but a republican that is bipartisan is horrible?
Sound familiar?
southwestga
August 4th, 2012
4:02 am
Chikfila sells obesity. An original chicken sandwich, large fries and large soda? 1200 calories. Three of those produce a pound of human fat. God doesn’t love that.
rawmilkdrinker
August 4th, 2012
6:49 am
Hiram, “Good for you – you just dodged the bullet on the arsenic laced chicken feed, that the FDA banned just last month”
Huh????????
Dcb
August 4th, 2012
7:09 am
Good for Hooks! I don’t know the guy from Adam. But I sure agree with Peter Lewis above. On another front, isn’t it a shame that in most vent comments things degenerate off the topic to comments os personal bias – and mucho too often, in an ugly and derogatory fashion. This guy Hooks is doing the right thing with his war chest. Give him his due and leave politics, lifestyles, and all the other garbage someone wants to throw at life in general out of it.
hiram
August 4th, 2012
7:17 am
@rawmilk
“Maryland First State to Ban Arsenic in Poultry Feed”
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2012/05/maryland-first-state-to-ban-arsenic-in-poultry-feed/
Diehard
August 4th, 2012
12:32 pm
The Senate has lost one of its few remaining gentlmen in Sen. Hooks. May his legacy inspire others to be so knowledgeable, savvy, and sane.
Interested Observer
August 4th, 2012
3:22 pm
Fine gentleman who has been appreciated by both sides of the aisle in our Legislature, his wisdom will be sorely missed when January 2013 comes. Best wishes, George, and please don’t be a stranger – this is a time when Georgia’s political world needs your input more than ever.