LETTER: My constituents deserve a seat at the table

During my 20 years in the House, I have always been proud of my reputation as an independent voice, representing people first over any partisan political platform, and considered one of the General Assembly’s most fiscally responsible/conservative members on either side of the aisle. While Georgia – especially rural Georgia – has changed to a solidly Republican state over the past decade, I was re-elected in contested races by 60 percent of the vote in 2002 and 66 percent in 2006, as a Democrat. But I was the last elected Democrat serving in all of rural northeast Georgia.

When I was first elected in 1990 the Democrat Party was institutionalized, the only ticket to run on in rural Georgia. That has changed with the demographic changes in our state. Georgia’s results in the recent General Election brought an effective end, at least for the foreseeable future, to the two-party system in state government. Not only did Gov.-Elect Deal take a decisive victory in the governor’s race, the GOP won every statewide constitutional office and strengthened its majorities in the state House of Representatives and the Senate on Nov. 2. This was exactly the scenario, I had said back in August, that would result in my giving consideration to changing my party affiliation going into the 2011 legislative session.

Over the past six years, since the Republican Caucus took control of the House, being a minority member has restricted my ability to influence policy and direction even though my philosophy and institutional knowledge was agreed with by the majority. Even though my voting record and credentials were acceptable, the “D” in front of my name kept me from being an influence on issues of importance. The system “is what it is,” and to be effective for my district and the state, I knew what I had to do to be as effective as possible for my constituents.

In the days following the election, I counseled with friends and citizens from my district and the questions asked were: How effectively could I represent the 29th District from the wilderness of a shrinking minority? Could I ignore the fact that Gov.-Elect Deal carried the three counties in my district with 70 percent of the vote? Should I deprive the people of my district a seat at the legislative table and let 20 years of legislative experience and institutional knowledge effectively go to waste?

Everyone who knows me can attest that I have never been a stridently partisan representative. I always vote for the best interests of the citizens of Franklin, Hart and Madison counties, rather than in support of a political party. I have crossed party lines many times, including voting last January to elect House Speaker David Ralston. It is likely I will vote across party lines in the future when that is in the best interest of my district and the state.

I did not create the system that we have, and I am not here to bash anyone. In fact, I am grateful to state Democratic Party Chair Jane Vandiver Kidd, my long-time friend and former House colleague, for her very kind public statement following my decision, and I appreciate the warm words of welcome to the Republican Caucus from Speaker Ralston and other House leaders. They all know my style of service based on people and issues.

The bottom line is this: I changed party affiliations because the Georgia General Assembly has some serious issues in front of us when we reconvene in January, including a $2.3 billion budget deficit, reform of our tax system, protection of our water resources and legislative and congressional redistricting, to name a few. The people of the 29th District deserve more than a representative on the sidelines.

To do the best job I can of representing the views of my constituents, I am convinced I made the right decision.

Rep. Alan Powell (R-Hartwell) represents the 29th District (Franklin, Hart and Madison counties) in the Georgia House of Representatives. Contact him at 507 Coverdell Office Building, Atlanta, Ga. 30334; by phone at 404-656-0202 or by e-mail at alanpowell23@hotmail.com.