Posted on 03/19/2005 8:48:23 AM PST by LdSentinal
ATLANTA (AP) -- The first man in the 2006 lieutenant governors race is now the first man out of it.
State Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine, a Republican who said last May hed seek the states No. 2 job, announced Friday that hell run for his current post instead.
In a letter to Gov. Sonny Perdue, Oxendine said hed rather remain insurance and fire commissioner because the lieutenant governors job has become ineffectual.
But the commissioner also may have been sizing up his chances. Two other Republicansstate Sen. Casey Cagle and well-known activist Ralph Reedhave since joined the race.
Oxendine insisted he wasnt afraid of losinghed raised more than $500,000 already, he saidbut said he simply decided he didnt want to be lieutenant governor.
I feel very good about being elected, but I didnt feel good about being able to do a lot of good for Georgia, he said later. I wouldnt be able to make a difference.
The current lieutenant governor, Democrat Mark Taylor, is leaving the post next year to seek the governors office. Taylor presides over the Senate, but since Republicans took control of that chamber in 2003, they have stripped much of his power.
The only Democrat who has announced plans to run for lieutenant governor is former state Sen. Greg Hecht, who left the Senate for an unsuccessful 2002 bid for Congress.
Oxendine said Friday he wasnt ruling out future plans for higher office.
Its no secret. People have asked me if Id like to be governor, and I said, Of course Id be interested, he said. I think theres no one outside the current governor who is more qualified.
Bookmarking, holding my ammo on this opportunistic sleaze.
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