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Georgia politics Lots of new in 2022
Georgia politics
Lots of new in 2022
by Bryan Tolar, Tolar Capitol Partners
New faces and new leadership abound from the
2022 election cycle…and overall, the Georgia Urban Agriculture Council (UAC) is very pleased with the results. Serving membership interests starts with building relationships. UAC is committed to engaging with elected leaders on your behalf, but your personal relationships with those local to your community is where the rubber meets the road. Thank you to those who commit your time and financial support to build the reputation of our industry where it counts.
Our focus on protecting member interests is paramount to UAC success. We will always work to advance policy initiatives for the industry. Just like football, defense wins championships, so we do our part to manage issues that could set us back. We are present throughout the legislative session and the 2022 General Election ushered in a long list of new legislative players. Our experience matters when protecting your interests.
The November 8, 2022, election set most of Georgia’s executive and legislative stage as the 2023 session of the Georgia General Assembly begins on January 9. Here is a snapshot of the results and a preview of what’s next.
Governor Kemp earned a second four-year term as voters overwhelmingly approved of his management as the state CEO. His steady hand has benefited UAC membership. As Georgia’s economy has grown, so has the opportunity to issue tax rebates and provide lower income taxes. July through October 2022, the net tax collections in Georgia were up 7.8 percent over the same period last year. That’s $744 million in additional revenue growth - and the envy of many states across the country. Tyler Harper will be sworn in as our new Commissioner of Agriculture and brings a lot of experience and UAC member engagement with him to his new role. Commissioner Harper has long been a friend of UAC during his decade of service in the State Senate where he chaired the Senate Natural Resources Committee and served on the Senate Agriculture Committee. His background is in row crop production, but he has taken great interest in landscape, sod, nursery and urban ag issues. He also attended UAC’s member event in June at the Red Hare Brewing Company.
Burt Jones will be the new Lieutenant Governor. His experience serving in the State Senate for ten years will bode well as he presides over the Senate Chamber. He grew up in Butts County and with his wife Jan is raising their kids in the same area. Burt has always been a friend to UAC during his service as a State Senator. We look forward to having him engage with UAC even more moving forward.
As for the big picture on General Election results, here are a few takeaways.
All but two incumbents on the November ballot secured re-election. Neither candidate received 50% of the vote in the U.S. Senate race, so Rafael Warnock and Herschel Walker are headed to a December 6 runoff. The other was Scott Hilton defeating incumbent Mary Robichaux in House District 48, near Roswell.
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There will be 42 new faces in the Georgia House of Representatives. That’s a 23.3% turnover from last year. The Republicans will still have control of the House as there are 101 Republicans and 79 Democrats.
A huge change for the House was the tragic death Speaker David Ralston in November. He was a proven leader that served all of Georgia very well during his 13 years as Speaker. The resulting leadership change places Rep. Jan Jones as the new House Speaker until the beginning of the 2023 legislative session. At that point, Rep. Jon Burns is positioned to become the next House Speaker, Rep. Jan Jones will return to serving as Speaker Pro Tem, and Rep. Chuck Efstration will be the new Majority Leader. This group will be instrumental in selecting Members to serve on committees for the 2023-2024 legislative session. There will be 10 new Senators this year, which is a 17.8% turnover. Senate Republicans will maintain control as there are 33 Republicans and 23 Democrats. With Burt Jones as Lieutenant Governor, the Republicans selected Senator John Kennedy as the new President Pro Tem and Senator Steve Gooch as the new Majority Leader. They will be among the small group that selects new committee chairmanships and structure for the Senate committees. Georgia Democrats will also soon be selecting leadership as the Minority in both the House and Senate. These leaders are important as we work to get support from Democrats and Republicans on issues impacting our industry. There were also two important statewide referendum items on the November ballot. We are pleased they both passed by wide margins. Referendum A, which grants ad valorem property tax relief for those in forest management, received 2,219,303 votes (59%). This initiative was led by our friends at the Georgia Forestry Association and ultimately benefits everyone with timber property. In addition, Referendum B, which allows for property tax exemptions between farms that consolidate, passed with 2,881,483 votes (76.47%). This is a ballot initiative UAC helped pass in the 2021 legislative session. Rep. Sam Watson and Sen. Tyler Harper were instrumental in getting these on the statewide ballot. We very much appreciate their leadership and support. Last but not least, Georgia’s stable of U.S. House Members is set. It includes 9 Republicans and 5 Democrats. New to the U.S. House are Republicans Mike Collins and Dr. Rich McCormick. With the Republicans’ recent shift from minority to majority party in the U.S. House, a whole new slate of Committee Chairmen will also come into play. Thankfully Georgia has agriculture-friendly Democrats who will continue to be helpful to our interests. Congressmen Sanford Bishop and David Scott are longtime friends and allies. The U.S. Senate will see Herschel Walker or Rafael Warnock grab the six-year term.
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Elections are important and reaffirm our responsibility to engage, be present, and be informative. As the next chapter of the legislative session begins, this is a great time to seek out and connect with the elected officials in your area. Your membership and investments in UAC allow us to be a conduit for your business. We value your participation at every level. Thank you for what you do and allowing UAC to be your advocate. Together we thrive.
Tolar Capitol Partners provides background and status information on key issues, prompting action from our members when needed and lobbying on behalf of our industry.
