GOP ponders judicial posts
Some Columbia County Republicans are pushing for Assistant District Attorney Bobby Christine to replace Danny Craig as district attorney if Craig is chosen as the area's newest judge.
Gov. Sonny Perdue's Judicial Nominating Committee last week passed along the names of five finalists to fill the superior court post of Robert L. Allgood, who stepped down from the bench July 1 to return to private legal practice.
Christine is serving in Iraq as a captain in the Georgia Army National Guard.
Columbia County Sheriff Clay Whittle praised Christine on Saturday during the monthly breakfast of the Columbia County Republican Party.
//
"I would encourage that we all get on the wagon to push Bobby Christine," Whittle said. Columbia County Probate Judge Pat Hardaway stood to support Whittle's comments.
However, Craig is a Democrat, and one visiting Republican felt it was more important that Perdue stick with party allegiances and choose a Republican to fill the vacant post.
State Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (left), chairman of the Georgia House Republican Caucus and a candidate for Congress, talks to U.S. Rep. Johnny Isakson, a U.S. Senate candidate, during the Columbia County Republican Party's breakfast meeting Saturday.
Staff
"When making a decision this important character has to come into play, and who a person affiliates himself with speaks to their character," said state Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, a guest speaker at the meeting and chairman of the House Republican Caucus.
"For the first time in over a century, Republicans have made serious headway in state politics. We need to keep that momentum going," Westmoreland said.
Two local Republicans on the list are attorneys Michael Annis and William H. Sams Jr. Other candidates are Craig and Richmond County Solicitor Sheryl Jolly, both of whom are elected Democrats, and Richmond County Attorney James Wall.
U.S. Rep. Johnny Isakson, who is running for the Senate seat being vacated by Zell Miller, also spoke during the session.
Isakson praised the country's troops and attacked Democrats for not supporting President Bush.
"George Bush has been a remarkable leader for this country," Isakson said. "Democrats question our president, question our troops, and are questioning our country."
Isakson expressed to the crowd how critical his 2004 Senate race is in electing people to back the president.
"We need people we can count on to support President George Bush," he said.