State Rep. Terry England and State. Rep. Tommy Benton are among the legislators who will back a fellow Georgia House of Representatives member in his challenge of House Speaker Glenn Richardson.

A group of nearly two dozen legislators waited until after the July 15 Primary to confirm their support of State Rep. David Ralston, who is from Blue Ridge and serves as chairman of the Judiciary Non-Civil Committee. He has also served in the State Senate and ran for State Attorney General in 1998.

Both England and Benton have expressed frustation and disappointment that the 2008 session of the Georgia General Assembly failed to provide as substantial tax relief as desired, to allow for more options for transportation funding and to give a permanent funding source for the statewide trauma care network

However, there were some highlights as the statewide water plan was adopted and several measures were approved to bring greater accountability to the Georgia Department of Transportation and open the door to reform education in Georgia. Two fiscally conservative budgets were also passed.

Overshadowing the session was the animosity which seemed to build between the legislation and executive branches.

House Speaker Glenn Richardson and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle seemed to both be posturing for future political aspirations as they turned some points of the session into a finger-pointing exercise. Both sides were rallying support for their positions. Now Richardson had indicated he will seek re-election and wants to maintain as Speaker.

"The animosity has built every year for the last four years between the House and Executive Branch as well as the Senate. There is a difference between independence and isolation. I feel we are currently isolated due to the animosity," said England, who was at the National Conference of State Legislatures meeting in New Orleans last week.

"This has to change. After all, we are there to represent the 9 million Georgians that elected us to do that job. The tension has to lessen between all of us," said England.

"I don't lay all that blame at the Speaker's feet, as much also lays at the feet of the Lieutenant Governor and Governor also at different times," said England. "Bottom line, we have to change all of that."

Benton said he and England has been discusssing the need for change for some time now.

The last two sessions with Richardson as Speaker have been emotion packed at the close.

An attorney, Richardson was a member of Georgia State University's first law school class earning his Juris Doctor in 1984.

In 2003, Governor Sonny Perdue hand-picked Glenn to serve as the Administration Floor Leader in the House and in November 2003, the Republican Caucus chose Richardson to serve as Minority Leader.

The speaker is elected every two years and Richardson was first elected by his fellow in 2005 as speaker.

Tempers flared during the 2007 amd 2008 session and some legislators, including England and Benton, had expressed a bit of embarrassment when Richardson said the Governor was "showing his backside."

Benton said it's time for there to be some accountability in one's conduct.

The challenge for Speaker is not personal as Richardson is a well liked individual. Some, whoever, acknowledge the political power plays are getting in the way of getting the business of the people of Georgia done in a timely manner.

Richardson has three children, Maggie, Bryn and Wil. The divorce he and wife Susan were granted in Paulding County earlier this year was promptly sealed, bringing criticism and finger-pointing about abuse of friendships with attorneys and judges. The Richardsons said their desire was to protect the children in the situation.

At Monday evening's meeting of the Barrow County Republican Party, Martha Zoller, political commentator, talk show host and member of "The Georgia Gang," was asked about the move afoot to replace Richardson.

"The Speaker has made some big mistakes and you're not 'Speaker for life," said Zoller, who hinted that not staying true to yourself, your party, your convictions and beliefs like the Republican's Lower Taxes and Less Government and not staying honest can take you down the wrong road.

England agreed.

"There have been times we have lost sight of our goals as she mentioned," he said. "I think there have been times that there has been some wrong or tainted advice that the Speaker has listened to thus causing the wrong road journey to some extent. I think David has the chance to look at things maybe from a different viewpoint and listen to different folks when looking for guidance.

"I think we have to re-think our method of evaluating legislation before passing it. We had a litmus test four years ago that we started off using to rank legislation," said England of the test which was based on the points Martha Zoller mentioned. "We have gotten away from it over the last several years and thus drifted from that core."

Benton said things have been quiet since the word first was released that the Ralston push would be on. He expects that to change in August.

"The man I call my legislative hero, Bubba McDonald, told me whatever happens, this won't hurt us at home" and likely won't have lasting impact under the Gold Dome, said Benton.

"I have gotten very good feedback so far. Our constituents are paying attention to what is going on with this and they have been coming up to me and thanking me for us taking this stand," said England.

"Fellow members are being guarded in their responses so far. There are many that have committed but haven't gone public yet," said England.

Some legislators are reserving judgment and biiding their time but many agree some action was needed if the 2009 Legislative session is to be about the people's business.

"There are a lot of very good folks representing the citizens of this state in the General Assembly, yet the actions of a few cast a dark shadow on the rest," said England.

"The Speaker - whomever it may be - is the defender of the House and both men know and realize this fact," said England.

"If David does win, at some point he will also be viewed as the villian and take heat from the critics, so no man is completely immune to that fact," said England, but he and Benton acknowledged something had a change.

Benton said if he or others supporting a change in leadership or at least a change in atmosphere and attitude forego some of their leadership roles, so be it.

Originally published Wednesday, July 23, 2008