Saturday, Jun. 21, 2008

POLITICAL NOTEBOOK: Don't show me the money

David Cousino, a candidate for the Bibb County Commission chairmanship, doesn't want your money.

"I don't take in campaign contributions because I don't want to owe anybody when I come into office," Cousino told The Telegraph during a recent interview. "I want to owe everybody when I come into office."

So what if someone approaches him with a donation, check in hand?

This has happened, Cousino said. In such a case, he asks why the person wants to give to him and then determines if there is a hidden agenda. So far, he's only accepted one check, and it was from his boss, he said.

To all others, Cousino tells them not to donate the money to him but to give it back to their employees. The would-be donors usually leave shocked but satisfied, he said.

We're pretty sure Cousino's Republican opponents - current Chairman Charlie Bishop and Theron Ussery - will gladly accept your money.

TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK

We've been hearing an awful lot of talk about teamwork lately or, more importantly, who's a team player and who isn't when it comes to the Bibb County Commission chairman's Republican race.

In several public forums, Theron Ussery has touted his ability to be a team player while implying that current Chairman Charlie Bishop isn't.

"A good leader is a good team player, and I'm a good team player," Ussery said at a June 10 political forum at the Porter Ellis Community Center.

In an interview with The Telegraph, Bishop shot back, saying that he's seen Ussery, a city councilman of 20 years, on City Council and "that wasn't teamwork."

"It's OK to be a team player, but you've got to be on the right team, and I'm on the team that's moving Bibb County forward," Bishop said.

As for David Cousino, the third Republican candidate in the race, he doesn't want to be on any team Ussery or Bishop talks about.

"The team is part of the good ol' boys," Cousino said, quickly adding that he's not one of them.

RABUN MAKES 10

Gov. Sonny Perdue announced the birth this week of his and wife Mary's 10th grandchild - Rabun Ophie Perdue. Rabun is the daughter of the governor's youngest son, Dan, and his wife, Jessica.

Rabun Ophie, who was born Wednesday, weighed in at 6 pounds 11 ounces.

"Mary and I are so proud to welcome another beautiful grandchild," Perdue said in a statement from his office. "We are blessed to have such a wonderful family, and we are excited to welcome another granddaughter into our home. Rabun completes the 2008 'litter of three' and joins nine cousins on the Perdue side, seven of whom are 4 and under; so it should be quite a time when we all get together."

The governor and his wife have five grandsons and five granddaughters.

"Mary and I love it," he said.

IT'S BEEN AWHILE

Meeting in Savannah this weekend for their annual summer convention, the Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials will recognize the longest-serving black state lawmakers, who arrived at the Capitol 34 years ago.

Among the honorees: state Rep. David Lucas of Macon. He was 24 when he took his seat under the Gold Dome, and since then he's seen his Democratic Party replaced in power by Republicans. He's watched, he said, as Republicans took hold and then proceeded to ignore promises they made before they took over.

Lucas said Republicans have extended state government's reach into the local level and put in place rules that limit opponents' ability to debate proposed bills. But he says he tries not to get too emotionally invested in the politics of the situation or fly off the handle as he might have done in his younger days when he saw something that displeased him.

"I'm a lot older, that's one thing," said Lucas, now 58. "With age you grow, you mature a little bit."

Also being honored are state Rep. Calvin Smyre, D-Columbus, and retiring state Rep. Bob Holmes, D-Atlanta.

I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE RAILROAD

Dignitaries at a Tuesday news conference announcing the upcoming addition of an automated railroad crossing outside Water Works Park took a few pot shots at Norfolk Southern, which owns the railroad tracks.

The company would not allow anyone else to install the crossing, but it originally wouldn't promise to do the job in fewer than six months. Without it, access to Macon's newest and largest park would likely remain much more limited.

Larry Walker, Middle Georgia's representative on the state Department of Transportation board, used his influence to speed up that timetable. As a result, the city of Macon dubbed Tuesday "Larry Walker Appreciation Day."

When Walker stepped up to accept the proclamation, he inquired, "Anybody here from the railroad?" When no hands were raised, his response provoked chuckles.

"Good. I'm going to tell this," he said. "My experience in public office is the three groups hardest to work with, in reverse order, are:

"1. The federal government.

"2. The post office.

"3. The railroads."

Bill Hodges, chairman of the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail Technical Committee, followed Walker at the podium. "I started my career with the railroad, and they tell you one thing when you go to work there: 'We were here first, and nobody can push us.' So this was a miracle."

RICK AND DICK

Vice President Dick Cheney is scheduled to fly in to Middle Georgia on Monday for a fundraiser for Rick Goddard, who's challenging Rep. Jim Marshall for the 8th Congressional District seat.

Cheney is scheduled to arrive at 4:15 p.m. at Middle Georgia Regional Airport, then depart to Perry, where he will speak at a private reception for Goddard.

The vice president is scheduled to leave the airport at 7:05 p.m.

DUBLIN MAYOR APPOINTED TO STATE WORKFORCE BOARD

Dublin Mayor Edward "Phil" Best Sr., 52, has been appointed by the governor to the State Workforce Investment Board.

Best is the chief executive officer of Premier Construction Group LLC. He serves on the Laurens County Board of Health, Community Mental Health Board and the Solid Waste Management Authority. He is a graduate of Leadership Georgia and served as director of the Dublin-Laurens County Chamber of Commerce. Best attended Floyd Jr. College and DeKalb College. He and his wife, Cile, have two children.

Telegraph staff writers Matt Barnwell, Jennifer Burk, Heather Duncan and Linda Morris contributed to this report.