ATLANTA - Georgia's insurance commissioner said Wednesday that he's running for governor in 2010, making him the first to enter what could be a crowded field of Republicans jockeying to replace Sonny Perdue.
John Oxendine said gridlock in the recent legislative session helped convince him to get into the race. Bickering between House Speaker Glenn Richardson and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle doomed plans for a promised tax cut.
Oxendine said he was also frustrated that the Legislature failed to approve a plan to fund transportation improvements and to create a steady stream of funding for the state's trauma network.
Cagle and Richardson are among those often mentioned as likely candidates to succeed Perdue when his second term expires. Congressmen Lynn Westmoreland and Jack Kingston are also mentioned as potential candidates.
On the Democratic side, House Minority Leader DuBose Porter is said to be in the mix. And some suggest that former Gov. Roy Barnes might be interested in running again.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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Posted: Wednesday, April 16th 2008 at 4:09pm
