- Nathan Deal
-
Nathan Deal 
82nd Governor of Georgia Incumbent Assumed office
January 10, 2011Lieutenant Casey Cagle Preceded by Sonny Perdue Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Georgia's 9th districtIn office
January 3, 2007 – March 21, 2010Preceded by Charlie Norwood Succeeded by Tom Graves In office
January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2003Preceded by Ed Jenkins Succeeded by Charlie Norwood Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Georgia's 10th districtIn office
January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2007Preceded by Charlie Norwood Succeeded by Charlie Norwood Member of the Georgia Senate from the 49th District In office
January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1993Succeeded by Jane R. Hemmer Personal details Born August 25, 1942
Millen, Georgia, United StatesPolitical party Republican Party (1995–present) Other political
affiliationsDemocratic Party (Before 1995) Spouse(s) Sandra Dunagan Residence Governor's Mansion Alma mater Mercer University Profession Attorney Religion Baptist Military service Service/branch United States Army Years of service 1966–1968 John Nathan Deal (born August 25, 1942) is a United States politician, the 82nd and current Governor of Georgia. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democrat in 1992 but switched to the Republican Party in 1995. On March 1, 2010, Deal announced his resignation from Congress to run for governor of Georgia.
Deal faced a crowded field of candidates in the July Republican primary but ultimately faced former Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel in a tightly contested August 10, 2010, primary runoff election, and won by fewer than 2500 votes.[1] The following day Handel declined to pursue a recount and conceded. On November 2, Democratic opponent Roy Barnes called to concede the race for governor of Georgia, making Deal the governor-elect to succeed term-limited Sonny Perdue in 2011.[2]
Contents
Early life, education, and early career
Deal was born in Millen in 1942 and grew up in Sandersville. Both of his parents were teachers. He attended Mercer University in Macon, where he earned his bachelor and law degrees with honors.[3] After he earned his Juris Doctor degree in 1966, he went into the United States Army, where he earned the rank of captain.[4]
Deal spent 23 years in private law practice. He was also a criminal prosecutor, a Northeastern Judicial Circuit judge, and a Hall County juvenile court judge. In 1980, he was elected to the Georgia Senate as a conservative Democrat.[5][6] In November 1990, he was elected by his party to be the President Pro Tempore, the second highest ranking position in the chamber.[7] Democrat Jane R. Hemmer replaced him, but was defeated by Republican Casey Cagle.
U.S. Congress
Elections
Deal was first elected to Congress in November 1992 as a Democrat, succeeding eight-term incumbent Ed Jenkins in Georgia's 9th congressional district. He was re-elected as a Democrat in 1994. However, on April 11, 1995, shortly after Republicans assumed control of the US House of Representatives for the first time in 40 years, Deal joined the Republican Party, which was led by then-Speaker Newt Gingrich, a fellow Georgian. Years later, Gingrich said that Deal became a Republican because he liked what he saw in the Contract With America.[8]
Deal was handily reelected in his first election as a Republican in the 1996 General Election, even though Jenkins endorsed his Democratic opponent, attorney McCracken "Ken" Poston. This was the first time his district had elected a Republican for a full term since Reconstruction. Deal was unopposed for re-election in 1998, 2002 and 2004 and defeated an underfunded Democratic candidate in 2000. His district was renumbered the 10th District in 2003, but became the 9th again after a mid-decade redistricting in 2006.
In November 2006, Deal was re-elected 77%-23%. His Democratic opponent was John Bradbury, a former elementary school teacher turned truck driver. His district, already heavily Republican, became even more Republican after the mid-decade redistricting pushed it further into the Atlanta suburbs.
Tenure
Deal's voting record was relatively moderate in his first term, getting ratings in the 60s from the American Conservative Union (ACU). He moved sharply to the right after his party switch and voted for all four articles of impeachment against Bill Clinton. From 1996 onward, he garnered ratings of 90 or higher from the ACU.
Nathan Deal introduced H.R. 698, the Citizenship Reform Act, which would eliminate birthright citizenship for illegal aliens in the U.S. The 14th Amendment begins "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States...." Deal's argument is that illegal aliens (and their children) are not subject to U.S. jurisdiction.[9]
- Recovery Services, Inc. controversy
According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Deal has "personally intervened with Georgia leaders to preserve an obscure state program that earns his company nearly $300,000 a year".
Since 1982 this program has "required any vehicle that is wrecked and rebuilt to pass a safety inspection before the state will issue a title allowing the car to be sold or driven. Inspectors originally traveled to where the vehicle was, making for a slow, inefficient process. In 1989 the state, in a pilot program, authorized a station in Athens to become a site for inspections. The program was expanded in 1990. On February 2, 1990, Recovery Services Inc. was incorporated, with Deal and Cronan listed as officers. Their business became one of the first eight regional state inspection stations, according to the Department of Revenue... The stations are private businesses whose owners agree to provide little more than a garage bay with a hydraulic lift, and an employee to help move cars. The state provides the inspectors. The station owners charge vehicle owners a fee. Deal and Cronan charge $100 per vehicle, the highest of any of the stations operating today. Most charge $60 or $75 per vehicle, state records show. Recovery Services, on Athens Highway in Gainesville, hosted more than 2,800 inspections in 2008."[10]
The Office of Congressional Ethics released a report on March 29, 2010 that concluded Deal appeared to have improperly used his office staff to pressure Georgia officials to continue the state vehicle inspection program that generated hundreds of thousands of dollars a year for his family’s auto salvage business. Deal stated: “I have done nothing wrong and am not going to let this tarnish my (..) record of public service”.[11]
The Office of Congressional Ethics, OCE, released their investigative report (Review No. 09-1022) on March 29, 2010. The report stipulates that "[t]he OCE does not take a position on Representative Deal's motivations for inserting himself into discussions of potential modifications to a state vehicle inspection program... The OCE reviews the facts as presented at the time of review and does not take a position on whether Representative Deal's income from GSD was mistakenly reported as earned income since 2006 on his federal income taxes... [F]or all the reasons stated above, the OCE Board recommends further review by the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct". (Note: Report was submitted on January 28, 2010.) The Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, otherwise known as the House Ethics Committee, never reported or commented on any investigation of Representative Deal,[12] as his resignation, announced March 1, 2010, excluded him from the Office of Congressional Ethics' jurisdiction.[13] Although this seemed too coincidental for some, Deal maintained in a speech to supporters that the resignation was so that he could "devote [his] full energies" to the gubernatorial campaign.[14]
Committee assignments
- Committee on Energy and Commerce
- Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet
- Subcommittee on Health (Ranking Member)
- Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
Resignation
On March 1, 2010, Congressman Deal announced his intention to resign in order to focus on his campaign for Governor of Georgia.[15] He submitted his resignation to the United States Congress on March 21, 2010 while under investigation for ethics violations by a Federal Grand Jury, who issued a subpoena in within a short span of months thereafter. The Congressional Ethics investigation resolved that violations were made but Nathan Deal had resigned from the U.S. House before formal accusations were written. Investigation continues.
Governor of Georgia
Deal took office as governor on January 10, the second Monday of 2011, as required by the constitution of Georgia. He became the first Georgia governor to be inaugurated inside the Georgia State Capitol since Herman Talmadge in 1956, due to a major winter storm, the South's worst in years. A daily-record 3.7 inches (9.4 cm) of snow fell the prior evening (nearly three times the monthly average), followed by freezing rain in the morning. Most inaugural events were cancelled, except the Wild Hog Supper, which took place before the storm. Most guests were unable to attend the normally outdoor inauguration, as the chambers are only large enough to house the Georgia General Assembly, which must meet in joint session for the ceremony. Overflow for guests that were able to attend was across the street at the Georgia Freight Depot, where the supper also takes place each year. Almost all state legislators arrived in time, assisted by the Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and Georgia Department of Natural Resources officers. The previous day, Governor Perdue declared a state of emergency due to the storm, as had governors of other neighboring states to the west.[16][17][18]
Southern Magnolia Capital controversy
Dale Russell from WAGA-TV investigated a fund-raising company named Southern Magnolia Capital, since they were paid a sum of $90,000 during Nathan Deal's gubernatorial campaign. A thorough investigation revealed that the company is linked to Nathan Deal's daughter-in-law, Denise Deal, raising the question of whether ethics laws were violated.[19] As a response, WAGA was denied access to a public event at Governor Nathan Deal’s office--the signing of a controversial immigration bill.[20]
Delta tax break controversy
After Governor Deal signed a 30 million dollar tax break for Delta Air Lines, the airline upgraded Deal and his wife to “Diamond” medallion status, which provides them perks such as "free upgrades when seats are available, Sky Club membership, bonus miles, priority check-in and boarding, fee waivers and more".[21] Deal's spokesperson said Delta airlines' gift had no connection with the tax break, describing the gift granted by the airline to Gov. Nathan Deal and his wife as a “contribution to the state of Georgia.”[22]
Electoral history
Georgia's 9th congressional district: Results 1992–2000, 2006–2008;
Georgia's 10th congressional district: Results 2002–2004[23]Year District Democrat Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct 1992 9th Nathan Deal 113,024 59% Daniel Becker 77,919 41% 1994 9th Nathan Deal 79,145 58% Robert L. Castello 57,568 42% 1996 9th McCracken "Ken" Poston 69,662 34% Nathan Deal 132,532 66% 1998 9th (no candidate) Nathan Deal 122,713 100% 2000 9th James Harrington 60,360 25% Nathan Deal 183,171 75% 2002 10th (no candidate) Nathan Deal 129,242 100% 2004 10th (no candidate) Nathan Deal 219,136 100% 2006 9th John D. Bradbury 39,240 23% Nathan Deal 128,685 77% 2008 9th Jeff Scott 70,401 25% Nathan Deal 216,925 75% See also
Georgia gubernatorial election, 2010
References
- ^ Deal defeats Handel in August 2010 Republican primary
- ^ "Deal defeats Barnes to take Governor's Mansion". Atlanta Journal Constitution. http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/georgia-election-deal-defeats-714575.html. Retrieved 2010-09-03.
- ^ http://www.congress.org/bio/id/198&lvl=S&chamber=G
- ^ http://gov.georgia.gov/00/channel_modifieddate/0,2096,165937316_165941711,00.html
- ^ http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/D000168
- ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=931
- ^ http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pARSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xjQNAAAAIBAJ&pg=3999,2308104&dq=nathan+deal&hl=en
- ^ Newt Gingrich talks about Nathan Deal in campaign video for Deal's gubernatorial bid
- ^ H. R. 698 (see especially section 3)
- ^ Aaron Gould Sheinin & James Salzer (2009-08-22). "Agreement with state benefits Deal's firm". ajc.com. http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/agreement-with-state-benefits-121572.html. Retrieved 2010-08-22.
- ^ Published March 29, 2010 by Eric Lipton (March 29, 2010). "Ethics Report Faults Ex-Congressman". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/30/us/30ethics.html?hp. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
- ^ OCE (2010-03-26). "Review No. 09-1022". http://oce.house.gov/disclosures/Review_No_09-1022_Referral_to_Standards.pdf.
- ^ Justin Elliott (2010-03-01). "Did GOP Rep Resign To Squelch Ethics Probe?". http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/. http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/did_gop_rep_nathan_deal_resign_because_of_ethics_p.php. Retrieved 2010-09-25.
- ^ Published March 1, 2010 by Aaron Gould Sheinin and Jim Tharpe. "Deal's resignation upends state politics". Atlanta Journal Constitution. http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/deals-resignation-upends-state-339983.html. Retrieved 2010-09-25.
- ^ 9:04 am March 1, 2010, by Aaron Gould Sheinin (2010-03-01). "Breaking: Deal says he’ll resign from Congress | Gold Dome Live". Blogs.ajc.com. http://blogs.ajc.com/gold-dome-live/2010/03/01/deal-says-hell-resign-from-congress/. Retrieved 2010-08-22.
- ^ http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/general-assembly-opens-despite-800299.html
- ^ http://www.dealinaugural.com
- ^ http://www.gpb.org/news/2011/01/10/lawmakers-open-2011-session
- ^ Russell, Dale (12 May 2011, 11:47 PM EDT). "Gov. Deal Campaign Funds". http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/local_news/i-team%3A-gov.-deal-campaign-funds-20110511-tm.
- ^ Gray, Justin (13 May 2011, 12:57 PM EDT). "Governor Deal's Office Bans FOX 5 Reporter from Immigration Bill Signing". http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/local_news/FOX-5-Reporter-Not-Allowed-at-Immigration-Bill-Signing-20110513-pm-sd.
- ^ Carney, Timothy (2011-06-27) Are airlines bribing politicians with super elite status?, Washington Examiner
- ^ "Deal gets perk; Delta does, too: Governor, wife travel status upgraded". AJC. 2011-06-19. http://www.ajc.com/news/deal-gets-perk-delta-981096.html?cxtype=rss_news. Retrieved 2011-06-21.
- ^ "Election Statistics". Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
3b http://articles.sfgate.com/1995-04-11/news/17801241_1_change-parties-democrats-gop
External links
- Georgia Governor Nathan Deal official state site
- Nathan Deal for Governor official campaign site
- Biography at the National Governors Association
- Biography, interest group ratings, public statements, vetoes and campaign finances at Project Vote Smart
- Biography at WhoRunsGov.com at The Washington Post
- Profile at Ballotpedia
- Issue positions and quotes at On the Issues
- Campaign contributions at FollowTheMoney.org
- Appearances on C-SPAN programs
- Collected news and commentary at The New York Times
- Profile at Notable Names Database
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
- Congressional profile at GovTrack
- Financial information at OpenSecrets.org
- Staff salaries, trips and personal finance at LegiStorm.com
- Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
- Profile at SourceWatch
- Articles
- NYT Article on effects of his anti-illegal immigration legislation March 12, 2007
- News investigation
Current statewide executive officials of Georgia
(term of office ends in January 2015)- Governor
Nathan Deal (Republican)
- Other executive officials
Lieutenant Governor: Casey Cagle (Republican) • Secretary of State: Brian Kemp (Republican) • Attorney General: Sam Olens (Republican) • Commissioner of Agriculture: Gary Black (Republican) • Commissioner of Insurance: Ralph Hudgens (Republican) • Commissioner of Labor: Mark Butler (Republican) • Superintendent of Schools: John D. Barge (Republican)
Current governors of U.S. states and territories AL Bentley (R) AK Parnell (R) AZ Brewer (R) AR Beebe (D) CA Brown (D) CO Hickenlooper (D) CT Malloy (D) DE Markell (D) FL Scott (R) GA Deal (R) HI Abercrombie (D) ID Otter (R) IL Quinn (D) IN Daniels (R) IA Branstad (R) KS Brownback (R) KY Beshear (D) LA Jindal (R) ME LePage (R) MD O'Malley (D) MA Patrick (D) MI Snyder (R) MN Dayton (D) MS Barbour (R) MO Nixon (D) MT Schweitzer (D) NE Heineman (R) NV Sandoval (R) NH Lynch (D) NJ Christie (R) NM Martinez (R) NY Cuomo (D) NC Perdue (D) ND Dalrymple (R) OH Kasich (R) OK Fallin (R) OR Kitzhaber (D) PA Corbett (R) RI Chafee (I) SC Haley (R) SD Daugaard (R) TN Haslam (R) TX Perry (R) UT Herbert (R) VT Shumlin (D) VA McDonnell (R) WA Gregoire (D) WV Tomblin (D) WI Walker (R) WY Mead (R) DC Gray (Mayor) (D)
Territories:AS Tulafono (D) GU Calvo (R) MP Fitial (R) PR Fortuño (R) VI de Jongh (D) Republican 32 · Democratic 23 · Independent 1 Categories:- 1942 births
- American anti–illegal immigration activists
- Baptists from the United States
- Georgia (U.S. state) Republicans
- Georgia (U.S. state) State Senators
- Living people
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from Georgia (U.S. state)
- Mercer University alumni
- Presidents pro tempore of the Georgia State Senate
- Republican Party state governors of the United States
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