Politics

Several metro GOP leaders pass resolution urging House speaker to step down

ATLANTA — More Republicans are pushing for Georgia House Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, to give up his leadership position.

Channel 2's Tony Thomas broke the news on Twitter on Saturday night that Republican Party leaders in at least a dozen counties approved resolutions Saturday asking Ralston to resign as House speaker.

The moves comes after a Channel 2 Action News and an Atlanta Journal-Constitution investigation found the House speaker has delayed trials for years under a state law.

Ralston, who is also a lawyer by trade, has delayed cases for which he is counsel under the legislative leave law.

The law was created to give legislators who are attorneys by trade flexibility so they could attend to state business.

“It’s not about left or right, it’s about right or wrong, and it’s all about the victims,” said Debbie Dolley, who led the charge in Gwinnett County to get the resolution passed.

Rep. David Clark has been an outspoken critic of Ralston and has urged the House speaker to step down.

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On Saturday, during Republican Party county conventions, several county GOP leaders, including ones from Gwinnett, DeKalb and Rabun counties, introduced the resolutions, citing Ralston's "egregious abuse of power and moral turpitude.”

The resolution from Gwinnett County thanked Clark for his "sponsorship of the resolution calling for Speaker Ralston to step down."

Dolley told Channel 2's Christian Jennings that she's hoping the multicounty move will encourage House lawmakers to get on board.

“We’re the people that volunteer for your campaigns that help elect you. We feel like there needs to be new leadership in the House,” Dooley said.

Channel 2 Action News and the AJC found more than 20 criminal cases in which Ralston asked judges for continuances at least 55 times in the past two years, citing the legislative leave law. Ralston said he was busy on legislative business for 75 days outside of the legislative session in 2017 and 2018.

“He’s the third highest-ranking Republican, so it’s even more important he be held to a higher standard of accountability,” Bernard said. “Continuing a case for eight years, 10 years like some of his cases have been, at that point, you’re just getting into justice delayed, justice denied.”

Ralston told Channel 2 Action News last month he has not taken advantage of the law.

Jennings contacted Ralston’s communications director for comment. So far, she has not heard back.

Cox Media Group

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