Senate hopefuls bring divergent backgrounds

Walter C. Jones

October 6, 2008

The three men running for the Senate have all campaigned statewide before, but the surge of new voters means they may still be little known to much of this year's electorate.

Incumbent Republican Saxby Chambliss, Democrat Jim Martin and Libertarian Allen Buckley are all lawyers, middle-aged white men and political veterans. Chambliss and Martin were even fraternity brothers at the University of Georgia, and one served in the military during the Vietnam War, Martin in the judicial corps, and the others didn't. Buckley grew up in the era of the all-volunteer military.

Recent polls indicate that the election could be close despite advantages Chambliss should enjoy as an incumbent Republican in a "red state." Since every vote could be critical, the candidates' background and general philosophy are likely to come under closer scrutiny.

Allen Buckley

Libertarians typically garner such a small share of the vote -- 2-4 percent -- that they usually don't have much impact on the outcome. This year may be different with the well-known Bob Barr, a former Georgia GOP congressman, as the party's presidential nominee, a general frustration with incumbents over the price of gasoline and the financial crisis, and a flood of new voters drawn to support Barack Obama.

After running for the Senate in 2004 and lieutenant governor two years ago, Buckley starts as the best known Libertarian besides Barr even if he's not flashy. He's low-key but intense about policy matters, drawing on his professional experience as both an accountant an a lawyer.

Where Libertarian candidates of the past may have stressed lifestyle matters, Buckley focuses on economic. His positions are built on party philosophy with little apparent effort to curry votes.

For example, he rejects Jim Martin's ideas about universal health or any suggestion that health care is a legal right.

"If you're not going to give them food and shelter, then why should you give them health care," Buckley said.

He favors allowing offshore drilling for oil if the environment won't be harmed and a combination of tax incentives and financial rewards for the development of cleaner energy with higher taxes for dirtier fuels.

Saxby Chambliss

As a lawyer in the Southwest Georgia city of Moultrie, Chambliss comes from an economy that revolves around agriculture. When he served eight years in the U.S. House and later when in has been in the Senate, he has continued to focus on farm-related issues, even chairing the Agriculture Committee, the only senator since 1947 to head a full standing committee with just two years' service.

His congressional career has also been noted for his attention to national-security matters. He chaired the House Intelligence Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security during the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in 2001, putting him at the heart of much of Congress' involvement in shaping policy in the war on terror's early days. He continued that pursuit in the Senate, serving on the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Select Intelligence Committee.

In the days after news of the credit-market crisis was first announced, Chambliss acknowledged his lack of expertise, adding if it had been a national-security crisis he could have better judged if Congress had been lax in its oversight. Still, he voted for the bailout bill.

"Our country is facing the most serious and critical domestic issue I have dealt with in my 14 years in Congress. We have been betrayed by many people, and greedy Wall Street executives have abused the system, leaving taxpayers to feel the pain," he said.

National security, veterans and agriculture have been the subject of most of the bills he has authored or co-sponsored. He has generally worked in tandem with Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., on nearly every major issue, usually releasing joint statements, a practice few other senators follow often.

During the most recent round of military base closure and realignment in 2005, four of Georgia's 13 installations were slated for closure, including the Navy Supply Corps School in Athens. At the same time, Fort Stewart near Savannah and Fort Benning near Columbus and Fort Gordon outside Augusta received news that more troops and duties would be transferred to them.

Chambliss said he vigorously tried to defend the bases that were closed, and some critics have blamed him for not succeeding.

This year, he has been at the center of a bipartisan effort in the Senate to find a compromise to overcome objections to allowing offshore oil exploration. He drew jeers from conservatives and members of his own party for the tax increases in the original plan and for removing an issue that Republican presidential nominee John McCain was gaining momentum with by blaming Democrats.

Jim Martin

Martin had repeatedly won re-election to a seat from Atlanta in the Georgia House of Representatives when then-Gov. Roy Barnes named his fellow Democrat commissioner to the troubled Department of Human Resources. After Sonny Perdue defeated Barnes, he kept on Martin even though the two came from different parties.

During 18 years in the Legislature, Martin rose to become chairman of the powerful Judiciary Committee that reviewed legislation dealing with crime and courts. He championed consumer issues and women's rights and earned a reputation as one of the House liberals.

Two years ago, he survived a brusing primary and runoff to become the Democratic nominee for the lieutenant governor's post that was open. He came up short against Casey Cagle in a year with Democrats in other states were enjoying a surge.

This year, Martin again came out on top in a contentious primary and runoff to win the Senate nomination. Though opponents describe him as a "nice guy," he has been attacking Chambliss since the night of the runoff in press conferences and television ads, seeking to link the senator with President Bush.

Martin takes a populist approach to many issues, such as supporting universal health care, a tax cut for most Americans and the federal guarantee of individual mortgages rather than a $700 billion bailout of the credit markets.

And, he supports an immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq.

"We cannot continue the Bush Administration's failed Iraq policy -- supported unquestioningly by Saxby Chambliss -- which has us spending $10 billion each month while there are serious needs here at home," he said. "Only when we leave the people of Iraq to stand on their own two feet will we really be able to start making our economy work for the middle class again and address the rising costs of food and gas."


Allen Buckley

• Party: Libertarian
• Age: 48
• Born: Berea, Ohio
• Home: Smyrna, Ga.
• Education: LLM, University of Florida, 1989. JD, University of Georgia, 1985, BA, Kent State University, 1982.
• Occupation: Lawyer, certified public accountant specializing in taxation
• Employer: Smith Moore Leatherwood
• Political experience: Libertarian nonminee for U.S. Senate 2004 and for lieutenant governor in 2006
• Community service: Member, Atlanta Tax Forum, 2000-present; Member, Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants, 1996-present; Member, State Bar of Georgia, 1985-present
• Top three issues:
• federal spending, reducing U.S. involvement in foreign countries, immigration

Saxby Chambliss

• Party: Republican
• Age: 64
• Born: Warrenton, NC
• Home: Moultrie, GA
• Education: JD, University of Tennessee College of Law, 1968
• BA, Business Administration, University of Georgia, 1966
• Attended, Louisiana Tech University, 1961-1962.
• Occupation: Senator
• Employer: U.S. Senate
• Political experience: Senator, United States Senate, 2002-present
• Representative, U.S. House of Representatives, 1994-2002
• Primary Candidate, U.S. House of Representatives, 1992
• Community service: Colquitt County Economic Development Authority, Georgia State Bar Disciplinary Review Panel, Leadership Georgia, Moultrie-Colquitt County Chamber of Commerce
• Moultrie-Colquitt County Economic, Development Authority, Youth Sports Coach, Young Men's Christian Association
• Top three issues: financial crisis, gasoline prices, national security/terrorism/veterans affairs

Jim Martin

• Party: Democratic
• Age: 63
• Born: Atlanta
• Home: Atlanta
• Education: AB, 1967, JD, 1969, LLM, 1972 University of Georgia, Athens; MBA, 1980, Georgia State University, Atlanta
• Occupation: Lawyer
• Employer: Solo practice
• Political experience: 1983-2001, Georgia House of Representatives; 2006 Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor
• Community service: Vietnam veteran, legal-aid attorney, former Georgia commissioner of human resources
• Top three issues:
• economic strength/jobs/gas prices, Iraq War, health care

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