Tommy Smith 1st "post-Richardson" House Speaker candidate

By Charles Edwards

Atlanta, GA – Now that House Speaker Pro Tem Mark Burkhalter is not running for House Speaker, at least one other state lawmaker has stepped in the race.

WABE's Charles Edwards reports

Tommy Smith has been a State Representative since 1979. He says he has no skeletons in his closet.

SMITH: "If you don't have anything to hide, you don't hide anything. So, my life and my activities are an open book."

Glen Richardson said he'll step down from Speaker. His decision comes days after the resurfacing of allegations he had an affair with an Atlanta Gas Light Lobbyist.
However, Smith says there were ethical problems inside the state house too. Smith says he would do away with the so called "hawk" system. He says Hawk was the nickname for any lawmaker sent to a committee to make sure certain bills were passed.

SMITH: "I would rely totally on the committee system to handle that and if the bill passed (that's) well and good. If it failed (that's) well and good. I think that's representative democracy."

Smith could be just one Speaker candidate by Friday when the State House Republicans meet.

Charles Edwards, WABE News.