New Vacancy Could Open Door for Former House Speaker to Return

Gov. Nathan Deal has named state Sen. Bill Hamrick, R-Carrollton, as the latest superior court judge on the Coweta Judicial Circuit.

His departure could mean an interesting battle for his seat, one that could include Paulding resident, Glenn Richardson, the former House speaker who resigned amid scandal on Jan 1, 2010.

Even with the appointment today, Hamrick's resignation is dated Sept 10, according to Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Jim Gallaway in his latest Political Insider.

Hamrick represents District 30 which includes the southern portion of Paulding County, most of Carroll County and a western portion of Douglas County.

Deal will call for a special election for the District 30 seat, most likely December 11 or 60 days after the seat is vacated, according to Paulding.com.

"We’re told that one Republican certain to make a bid for Hamrick’s empty seat is Richardson, the former House speaker, who resigned in 2010 following a suicide attempt, and the revelation by his wife that he’d had an affair with a Capitol lobbyist," Gallaway wrote.

Another possible candidate is state Rep. Bill Hembree, R-Winston, the former House rules chairman. Hembree would have to resign his House seat by Sept. 6, to allow a substitute Republican to be selected. Otherwise, the seat would go to his Democratic challenger, Leigh Mcmutry of Winston, according to the AJC.

In District 67, Hembree was unopposed for the July primary, but so far remains set to meet Democrat Leigh Mcmutry, also from Winston, in the November general election.