Sen. Butch Miller said today he will seek to become majority leader when the General Assembly convenes in January.<br />
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The Republican from Gainesville made the announcement in a Facebook post to his friends.<br />
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"After prayerful consideration and the support of both my family and a number of my fellow senators, I have, with great humility, decided to stand for majority leader in the Georgia State Senate," Miller wrote.<br />
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The current majority leader, Ronnie Chance, R-Tyrone, chose not to seek re-election this year, leaving the post open. It was not immediately clear who, if anyone, might run against Miller, but a Facebook page has been started as part of an effort to draft Josh McKoon, a Columbus Republican, into the race.<br />
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Miller was first elected to the state Senate in 2010 and is unopposed in his bid this year for a third term. Among his committee assignments, Miller is a member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee and vice chairman of the Transportation Committee. He is currently chairman of the Republican caucus.<br />
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In this Facebook post, Miller said he will devote his political time between now and the November election on helping David Perdue get elected to the U.S. Senate and to helping re-elect his friends, Gov. Nathan Deal and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle.<br />
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He asked his Facebook friends to support those candidates and other Republicans on the ballot.<br />
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"I ask you to join me in support of this important effort working locally with the Hall County Republican Party and statewide with the great team at the Georgia Republican Party." Miller wrote.<br />
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If Miller is successful, it would further solidify Northeast Georgia as the center of power in Georgia politics. Like Miller, Deal and Cagle are both from Hall County, and David Ralston, the speaker of the House, is from Blue Ridge.<br />
