<p>Some key players to watch during the 2004 meeting of the Georgia General Assembly:</p><p>Gov. Sonny Perdue</p><p>Last year, Perdue entered the legislative session as Georgias first Republican governor since Reconstruction with only a few weeks of preparation and a hastily assembled staff.</p><p>Now, hes had a year to prepare and shuffle the advisers around him. He still faces the task of cobbling together a budget in harsh economic times and convincing lawmakers to go along in the House, with its Democratic majority, and the Senate, where Republican leaders balked at some of his suggestions last year.</p><p>Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor</p><p>The Democrats role as head of the Senate was diminished last year when a new Republican majority stripped him of all but the most basic responsibilities.</p><p>Taylor will still use state governments second-largest bully pulpit to act as a counterpoint to Perdue, while trying to position himself as his partys unofficial leader and a likely challenger to the governor in the 2006 election.</p><p>Senate President Pro-tem Eric Johnson</p><p>Johnson attempted _ with mixed success _ to transition last year from his old role as the combative Senate minority leader to the more statesmanlike pro-tem position.</p><p>Hell continue settling into the new role, but his bare-knuckles political style may re-emerge as Republicans work to hold onto their slim majority in the Senate.</p><p>Speaker of the House Terry Coleman</p><p>After a bitter race for the speakers post and a handful of procedural stumbles caused by unfriendly Republican maneuvering, the Eastman Democrat may have shored up his leadership status last year when he cast a tie-breaking vote on the state flag _ moving the Houses black caucus solidly into his camp.</p><p>Coleman has pledged to work with Perdue when they agree and propose alternatives when they disagree _ as he continues to emerge from the long shadow of former Speaker Tom Murphy, who was defeated for re-election last year after nearly three decades in the post.</p><p>Rep. Calvin Smyre</p><p>As chairman of the state Democratic Party, the representative from Columbus will be involved in plotting strategy both in and outside of the House during this election year.</p><p>And as chairman of the Rules committee _ which decides which bills go to the House floor for a vote _ hell play a key role in determining which bills get approved and which ones die.</p><p>Rep. Glenn Richardson</p><p>After a year as Perdues floor leader, Richardson takes over the job of loyal opposition in the House, where Democrats still hold a solid majority.</p><p>Even more than actually trying to derail bills, the Dallas Republican will be trying to position his party to gain ground with wins in 2004 House races.</p><p>Sen. Michael Meyer Von Bremen</p><p>Meyer von Bremen serves in Taylors old Albany-based Senate district and _ as leader of the Senates Democrats _ likely will be the sponsor of many of the lieutenant governors initiatives in the GOP-run Senate.</p><p>Hell also be coordinating the behind-the-scenes campaign work Democrats hope will help them win at least three new Senate seats, tipping the majority back in their favor.</p><p>Sen. Bill Stephens</p><p>Like Richardson in the House, Stephens spent a year as floor leader for Perdue, then moved on to his partys top leadership position.</p><p>Hes already begun the political positioning _ proposing a plan to build a statue of popular Democratic Sen. Zell Miller _ the GOP will need in this years elections to hold their majority in the chamber.</p><p>Rep. Jimmy Skipper</p><p>An attorney from Americus, Skipper is likely to continue his low-key approach to governing this year.</p><p>The lawmaker should have relatively little trouble pushing Democratic ideas through the House, which maintains a solid Democratic majority. But he may be forced to fend off attacks from Republicans trying to score points for this years elections and will help craft an agenda for his party that is independent of Republican Gov. Perdue but not viewed by voters as obstructionist.</p>