Burkhalter: No run for governor

ATLANTA - A top Republican in the Georgia House says he won't run for governor in 2010.

Mark Burkhalter, of Johns Creek, released a statement on Thursday saying that he can best serve the citizens of Georgia by remaining speaker pro tem in the House.

A prominent metro Atlanta developer, Burkhalter also said he wants to remain involved in his business during the economic downturn.

Burkhalter is known as a tax cutting, pro-business conservative. He led an unsuccessful drive to eliminate the annual ad valorem tax on cars.

Three Republicans are running to replace Sonny Perdue in 2010: Secretary of State Karen Handel, Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine and state Rep. Austin Scott. U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland is also eying the contest.