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2008-01-24  TOP STORIES | Forsyth County's Evans ready to move forward
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| | by Logan Thomas | |  |
February 05, 2008
CUMMING -- Mike Evans survived the battle for his job after Georgia legislators voted last week to allow the Department of Transportation Board Chairman to keep the position. The vote was the culmination of what became a political battleground for months.
Evans found himself in the hot seat after choosing to support Gena Abraham over Rep. Vance Smith as DOT Commissioner last fall. Speaker of the House Glenn Richardson, who backed Smith for the job, threatened to remove the transportation board chairman from his position, Evans said.
The 13 members of the transportation board serve a congressional district and are elected by representatives and senators. Evans will now serve as the chairman until July 1.
Evans is now ready to move on following his successful attempt to stay. But he said his supporters are being punished for their vote.
"It seems four of the six House members that voted for me have now been punished," he said. "I am saddened and mad about what has happened to these men. It's unfortunate and there is a growing frustration in the House."
The support across 9th Congressional District has been invaluable, Evans said.
"A lot of people have been helping me across the district and I needed everyone one of them," he said. "It was a clear indication that people are tired of the politics of the past and a victory for governing based on doing what is right for Georgia."
Evans said he is "excited" about staying on the board after his term as chairman is up in July.
"I am going to continue to give my full support to the commissioner," he said. "She is really doing a remarkable job. I thought that it might take her a year and half. Now, I feel by the end of the year she will have a good handle on this."
The main task Evans foresees for the rest of the year will be to support Abraham as she tries to reshape the DOT.
"I have such high hopes of the job she'll do," he said. "I just wanted to be a part of it. I'm excited for the Department of Transportation and for the state."
For more information, visit www.mikeevans.org.
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