There’s a saying commonly attributed to the executive branch of government regarding hiring and appointments:  People are policy.  

For the legislative branch, we the people pick our representatives. The committees on which they serve, and leadership roles they attain once elected, are up to their peers and the leadership that they then elect. These people, too, are policy choices.

Qualifying for candidates ended several weeks ago. Two of the longest serving Republicans elected to the House of Representatives have decided it is time to leave, on their own terms.

Representative Lynn Smith of Newnan was first elected in 1996.  As the long serving Chair of the Natural Resources committee, she became a resource to colleagues herself. A former high ranking staffer within House leadership describes her expertise as “living her subject area with fanatical dedication.” Bumper sticker slogans about liking the environment or outdoors are easy. Making the right policies are the much harder work that a committee chair must understand in order to find the right solutions.

Her three decade career in elective office is also one that demonstrates resilience through constant change. She’s one of the few remaining Georgia Republicans to have ever served as a member of the minority party. She’s served through the party’s teething period as they began to understand with power comes responsibility, the party’s “establishment phase”, the Tea Party years, and a decade of MAGA.  

Outsiders and supporters of the minority party tend to think majorities are easy, and working within them only requires going along to get along. As someone who cut his political teeth in the same Congressional district as Chairwoman Smith, I can attest that the locals were anti-establishment Republicans before it was cool. 

She’s been able to navigate many flavors of “throw ‘em all out” within her own electoral base, and is leaving at the time of her own choosing.  The forces of opposition, however, will forever be linked to the term “Ponzi scheme”.  That’s a cherry on the sundae of 30 years of winning.

Speaker Pro Tempore and Speaker Emeritus Jan Jones of North Fulton County has also decided it is time to return to private life. While often referred to as an Atlanta area suburbanite, she was born in Warner Robbins and maintains roots from her Grandparents long history in Dublin. First elected in 2002, Jones’ role as the second highest ranking member of the House had her as the primary gatekeeper of budget and policy issues for more than a decade.

Those of us who work in the Education space have long known she has alternated hats as advocate, buffer, and negotiator on key reform measures. On the outside, these issues often seem simple, when everything is “for the children”. 

Behind closed doors, it’s often hand to hand combat. It always is when there are this many adults and many more dollars attached to both the status quo and proposals for change. Jones’ support was critical for any reforms to get to the House floor.

Her role of gatekeeper for these and many other issues came in many ways, but generally manifested in two specific roles.  She was a permanent and active member of the House Rules committee.  This group decides what bills will move to the House floor for a vote, and which will not.  

She also has been appointed annually as one of three House conferees to negotiate the final budget with members of the Senate. Those who get the final say on what is spent – and what isn’t – get the final say on policy. 

Her relatively quick rise to the position as Speaker Pro Tempore often raised speculation as to what was next in her career. She was frequently mentioned as a potential candidate for Governor as well as Congress - both U.S. Senate and House. Many assumed she was just waiting for the perfect opportunity while she did the very critical blocking and tackling to enact the state’s Republican agenda.

When the late Speaker David Ralston died after a brief illness, she became Speaker by House rules. She was among the small handful of those with a credible chance of winning the permanent title. 

Critics of the Speaker and his leadership team had already been working on a challenge, which would have meant an abrupt change in direction and policy of the House, and thus the State. An open competition among Ralston’s inner circle risked the entire body of work.

She could have won. She instead chose to support then Majority Leader Jon Burns, who easily defeated his challenger. It was one of the most selfless acts of putting the agenda ahead of personal ambition I’ve witnessed. 

Too often today we look at our leaders only as title chasing climbers who would do anything to get in front of a camera to hear themselves talk, but ultimately do nothing. Lynn Smith and Jan Jones are reminders that many of our representatives go to work, get to work, and get things done. 

Both have consistently put the people they represent first in a career to make our state a better place. They’ve earned their retirement, and our respect, on their own terms.