Ga. labor commissioner considers US Senate run

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.examiner.com/x-28423-Atlanta-Headlines-Examiner~y2010m4d17-Ga-labor-commissioner-considers-Senate-run

Todd DeFeo

ATLANTA – Georgia Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond could be gearing up to challenge U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, a number of state and national publications reported.

“In thinking about what role I could play in helping some 15 million Americans at the end of this downturn who, as we begin to reach the point of recovery, find themselves unemployed ... obviously, the Senate offers me that opportunity,” The Associated Press quoted Thurmond as saying.

In 1986, Thurmond, an Athens native, was the first African-American elected to the state legislature since Reconstruction. He has served as the state’s labor commissioner since 1998 and was reelected in 2002 and 2006.

Thurmond would be the second Democrat to announce his intention to run against Isakson. R.J. Hadley, who previously served as chief of staff in Rockdale County, is also seeking the Democratic nomination.

Isakson served in the House of Representatives from 1999 to 2005. He was elected to his first Senate term in 2004, defeating Democrat Denise Majette, marking the first time that both of Georgia’s Senate seats were held by Republicans.