Roy Barnes

Template:Short description Template:For Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox officeholder Roy Eugene Barnes (born March 11, 1948)<ref name="Governors">Cook, James F. (2005). The Governors of Georgia, 1754-2004, 3rd Edition, Revised and Expanded. Macon, GA: Mercer University Press.</ref> is an American attorney and politician who served as the 80th governor of Georgia from 1999 to 2003.<ref name="Governors" /> As of 2026, he is the most recent Democrat to serve as governor of Georgia.

A Democratic member of the Georgia Senate from 1974 to 1990, Barnes ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1990, losing to Lieutenant Governor Zell Miller in the Democratic primary. Barnes then served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1992 to 1998. He ran for governor again in 1998, handily winning the primary and general elections.

In 2003, Barnes was awarded the Profile in Courage Award by the John F. Kennedy Library for his success while governor of minimizing the Confederate battle emblem on the Georgia state flag despite the political fallout.<ref name="Roylaw">Roy E. Barnes, Barnes Law Group, Marietta, GA: Barnes Law Group, 2014, Retrieved 14 May 2014.</ref> It is widely believed that his support of the flag change significantly contributed to his re-election defeat in 2002.<ref name="Roylaw" /><ref name="jfklibrary1">Template:Cite web</ref>

After his defeat, he resumed the practice of law and co-chaired the Aspen Institute Commission on No Child Left Behind Act. He returned to politics when he ran for governor again in 2010, losing to Republican Nathan Deal.<ref name="roy1">Template:Cite web</ref> A decade later, he declined the invitation to act as special counsel in the Georgia election racketeering and fraud case involving former president Donald Trump,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and stated, "I told DA Willis that I lived with bodyguards for four years and I didn’t like it, and I wasn’t going to live with bodyguards for the rest of my life."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Early life, education, and family

Roy Barnes was born on March 11, 1948,<ref name="Governors" /><ref name="georgiaencyclopedia1">Template:Cite web</ref> in Mableton, Georgia. His family owned a general store, which gave him his first exposure to politics as he listened to the conversations of the store patrons.<ref name="Governors" /><ref name="georgiaencyclopedia1"/><ref name="aspeninstitute1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Upon his graduation from South Cobb High School, Barnes enrolled at the University of Georgia.<ref name="Governors" /><ref name="Roylaw" /><ref name="georgiaencyclopedia1"/> He was active on the debate team;<ref name="georgiaencyclopedia1"/> and spent his summers returning home to work in the family store.<ref name="Governors" /> He graduated with a degree in history in 1969;<ref name="Governors" /> and one year later married Marie Dobbs of Marietta, Georgia, with whom he has had three children.<ref name="Governors" /><ref name="georgiaencyclopedia1"/><ref name="aspeninstitute1"/>

After college, Barnes enrolled in the University of Georgia School of Law.<ref name="Governors" /><ref name="Roylaw" /><ref name="georgiaencyclopedia1"/> While there, he was elected president of the student bar association, and was named outstanding senior.<ref name="Governors" /><ref name="georgiaencyclopedia1"/> He graduated from law school in 1972 with honors,<ref name="Governors" /> and returned to Cobb County to work as a prosecutor in the Cobb County District Attorney's Office<ref name="Governors" /><ref name="georgiaencyclopedia1"/><ref name="aspeninstitute1"/> after serving four months in the Army.<ref name="Governors" />

Georgia General Assembly

Georgia Senate

Barnes’ political career began in 1974, when he was elected by the citizens of Mableton to the Georgia State Senate.<ref name="Governors" /><ref name="aspeninstitute1"/> Upon his election, Barnes became the youngest member of the Georgia Senate at age 26.<ref name="Governors" /><ref name="Roylaw" /><ref name="barneslawgroup1">Template:Cite web</ref> Barnes went on to serve eight terms in the Georgia Senate.<ref name="Governors" /><ref name="Roylaw" /><ref name="georgiaencyclopedia1"/>

After his second term, he was named floor leader to Governor Joe Frank Harris,<ref name="Governors" /><ref name="Roylaw" /> and was appointed chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee.<ref name="Roylaw" /><ref name="georgiaencyclopedia1"/> During his tenure in the Georgia Senate, he also served on the Senate Appropriations, Rules, and Transportation committees, and had a major leadership role in rewriting the Georgia constitution as chair of the Select Committee on Constitutional Revision.<ref name="Roylaw" /><ref name="barneslawgroup1"/>

1990 gubernatorial election

After eight terms in the Georgia Senate, Barnes entered the 1990 gubernatorial election.<ref name="Roylaw" /><ref name="georgiaencyclopedia1"/> He faced Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young and Lt. Governor Zell Miller<ref name="georgiaencyclopedia1"/> in the Democratic Primary.<ref>Zell Miller</ref> Barnes was defeated by Miller,<ref name="Governors" /> who later won the election and became an ally of Barnes.<ref name="georgiaencyclopedia1"/>

Georgia House of Representatives

Barnes returned to politics in 1992, when he was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives.<ref name="Roylaw" /> He was appointed vice chair of the Judiciary Committee, and chair of the Subcommittee on General Law.<ref name="Roylaw" /> During his tenure in the Georgia House, he also served on the Rules and Banks, and Banking Committees.<ref name="georgiaencyclopedia1"/>

Barnes was a founding board member of Georgia State Bank located in Mableton, Georgia. He served on the bank's board of directors from 1986 until 1997 when he resigned to run for governor. In addition to Georgia State Bank, Barnes has been involved with other community banks in Georgia.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Governor of Georgia

1998 gubernatorial election

In 1998, Barnes ran for governor again, this time defeating Secretary of State Lewis A. Massey to win the Democratic primary.<ref name="georgia1">Template:Cite web</ref> Running on the themes of education reform and health care reform,<ref name="georgiaencyclopedia1"/> he defeated Republican businessman Guy Millner in the general election with a victory of 52% to 44% to become the 80th Governor of Georgia.<ref name="Roylaw" /><ref name="georgia2">Template:Cite web</ref>

The Democrats retained control of both houses of the legislature<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and retained all but two state level offices (Republicans were elected Insurance Commissioner and School Superintendent).<ref name="georgia2"/>

Tenure

In January 1999 after being elected governor, Barnes’ first act of his new administration was to sign an order banning all lobbyist gifts to the 56,000 employees working in the state government's executive branch.<ref name="Governors" />

Barnes also took executive action to change the flag of the state of Georgia, despite vocal opposition.<ref name="Governors" /><ref name="Trend">Embattled battle flag, Georgia Trend, Norcross, GA: Georgia Trend, February 2004, Young, N., Retrieved 14 May 2014.</ref> The state flag had featured the Confederate battle emblem since 1956.<ref name="Trend" />

Barnes' education reform measures<ref name="Governors" /> included eliminating tenure for newly hired teachers<ref>Barnes calls for teacher bonuses and to end tenure, Online Athens, Athens, GA: Athens Banner-Herald, 14 January 2000, Jones, W.C., Retrieved 14 May 2014.</ref><ref name="Lobby">Teacher group lobbies against ending tenure, Savannahnow.com, Savannah, GA: Savannah Morning News, 8 February 2000, Jones, W.C., Retrieved 14 May 2014.</ref> and ending social promotion by requiring students to pass a test before advancing to the next grade.<ref name="Chronicle">Barnes calls for end of social promotion, The Augusta Chronicle, Augusta, GA: The Augusta Chronicle, 9 February 2001, Morris News Service: Williams, D., Martin, J., Sparks, P., Retrieved 14 May 2014.</ref> Teachers did not support his proposals for ending tenure and other protections for new teachers,<ref name="Lobby" /> but Georgia's Department of Education supported his calls for ending social promotion.<ref name="Chronicle" />

Georgia's Child Advocate Office within Georgia's Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) was established by Barnes as a result of the death of five-year-old Terrell Peterson, whose care was under state supervision at the time of his death.<ref name="Terrell">State failed Terrell Peterson, Barnes says at bill signing, Georgia Association of Homes and Services for Children, reprinted with permission from Atlanta Journal Constitution, Atlanta, GA: Cox Interactive Media; 7 April 2000, Martz, R., Retrieved 14 May 2014.</ref> Barnes signed the Terrell Peterson Act to protect children at risk of death due to abuse, also as a result of Peterson's death.<ref name="Terrell" />

Barnes proposed highway safety measures to curb teen driving in an attempt to save lives of young drivers who are killed in automobile crashes.<ref name="Chronicle" /> Barnes proposed a curfew for teens at 10 p.m., a limit on passengers riding in their vehicles, and a ban on 16-year-olds driving without adult supervision in 18 metropolitan Atlanta counties.<ref name="Chronicle" />

Further, Barnes supported the building of the Northern Arc, an outer perimeter north of Atlanta, which met with opposition from locals.<ref name="Governors" />

During most of his tenure, State Senator Charles B. Tanksley, served as his floor manager in the Georgia Senate.

2002 gubernatorial election

Facing re-election, Barnes lost<ref name="Roylaw" /> in an upset in November 2002 as part of a larger Republican midterm sweep.<ref name="georgia3">Template:Cite web</ref> Although some commentators have pointed to the ire of voters opposing the flag change<ref name="Roylaw" /> and him upsetting teachers as leading to his defeat, the cause was finally attributed toward a strong shift to GOP within that election cycle across many offices in the State of Georgia, at that time.<ref name="georgiaencyclopedia1"/> Barnes was defeated by Sonny Perdue, the first Republican to be elected Governor of Georgia since Reconstruction.<ref name="georgiaencyclopedia1"/><ref name="georgia3"/>

According to the February 2004 issue of Georgia Trend, "Democrat Roy Barnes was one of the most powerful governors in history.<ref name="Trend" /> His nickname 'King Roy' was an affectionate term accorded him by supporters because he knew how to pull the levers and make things happen in the legislature."<ref name="Trend" /> Barnes was also known as a powerful 'suburban governor.'<ref name="Governors" />

Return to legal career

File:Roy Barnes & Max Cleland (2234135980).jpg

Barnes and former Senator Max Cleland

Following his defeat, Barnes decided to lend his talents to a legal aid organization,<ref name="georgiaencyclopedia1"/> the Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Inc., working for six months as a full-time volunteer. During this time, he provided legal advice to indigent clients pro bono, and established a website outlining the rights of consumers: www.myconsumerrights.com.<ref name="aspeninstitute1"/>

Profile in Courage Award

For his leadership in minimizing the Confederate battle emblem on the Georgia state flag despite the political fallout,<ref name="georgiaencyclopedia1"/> Barnes was awarded the 2003 Profile in Courage Award by the John F. Kennedy Library.<ref name="jfklibrary1"/><ref name="Trend" />

Barnes Law Group

Upon completing his service at Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Barnes founded the Barnes Law Group with his daughter, Allison Barnes Salter; son-in-law, John Salter; and long-time law partner, Charles Tanksley.<ref name="Lawpractice">Attorneys, Barnes Law Group, Marietta, GA: Barnes Law Group, 2014, Retrieved 14 May 2014.</ref> The Barnes Law Group continues Barnes' private law practice<ref name="Lawpractice" /> which began in 1975 when he formed his first law firm.<ref name="barneslawgroup1"/> The American College of Trial Lawyers recognized him as one of the top U.S. trial attorneys.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Georgia Supreme Court rulings as attorney

The Georgia Supreme Court, on June 11, 2007, unanimously dismissed a legal challenge to the state's voter ID law.<ref name="ID">State Supreme Court dismisses legal challenge to voter ID law, Online Athens, Athens, GA: Athens Banner-Herald, 11 June 2007, Retrieved 14 May 2014.</ref> Barnes argued before the court that the voter identification law was unconstitutional because Plaintiff Rosalind Lake - a first-time voter after having moved to Georgia - did not have a driver's license, and was therefore excluded in a discriminatory manner.<ref name="ID" />

The state's highest court, however, stated that Lake, the only plaintiff in the case, had photograph identification through MARTA,<ref name="ID" /> the area's mass transit system, as a result of needed disability access to it, that would have qualified her to vote in July 2006, so she did not have legal standing to file suit.<ref name="ID" /> Justice Harold Melton wrote that since Lake had photograph identification that was acceptable for voting, in-person, under the 2006 Act, she did not have standing to challenge the state's voter identification law as an unconstitutional restriction on her voting rights.<ref name="ID" />

Previously, Georgians could show one of 17 forms of identification, including those without photos, such as utility bills, to check in at the polls.<ref name="ID" /> Supporters said it would increase voter confidence through a better verification process. Legislators revised the law and made it easier for people to get free photo cards for voting, but the rules were repeatedly barred from implementation until early 2008.<ref>The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality..., Atlanta Journal Constitution, Atlanta, GA: Atlanta Journal Constitution, 29 May 2008.</ref>

Aspen Institute Commission on No Child Left Behind

On February 14, 2006, the Aspen Institute announced the forming of the Commission on No Child Left Behind. Barnes, along with former Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson, was named co-chair of the commission.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

According to its mission, the commission "is a bipartisan effort to identify and build support for improvements in federal education policy to spur academic achievement and close persistent achievement gaps."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2010 gubernatorial election

Template:See also Barnes announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Georgia in the 2010 election on June 3, 2009 in his hometown of Marietta, Georgia.<ref name="roy1"/>

Barnes’ campaign, Roy 2010, emphasized growing jobs, securing water sources, improving education, and expanding transportation options.<ref>Issues, Roy 2010, Georgia, Retrieved 2010 Template:Webarchive</ref> Barnes won the 2010 Democratic Primary on July 20, 2010, and faced off against Republican Nathan Deal and Libertarian John Monds.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On November 2, 2010, Barnes conceded to Deal as the Republican rode a wave of GOP backing in the 2010 midterm elections.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

External links

• Roy Barnes for Governor official campaign site
• Barnes Law Group
• Roy Barnes at the New Georgia Encyclopedia
• Lawmakers Flashbacks at Georgia Public Broadcasting
• Profile in Courage Award from the John F. Kennedy Library
• Commission on No Child Left Behind at the Aspen Institute
• Template:C-SPAN

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